Tuesday, July 11, 2023

BILLY BALDWIN: WHY VISIT FLORIDA WHEN YOU COULD JUST TAKE A SAUNA IN HELL

BILLY BALDWIN: WHY VISIT FLORIDA WHEN YOU COULD JUST TAKE A SAUNA IN HELL

Billy Baldwin, the actor and outspoken critic of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has dubbed the Sunshine State the "Bud Light of tourism". And honestly, he's not wrong.

DeSantis' policies on LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and gun control have caused a mass exodus of tourists and conventions from Florida. It's like the state is a party and everyone is leaving early because the host is a buzzkill.

But what does Baldwin mean by "Bud Light of tourism"? Well, it's a reference to the recent backlash against the beer brand after they collaborated with a transgender influencer. Some consumers accused Bud Light of promoting an agenda that goes against their values and beliefs. DeSantis supported the boycott and even said that conservative customers have the power to hold the company accountable. So, in essence, Florida is the Bud Light of tourism because it's a place where conservative values are put above all else, even if it means losing out on billions of dollars in revenue.

And speaking of losing out on revenue, let's talk about DeSantis' feud with Disney. The company owns several theme parks in Florida that generate billions of dollars for the state. But DeSantis doesn't seem to care about that. He proposed a bill that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade, and require age-appropriate material in other grades. It was dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics. Disney opposed it and said they would fight to have it rescinded. In response, DeSantis removed Disney's favored status in Florida and created a new board with authority over their operations. It's like he's punishing them for having morals.

But here's the thing: Disney isn't taking this lying down. They've ramped up spending in California, where they're treated with respect and dignity. It's like they're saying "screw you" to DeSantis and his backwards policies.

So what's the message from DeSantis? It seems to be "go to hell or anywhere but Florida". And honestly, we might just take him up on that offer. Who wants to go to a state that values bigotry over basic human rights? Not us.

In conclusion, Billy Baldwin has hit the nail on the head with his assessment of Florida as the "Bud Light of tourism". It's a place where conservative values are put above all else, even if it means losing out on billions of dollars in revenue. But maybe that's okay. Maybe it's time to boycott Florida and show DeSantis that his policies have consequences. After all, who needs Disney World when you can go to Disneyland?

Billy Baldwin Calls Florida the 'Bud Light of Tourism' https://www.newsweek.com/billy-baldwin-florida-bud-light-tourism-ron-desantis-1811987 

Disney ramps up spending in California amid war with Ron DeSantis in Florida https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/11/disney-ron-desantis-florida-california-theme-parks


THE DEFT DIVE


**Billy Baldwin** is an actor who has criticized **Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis** for his policies on LGBTQ+, immigration and gun rights. He claimed that these policies have caused **thousands of tourists and conventions** to flee Florida, and called the state the "**Bud Light of tourism**" ¹.

This is a reference to the **backlash and boycott** that **Bud Light**, a beer brand, faced after collaborating with **Dylan Mulvaney**, a transgender influencer ¹. Some consumers accused Bud Light of promoting an agenda that goes against their values and beliefs. DeSantis supported the boycott and said that conservative customers have the power to hold the company accountable ³.

Another corporation that has been at odds with DeSantis is **Disney**, which owns several theme parks in Florida that generate billions of dollars in revenue for the state. The feud started over a proposed bill by DeSantis that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade, and require age-appropriate material in other grades. This bill was dubbed the "**Don't Say Gay**" bill by critics ². Disney opposed the bill and said it would fight to have it rescinded. DeSantis responded by removing Disney's favored status in Florida, which gave it self-governance over its properties. He also created a new board with authority over Disney's operations ².

These are some of the main points of the conflict between DeSantis and Disney, and how Baldwin's tweet relates to them. I hope this helps you understand the situation better.

Bing, 7/11/2023

(1) Billy Baldwin Calls Florida the 'Bud Light of Tourism' - Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/billy-baldwin-florida-bud-light-tourism-ron-desantis-1811987.

(2) DeSantis comments on controversial Bud Light partnership. https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-comments-on-controversial-bud-light-partnership/.

(3) Disney’s financial fairy tale in Florida is coming to an end thanks to .... https://nypost.com/2023/04/16/disneys-financial-fairy-tale-is-coming-to-an-end-thanks-to-desantis/.