MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Disney lifts ban on Los Angeles Times after backlash from US media

LA Times went public about their ban in a “note to readers”, saying it could only review's Disney's Christmas movies after they had been released publically

Walt Disney company has ended its ban of the Los Angeles Times newspaper after fierce backlash from US media. Last week it emerged Disney had stopped inviting the newspaper to press screenings because they disagreed with an article it published in September, which triggered public criticism from high-profile organizations and individuals.

 The New York Times and Washington Post vowed to boycott Disney screenings in solidarity with the banned newspaper.

The LA Times went public about their ban in a “note to readers” on Friday, saying it could only review's Disney's Christmas movies after they had been released publically because the company “declined to offer The Times advance screenings”.

Disney responded with a statement explaining their decision. They alleged the LA-based newspaper had “showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards” in a two-part piece they wrote about the company's California park and its relationship with the town of Anaheim, where it is based.

But a backlash against Disney's decision built over the weekend and on Tuesday a band of critics associations voted to disqualify Disney movies from award consideration until the ban was “publically rescinded”.

The New York Times had also issued a statement saying: “A powerful company punishing a news organization for a story they do not like is meant to have a chilling effect. This is a dangerous precedent and not at all in the public interest.”

But by Tuesday afternoon Disney had confirmed it had changed its mind and revoked the restrictions after “productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns”.