Quick answer: Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek accuses Bob Iger of deliberately sabotaging Chapek’s leadership in an upcoming memoir. Fired in 2022 after less than three years as CEO, Chapek rejects blame for the dismissal in Behind the Castle Walls, arriving September 29.
The Bob Chapek memoir brings Disney’s former chief executive’s grievances against Bob Iger into public view, with Chapek accusing his predecessor of deliberately undermining his leadership. Fired in 2022 after less than three years as CEO, Chapek blames Iger for his removal and uses the book to defend his time at the company.
Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth arrives September 29 from Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Chapek’s belief that Iger worked against him is not new, but the memoir marks his first extended public account of those accusations and his tenure.
Chapek rejects blame for his dismissal
Chapek describes the personal fallout of losing Disney’s top job in unambiguous terms. “My abrupt dismissal hurt my reputation, leaving those close to me, outsiders and some within the kingdom trying to figure out what I did wrong,” he writes. “The answer, again, is nothing.”
Instead, Chapek alleges that Iger, who had handpicked him as his successor, relentlessly and intentionally sabotaged him. That accusation is Chapek’s account of the breakdown between the two executives, rather than an independently established explanation for his firing.
His defence also rests on his view of himself as a disrupter whose work was cut short. “I didn’t get a chance to finish what I started,” Chapek writes.
The leadership arrangement behind the clash
The background to the dispute begins with Iger’s abrupt resignation as Disney CEO in February 2020. Although he stepped away from the chief executive role, Iger remained executive chairman for two years and retained control over the company’s creative endeavours.
Iger reported directly to Disney’s board of directors during that period. Chapek, meanwhile, reported both to the board and to Iger, placing the incoming CEO in a leadership arrangement that kept his predecessor directly involved.
The two executives clashed. That overlap between Chapek’s CEO responsibilities and Iger’s continuing authority provides important context for the relationship examined in the memoir, without itself establishing Chapek’s allegation of deliberate sabotage.
For readers looking for Chapek’s explanation of his departure, the book offers a forceful defence in his own words. Its central contention is clear: the former Disney boss rejects responsibility for his dismissal and points instead to the executive who selected him for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bob Chapek allege about Bob Iger in his memoir?
Chapek alleges that Iger, who handpicked Chapek as Disney CEO, relentlessly and intentionally sabotaged Chapek’s leadership. The memoir presents Chapek’s account of his ouster, not an independently established finding.
What is Bob Chapek’s memoir called, and when is it released?
The memoir is titled Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth. Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, will publish it on September 29.
What role did Bob Iger hold while Bob Chapek was Disney CEO?
After resigning as CEO in February 2020, Iger remained executive chairman for two years, retaining control over Disney’s creative endeavours and reporting directly to the board. Chapek reported to both Iger and the board.
