Dana Walden sent an employee-wide memo to all Disney Entertainment employees on Friday reflecting on the past week since Hamas attacked Israel in a deadly and devastating war.
“Tomorrow will be a week since the world was forever changed by the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Walden wrote in a memo obtained exclusively by Variety.
“There are moments in history when the horror and grief are so overwhelming that no words will suffice,” Walden said. “This is one of those moments.”
The letter continued: “Like all of you, I am devastated by the innocent lives lost in the region. I am also angry – that this act of evil and cowardice by Hamas has torn families apart and stolen loved ones long before their time.”
Walden, a Jew, is co-chairman of Disney Entertainment. Her letter to employees follows the Walt Disney Company’s announcement that the company would make a $2 million donation to humanitarian aid in Israel. Disney CEO Bob Iger released an official company statement Thursday evening condemning Hamas’ attacks, stating: “After the horrific terrorist attacks against Jews in Israel last weekend, we must all do what we can to protect the innocent people “To support those who are experiencing a lot of pain, violence and insecurity – especially children.”
More than 1,000 civilians have died in both Israel and the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas fired thousands of rockets from Gaza, brutally killing innocent civilians in their homes and carrying out a massacre at a pro-peace music festival where 260 bodies were found. More than 100 civilians have been kidnapped from Israel and are being held hostage in Gaza. Over 20 American citizens were killed and others are missing or taken hostage.
In Walden’s letter, the executive says she reached out to employees to discuss “shared fears and grief.” It is aimed at employees who have lost friends or family members in the war.
“This is a moment for all of us to stand together as a community – to comfort one another and lean on one another,” Walden writes.
Walden thanked the journalists at Disney at the local network level and at ABC News, thanking these teams for “working tirelessly around the clock and noting that they are “risking their lives on the ground.”
Walden’s full memo can be found here:
Team,
Tomorrow will be a week since the world was forever changed by the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
There are moments in history when the horror and grief are so overwhelming that no words will suffice. This is one of those moments. Like all of you, I am devastated by the innocent lives lost in the region. I am also angry – that this act of evil and cowardice by Hamas tore families apart and stole loved ones long before their time.
After this terrorist attack, I had the opportunity to talk to some of you about our shared fears and grief. Some of you have lost close friends or family members – and I cannot imagine the extent of your pain. Others have reached out and wanted to know how they can help and support their colleagues who are currently struggling. This is a moment for all of us to stand together as a community – to comfort one another and lean on one another. I continue to be impressed by the compassion and resilience of this team, and both are needed now.
I also want to thank our incredible Owned Television Stations and ABC News organizations who work tirelessly around the clock and our team who continue to risk their lives on the ground. The stories they tell are ones that no one ever wants to cover, but are so important to the world. The 20/20 special earlier this week was raw, powerful and heartbreaking – and it illuminated the human cost of this terrible violence.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support each other. Please be kind to yourself and each other during this particularly dark time. If you are having difficulties or simply need someone to listen to you, please reach out to a colleague or your manager. We are all here for you and will get through this together.
My best,
Dana