The Walt Disney Company has cut another 300 jobs, this time in its HR and tech divisions. Meanwhile, Disney Entertainment CCO Dana Walden says technology is forcing the business to evolve.
What We Know: Disney has now laid off more than 10,000 employees since streaming cuts began in 2022. Earlier in 2026, the company eliminated roughly 1,000 marketing roles. Later, cuts hit ESPN, National Geographic, and Pixar, despite the $1 billion-plus run of Toy Story 5. Additionally, AI automation has trimmed HR staffing industry-wide, with Bloomberg reporting an 18% drop in HR jobs since ChatGPT launched. Walden was asked about the challenges facing the company at a Bloomberg event this week.
What They Said: (All quotes via Bloomberg):
Dana Walden on the recent round of layoffs with The Walt Disney Company: “It is extremely painful. We’ve exited colleagues who I’ve worked with for most of my career, it is in many ways a harsh reality. But I’m really grateful to [CEO Josh D’Amaro] and to Sonia Coleman, our head of HR. This past round was a voluntary retirement program, which was extremely generous, and gave a number of our long tenured executives agency and the opportunity to make their own decisions around whether the timing was right to leave or to stay, knowing that this evolution it will never stop.”
Dana Walden on her advice for Warner Bros. Discovery executives departing after the Paramount merger: “I would recommend that you approach these processes with compassion and try to do the best by your colleagues who are not going to have a long-term job at your company. Help them to find new jobs. Be great resources. Be of counsel. Set up programs to help them. You know, connect with other businesses. Casey [Bloys, HBO chief and expected Paramount-Warner streaming head] is a compassionate and empathetic person, so I think that’ll come very easy to him.”
What Remains Unclear: Walden didn’t say whether more cuts are coming within Disney’s own ranks. It’s also unclear how much AI directly drove the latest HR reduction. Notably, Walden described the latest round mixed with a voluntary retirement program. Still, she expects layoffs to continue across Hollywood.
What It Means: Ultimately, Disney’s cuts preview what’s next for the industry. The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger could trigger the next wave later this month. After all, CEO David Ellison has promised $6 billion in efficiencies from the $111 billion deal. For media workers, including those in sports, that means more turbulence ahead as the calendar counts down towards a new year.
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