Bob Chapek, who served as CEO of Disney until his dismissal in November 2022, is releasing a memoir addressing his tenure and departure from the company. In “Behind the Castle Walls,” scheduled for release on September 29, Chapek contends that his predecessor Bob Iger, who personally selected him for the role in February 2020, was fundamentally responsible for engineering his exit and subsequent return to the CEO position.
Chapek asserts that Iger initiated what he describes as a systematic campaign to undermine his leadership over the course of nearly three years. According to Chapek, Iger appears 121 times in the 272-page book as the central figure in his downfall. When asked about his own performance during his tenure, Chapek acknowledged that no leader is without error, but maintained that any mistakes he made did not justify the board’s decision to terminate him. He cited a New York Times article from April 2020 as a key indicator of Iger’s intentions, noting that the piece described Iger as reasserting control at the company.
During an interview with Variety, Chapek discussed his decision to write the memoir, explaining that he initially declined the opportunity but reconsidered after allowing time to pass. He stated that he wanted to correct what he viewed as inaccurate narratives that emerged following his departure. When asked whether he considered legal action against Disney, Chapek declined to elaborate beyond saying he did not want to pursue that path. He confirmed having no communication with Iger since leaving the company, though he noted a brief encounter at the Sun Valley business conference in July 2022, where they exchanged pleasantries.
Regarding his legacy, Chapek pointed to widespread misconceptions about his time as CEO, arguing that focus on controversies such as the Florida education legislation debate and the Black Widow-Scarlett Johansson dispute overlooked the broader context of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic and managing significant corporate debt from the Fox acquisition. He also offered praise for his successor Josh D’Amaro, describing him as an excellent executive with both business acumen and interpersonal skills.
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