Disney's Latest Layoffs: Walden Warns of Industry Changes

Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden recently spoke about the company's latest round of layoffs, calling them 'extremely painful'. The cuts, which occurred earlier this week, affected over 300 jobs, mostly in Human Resources and technology teams. This is the third round of layoffs for Disney in 2026, following a previous cut of around 1,000 jobs in April.

'It is extremely painful,' Walden said. 'We've exited colleagues who I've worked with for most of my career.' She explained that Disney's entertainment business grew through acquisitions, which often retained their own executives. However, this setup no longer works in today's market, and the company had to centralize its operations.

The layoffs are part of a broader effort by Disney to cut costs and stay competitive in the streaming industry. The company is also offering a Voluntary Early Retirement program to longtime executives, which Walden described as 'extremely generous'. She urged other studios facing similar decisions to approach them with compassion and prioritize their colleagues' well-being.