Disney, a company long seen as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), appears to be quietly distancing itself from the DEI movement. According to internal communications obtained by Business Insider, references to DEI have disappeared from both Disney's recent employee events and its annual business report, signalling a notable shift in messaging.
From DEI to "Belonging"
Disney's recent "Global Belonging Week," an employee-focused initiative featuring livestreamed talks designed to "empower and inspire", noticeably avoided the traditional language of DEI. Where previous events emphasised "diversity", "equity" and "inclusion", the 2025 event relied on softer terms such as "belonging" and "inclusion".
This subtle change mirrors broader corporate trends. Experts suggest that companies are moving away from explicitly political language such as DEI in favour of less controversial terminology that resonates with employees and stakeholders while avoiding potential backlash.
A Shift in Corporate Reporting
The change is also evident in Disney's annual business report. For the first time since 2019, the report contains no references to "diversity", "inclusion" or "DEI". The only mention of "equity" relates to financial metrics rather than social initiatives.
This represents a stark departure from Disney's 2024 SEC filing, which featured a dedicated section on DEI initiatives aimed at amplifying diverse voices within creative teams. Earlier this year, under mounting investor pressure, Disney also dismantled two prominent DEI programmes: "Reimagine Tomorrow" and "The Disney Look" guidelines. Both had been central to the company's cultural messaging but attracted criticism from some shareholders and consumers who saw them as ideological overreach.
The Broader Corporate Context
Disney's recalibration is part of a wider trend. Research by Gravity Research indicates that DEI-related language in corporate documents has dropped by 72 per cent year on year, with references to the DEI acronym collapsing by 98 per cent among Fortune 100 companies. Even adjacent terms such as "belonging" and "diverse perspectives" are in decline. A report from The Conference Board found that over half of S&P 100 companies have altered DEI messaging in 2025, indicating a broad corporate retreat from what was once a fashionable priority.
Why It Matters
The shift away from DEI is more than a linguistic change; it reflects evolving expectations of stakeholders, from investors to employees. While DEI initiatives remain important for creating inclusive workplaces, companies are increasingly adopting language that emphasises culture, belonging and employee experience without inviting political controversy.
For organisations navigating this transition, efforts must balance corporate values, stakeholder expectations and public perception while maintaining meaningful progress towards equity.
At Equi Consultancy Partners, we support companies in assessing their DEI strategies, ensuring that inclusion efforts are authentic, measurable and resilient, whatever the shifts in corporate language.