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Neil Patrick Harris Lightly Roasted Bob Chapek & Brought Down The House
The dig at the former Disney CEO earned the actor laughter and cheers.
On Sunday, Neil Patrick Harris took the stage at Disney World to lead the annual Candlelight Processional at EPCOT, a holiday tradition in which a narrator tells the story of Christmas. Harris took the opportunity to crack a gentle joke at the expense of former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, earning cheers, laughter, and some shock.
“Welcome to tonight’s performance of the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT,” Harris began. “EPCOT, an acronym. And I’m pretty sure the ‘C’ doesn’t stand for Chapek.”
EPCOT actually stands for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” but still, kudos for the joke. Harris also suggested it could stand for “Every Parent Can Order Tequila.”
Chapek was replaced by former CEO Bob Iger in November. Chapek had become a controversial figure following his handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, as well as his campaign against actor Scarlett Johansson and subsequent settlement over her Black Widow pay. Earlier that month, he had also announced a hiring freeze likely to be followed by layoffs.
As a result, many theme park Cast Members expressed their excitement over the leadership change and return of Iger. It also meant that Harris’ good-natured dig landed.
While the remarks appear to have been scrubbed from the official video, attendees shared their reactions and a video on social media.
\u201cNeil Patrick Harris: \u201cEPCOT. That\u2019s an acronym. Pretty sure the \u2018C\u2019 doesn\u2019t stand for Chapek\u201d\n\nWHEN I TELL YOU THAT EVERY CAST MEMBER ON THAT STAGE INCLUDING ME WAS JAW ON THE FLOOR OR LAUGHING OR BOTH AND THE AUDIENCE WAS CHEERING\u201d— Crissie Auguste (@Crissie Auguste) 1671411967
\u201c\u201cWelcome to tonight\u2019s performance of the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. EPCOT \u2026. an acronym \u2026 and I\u2019m pretty sure the C doesn\u2019t stand for \u201cChapek.\u201d \u2014 @ActuallyNPH \n\nhttps://t.co/oTFgHycL7v\u201d— Scott Gustin (@Scott Gustin) 1671409955
They did however include Harris’ heartfelt story about growing up fascinated with Disney World and EPCOT, and the joy it brings him to now be able to visit there with his husband and children.
Sunday’s event marked the 60th anniversary of the Candlelight Processional. Previous hosts have included Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldbert, Simu Liu, and Angela Bassett.
Yes! Neil Patrick Harris has been married to David Burtka for eight years.
Harris is the biological father of one of his twins and his husband David Burtka is the biological father of the other.
Neil said in an interview with FLATT that in addition to English he speaks “a little Spanish. And a tiny bit of French and Italian just ‘cause I lived over there and had to learn quickly at the age of five.”
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Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq, and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq, and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
