Comedian and upcoming Emmys host Nate Bargatze questioned whether the current leadership at Disney holds the same values as its founder, suggesting the company’s priorities have shifted away from its audience. In a recent interview with Esquire, Bargatze named Walt Disney as one of his key creative influences, but distinguished the man from the company bearing his name.
Bargatze listed Jerry Seinfeld, Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler, and Walt Disney as central to his outlook on entertainment. While praising Disney the individual for his focus on customers, he criticized what he sees as a purely commercial mindset guiding the company today. “Now Disney is run by a guy that’s just a businessman,” he said. “Well, that guy doesn’t care about the audience.”
Though he didn’t refer to anyone directly, his comments appeared aimed at Disney CEO Bob Iger, who returned to the role in late 2022. Bargatze described a disconnect between current leadership and the legacy that Walt Disney built. “I think [Walt] cared about what he created and his customers,” he said. “Now Disney is run by a guy that’s just a businessman.”
Bargatze emphasized that his own projects are built with audiences in mind. “None of this happens without them,” he said. His recent public comments reflect his broader interest in ensuring that his work remains accessible and inclusive. “The audience is very much in mind with everything that I will make,” he told The New York Times earlier this year. “Again, I try not to do it for me. It’s for you. I want them to be able to trust that.”
His approach has defined much of his stand-up work. Bargatze has long avoided material that could alienate or divide viewers. In a December interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said, “I don’t want anybody to feel bad or uncomfortable. It would break my heart if someone thought that I thought I’m better than them.”
He added that he always aimed to reach broad audiences without exclusion. “I grew up eating at chain restaurants and going to Walmart — I’m on board with selling everything to everybody,” he said. “A lot of times people will be more like, ‘My comedy isn’t for everybody,’ and there’s a pride in that, but it just never clicked for me. I was always like, ‘Why would you not want everybody to come to your show?’”
As Bargatze prepares to host the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards this fall, he’s also stepping further into film. His first feature, The Breadwinner, is scheduled for a 2026 release. The move comes as he plans a gradual transition away from live comedy.
“I don’t plan on touring and doing stand-up forever. I want to make movies,” he said. “People can think, If you get too big, are you going to change? The audience is very much in mind with everything that I will make.”
Bargatze has hinted that his stand-up career may be winding down. “The next special will be on Netflix,” he said in April. “I could see maybe one more special after that. I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I also want to get out of the way. I need to let the next wave of comedians come up. I got this tour and then maybe one more.”
His current tour continues to draw large crowds, with venues across the country selling out months in advance. Despite this success, he has expressed a desire to keep his work grounded. His comedy typically centers on day-to-day experiences, often featuring stories about family life, travel mishaps, and small-town America.
In interviews, he has consistently credited his audience with shaping his material. He said he revises shows based on feedback, even from individual attendees. “If someone comes up to me after and says something didn’t sit right, I take that seriously,” he said. “Not because I’m scared, but because I want to get it right.”
Bargatze’s criticisms of Disney surfaced while discussing his influences. His mention of Walt Disney came as part of a larger conversation about the people who shaped his values in entertainment. Each name he cited — Seinfeld, Apatow, Sandler, and Disney — shares a history of reaching wide audiences with consistent, recognizable tones.
While the comedian’s remarks on Disney drew the most attention, the surrounding discussion centered on how creators relate to their viewers. Bargatze said he sees his job as an opportunity to connect across differences. “I want to be for everybody,” he said. “I mean, that’s the goal.”
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to both Bargatze’s and Iger’s representatives for comment, though neither responded publicly to the statements made in the interview. The timing of Bargatze’s remarks coincides with an ongoing period of transition at Disney, which has seen changes in content strategy, restructuring of its streaming services, and increased scrutiny from investors.
Although he’s moving into new formats, Bargatze said his focus remains on how people experience the stories he creates. Whether through comedy, film, or television, he said he wants audiences to feel considered. “It’s for you,” he said. “I want them to be able to trust that.”