Disney executive Dana Walden is facing intense scrutiny over her "extraordinary" friendship with Vice President Kamala Harris as ABC News prepares to host a major presidential debate. Walden, who serves as the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment and oversees ABC News, has been accused of allowing her personal relationship with Harris to influence coverage, raising concerns about journalistic integrity and bias.
During the buildup to the debate, which pits Harris against former President Donald Trump, questions emerged about whether Walden's influence could skew the proceedings in favor of her longtime friend. Walden has been close with Harris for decades, a relationship that began when the two met in 1994. Their bond grew over the years, with Walden reportedly hosting fundraisers for Harris and donating to her political campaigns, including a significant contribution to her 2020 presidential bid.
Photo of Kamala with her friend Dana Walden who oversees ABC news💢 pic.twitter.com/xeEqmPB81X
— Snowflake_News (@Snowflake_News) September 12, 2024
When asked whether her close ties to Harris had any bearing on the coverage of the debate, Walden refused to answer. The silence has only fueled more speculation, particularly after ABC News moderators were accused of bias in their handling of the debate. Trump supporters and conservative commentators highlighted the network’s decision to fact-check Trump multiple times during the live event while not applying the same scrutiny to Harris.
The potential conflict of interest is glaring, given that ABC News falls under Walden’s purview. Critics argue that her friendship with Harris undermines the credibility of the network. Walden’s refusal to address the concerns has only heightened calls for transparency. Media outlets from across the political spectrum, including former Clinton advisor Mark Penn, have raised alarms about the obvious bias displayed by ABC News, noting that both candidates should have been subjected to equal scrutiny.
Disney’s Dana Walden responds to claims that the presidential debate was biased due to her friendship with Kamala Harris: “I don’t want to dignify it with much of a response. … [ABC News] is the most professional organization [with] the most top-notch journalists.” #rigged pic.twitter.com/ekLWvxkjtH
— Thomas Barrett (@barretto724) September 16, 2024
Adding fuel to the fire, Walden’s financial contributions to Harris and other Democratic causes further complicate the optics. In addition to her personal friendship with the vice president, Walden has donated significant sums to Democratic campaigns, including $20,000 to support President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party just last year.
Critics argue that these financial ties make it difficult for her to remain impartial as an executive overseeing news coverage that could impact the outcome of an election.
The issue has prompted broader discussions about the entanglement of media executives and political figures. With Walt Disney Co. being a media giant that controls a significant portion of the news landscape, Walden’s influence over ABC’s news division has caused many to question whether the network can provide unbiased coverage, especially in such a high-stakes political environment. Conservative commentators have seized on the controversy, suggesting that the debate should have been hosted by a network free of such apparent conflicts.
The Harris-Walden friendship also raises questions about the integrity of ABC News’ coverage of Harris more generally, particularly as she gears up for a potential presidential run in 2028. Harris has frequently praised Walden, once crediting her and her husband with playing a role in her marriage to entertainment lawyer Doug Emhoff.
The cozy relationship has led to calls for clearer separation between media executives and politicians, especially when those ties threaten to undermine public trust in the news.
