Disney Dropped Twitter Pursuit Partly Over Image

  • Valuation, investor pressure said to also lead to decision
  • Twitter has been exploring solutions to harassment on service
Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
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Walt Disney Co. decided not to pursue a bid for Twitter Inc. partly out of concern that bullying and other uncivil forms of communication on the social media site might soil the company’s wholesome family image, according to people familiar with management’s thinking.

The producer of family fare like “Finding Dory” had gone so far as to hire two investment banks, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Guggenheim Partners LLC, to help evaluate a bid for Twitter. Disney management also listened to a presentation about the business from Twitter executives, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private.