Bob Chapek accused the CFO who ousted him of “losing focus because of her ailing husband.”

Ousted ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek sidelined the company’s longtime chief financial officer during his most recent appearance as head of House of Mouse, barring her from high-level meetings and claiming she had lost concentration due to her husband’s health .

That’s according to a bombastic new Wall Street Journal article, which, citing unnamed Disney executives, said it was CFO Christine McCarthy who finally convinced former CEO Bob Iger to return to the role.

At the time, Iger was sailing around Fiji and complained to friends that he was “frustrated with the idleness” of his post-Disney life. His wife, Willow Bay, was too busy with her job as dean at the University of Southern California to go island hopping with him.

He stepped down as CEO in 2019 and Chapek replaced him.

Disney CEO Bob Iger pictured with his wife, former model Willow Bay, in 2018

Iger fully separated from Disney in late 2021 after staying on board for two years as executive chairman, helping to lead Chapek and ensuring a smooth transition.

However, during that time, Iger reportedly held meetings with executives without Chapek, 63, and often complained about his successor’s leadership and refusal to lean on him, saying his successor was doing a “terrible job.”

According to the WSJ, McCarthy called Chapek’s leadership “devastating” for the company. Finally, on November 16, she called Iger to see if he was interested in returning to the job he had held for 15 years.

Two days later, Disney’s board of directors offered Iger the job, then fired Chapek, who was hurt by falling stock prices and a battle with Florida lawmakers over his special status as a tax district.

McCarthy was among the top executives who often reprimanded Chapek’s failings and surprised him during a meeting where she outlined Disney’s declining earnings, sources told the WSJ.

Longtime Disney CFO Christine McCarthy hatched a conspiracy to oust Bob Chapek as CEO after she was banned from key meetings

During his sabbatical from Disney, Iger spent some time in Fiji island hopping on his 184-foot yacht Aquarius

Ousted CEO Bob Chapek had McCarthy barred from important meetings, leading to her plan to oust him

They noted that the chapek was furious with McCarthy for not discussing the numbers with him beforehand while giving briefing material to the rest of the board.

Chapek allegedly held meetings without McCarthy, saying she “lost focus” and became “unstable.” According to the WSJ, McCarthy’s husband was in poor health at the time.

The CFO has been married to real estate mogul Michael McCormick since 1988. The couple have two children together, daughter Kelsey and son Daniel.

Revelations about the findings from Chapek’s final days come as Disney warns employees that job cuts are imminent as the stock has fallen more than 42 percent over the past year.

According to current and former Disney executives, Iger continued to serve as the company’s “shadow CEO” after his retirement, but accepted a position as chairman of the board.

Iger reportedly continued to work from his office at Disney headquarters in Burbank, California, conducting deals with top executives without inviting Chapek.

The meetings were intended to let Chapek know, “They work for me, not you,” the sources said.

Chapek, on the other hand, wanted to gain a foothold in the company and often deviated from Iger’s advice.

When the pandemic hit, Iger had recommended the company delay downsizing until Congress approved the relief efforts.

However, Chapek pushed for the cuts to save cash, but the board sided with Iger, who retained much of his power to guide Disney through the pandemic.

Sources said Chapek was “angry” and would privately complain to his deputies that he was “not in full control”.

After Iger touted his work during the pandemic during an interview with The New York Times, the sources said any chances that Chapek would personally turn to his mentor for advice ranged “from unlikely to impossible.”

The two men also fell out over the launch of Disney’s streaming service, which Iger had predicted would see the company have 60 million to 90 million users in its first five years.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office said he was not about to reverse the idea of ​​scrapping some of Disney’s special privileges, which had become a major issue under Chapek’s leadership

Noting the surge in streaming during the pandemic, Chapek raised the projections to 260 million subscribers in December 2020, with Iger saying it’s “not wise to offer such an ambitious target.”

Though Disney saw early success, its most recent earnings report shows the streaming service has since lost $1.5 billion.

Since Chapek took over, the company has lost a full third of its value.

Iger’s sensational return as Disney CEO came as a shock to some of the media conglomerate’s executives – who only found out about the change in leadership at an Elton John concert on November 20.

Chapek is expected to receive a $23 million exit package, and more if stock prices bounce back after falling more than 42 percent over the past year.

Iger (right), pictured with his successor and predecessor Bob Chapek (left), told Disney employees in late November he had a “hunch” he would receive a call to return to the company

Since Chapek took over the company, it’s been blasted as too awake as the House of Mouse further abused its ties with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the bill barring teachers of third-grade students and below from talking about sexuality speak.

As a result, DeSantis decided to withdraw Disney World’s special tax privileges.

The company has also been criticized for becoming more awake, with scenes of a lesbian kiss in the children’s film Lightyear and a transgender man buying tampons in the TV series Baymax – although those productions were likely sanctioned during Iger’s tenure.

Disney is also facing pressure from park workers who have demanded pay increases, as longtime employees say they are “grossly underpaid” while the company enjoys $3.6 billion in profits from their work.

The Services Trades Council Union (STCU), which represents 42,000 of Disney’s 70,000 employees, has urged the company to increase employee wages to help meet their high living expenses.

While Disney granted employees a $2 increase to $15 an hour in 2021, the union said that was a far cry from the $18.19 needed to make ends meet now when workers protested in front of the Magic Kingdom last week.

Earl Penson, who has been a chef for 11 years, told The Guardian that the latest pay rise was not shared evenly as he earns just 50p more than a new hire.

“We’re grossly, grossly underpaid for the hours that we work,” Penson said. “Many of us have the same story of not being able to afford the cost of living on the salary we earn.”

“A lot of Disney workers hardly come by. They have workers with families sleeping in their cars.’

Disney park workers are asking for a $15 hourly increase in hourly wages to meet the current standard wage of $18.19

He criticized Disney for not raising its wages to match the average standard of living in Orange County, Florida, which the MIT Living Wage Calculator puts at $18.19.

“It’s really heartbreaking, it’s a moral fly in the ointment because you think they realize how hard the cast is working,” Penson said. “I wish they would let us know that they appreciate the magic we bring.

“Each of us is a part of the magic at Disney and we enjoy creating the magic. We just want to be compensated for making the magic.’

According to Local 737, one of the six unions represented by STCU, about 75 percent of its members have had to forego meals over the past year just to save money.

Another 35 percent needed a second job to make ends meet, and a quarter of union members stopped buying prescription drugs.

About 40 percent or more have stressed about money, which has impacted their relationships and health.

The union also found that 26 percent of its members have had to move because their rent or mortgage has gone up, while 21 percent have hired roommates to help with expenses.

About 39 percent of members said they were concerned about homelessness.

Regarding the negotiations, Disney said it was considering asking employees for a path to a $20-an-hour salary.

“We have put forward a strong and compelling proposition that surpasses the Florida minimum wage by at least $5 an hour and immediately raises starting wages by at least $20 an hour for certain positions, including bus drivers, housekeepers, cooks, and while also providing a path to $20 for all other full-time, no-tip STCU positions during the contract term.’ The company said in a statement.