The company behind CoComelon — the Netflix show for toddlers under fire for its depiction of a small boy dressed in a tutu and tiara dancing for his two gay dads — is owned by two former Disney executives who remain close with its CEO Bob Iger.
Candle Media was founded by the former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs after they purchased CoComelon’s creator, Moonbug, in 2021 for a reported $3 billion. The pair were both recently removed from senior executive positions at Disney, where Mayer held roles such as Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Staggs, who was once viewed as the heir apparent to Iger, rose as high as Chairman of Walt Disney Parks And Resorts.
The pair joined forces with the backing of investment firm Blackstone to acquire Moonbug Entertainment, which was responsible not only for CoComelon but also Blippi, a pair of shows that regularly…
