Disney exec who lasted four months made $119,505 a DAY - before disaster over 'Don't Say Gay' bill

The former Disney exec who lasted only four months on the job had made $119,505-a-day before resigning amid fallout over Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill. 

Geoff Morrell, 57, who served as the company’s chief corporate-affairs officer for 70 workdays, made a total of $8,365,403 in total compensation, before quitting on April 29, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reports.  

Along with the massive salary, Disney also paid him about half-a-million dollars to move from London to Los Angeles with his family, and then dished out another half when he quit, according to the company's security filing on Tuesday.

Morrell left the company after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed the Parent's Bill of Rights last year, leading to a public relations disaster where employees protested the company's initial silence on the issue that pitted the House of Mouse against state lawmakers. 

Geoff Morrell (pictured), 57, who served as the Disney's chief corporate-affairs officer for 70 workdays last year, made $119,505-a-day before resigning

During his brief tenure, Morrell oversaw a public relations disaster following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (above) push for the controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill 

The company saw hundreds of employees and demonstrators protest its initial silence, and then another wave of backlash after it opposed the bill 

Morrell joined Disney at the start of 2022, having previously worked as a Pentagon spokesman during the Obama administration and in BP. 

He was hired at a salary of $489,500, with an additional $2.75 million bonus handed out as compensation for leaving BP, where he worked in communications and external affairs, according to the security filing. 

A source at Disney told WSJ that the total 2022 compensation for Morrell, which is estimated to see an additional $5.1 million after stocks and options are taken into account, will likely be $2 million less due to drops in performance-based payments. 

Disney's filings also show that the company has purchased the $4.5 million Pasadena home Morrell bought last year when he moved to California. 

Morrell has since moved to Washington, D.C., and earlier this month, he signed with the consulting firm Teneo Holdings as their president of global strategy and communications.  

When departing last April, Morrell wrote in an email to staff: 'It has become clear to me that for a number of reasons it is not the right fit. I have decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.' 

Although his tenure at Disney was brief, Morrell over saw one of the most heated periods in the company's history as it faced mounting pressure to respond to Florida's controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill. 

Disney was met with a furious backlash from employees over its initial silence, with hundreds marching at its Florida and California theme parks in protest. 

The company then faced critics for coming out against the bill - which bans teaching of topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3.

Dozens of employees marched outside of Disney's headquarters in Burbank, California last year as part of a full day of walkouts across the company's theme parks and offices

The controversy also embroiled ousted CEO Bob Chapek, who was accused of pushing a woke agenda at Disney and was ultimately replaced by returning CEO Bob Iger. 

Disney's latest filing also revealed that Chapek, who took over for Iger in 2020, is eligible for about $20 million in severance pay. 

That would be in addition to the $24 million he earned last year from his salary and stock options and awards. 

With Disney currently working to clean up its reputation while facing challenges from state lawmakers looking to revoke its special tax district status, the House of Mouse is facing a challenge from billionaire investor Nelson Peltz. 

Billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz (right), with son-in-law Brooklyn Beckham. He launched a bid for a Disney board seat last week 

Peltz made a play for Disney with an SEC filing asking for a seat on the board, and with a multi-faceted social media and website campaign to 'restore' its lost 'magic'

Peltz, the 80-year-old father of Brooklyn Beckham's wife Nicola, last week submitted a request to the SEC for a seat at the Mickey Mouse table. 

He pointed out how Disney had underperformed the S&P 500 consistently, and said his business acumen could lead it to success. Peltz owns a 0.5 percent stake in Disney through his firm Trian Partners. 

Disney has since submitted a 16-page slideshow to the Securities and Exchange Commission that lays out why they think he's the wrong man for the job.  

Now, it will be down to Disney's shareholders to decide whether or not Peltz gets a seat. The vote will take place at the 2023 annual shareholders meeting. A date has not yet been set.