Disney chief apologizes, pledges personal donation to school fined for ‘The Lion King’ screening

BERKELEY, Calif. — Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger has apologized publicly to a California elementary school fined for screening the studio’s 2019 reboot of “The Lion King” during a fundraiser, multiple media outlets reported.

According to CNN, the Berkeley school was fined $250 by licensing firm Movie Licensing USA after the film was screened "illegally" during a November parents' night event.

"One of the dads bought the movie at Best Buy," PTA president David Rose told CNN, adding, "He owned it. We literally had no idea we were breaking any rules."

Intentions aside, the school received an email from the licensing firm more than two months after the fact requesting payment of $250 for the Nov. 15 screening and $250 per future showing, CNN reported.

"Any time a movie is shown outside of the home, legal permission is needed to show it, as it is considered a Public Performance," the email, obtained by CNN, read.

According to Variety, the incident gained national attention when faculty and parents took to social media in a Feb. 4 post to the school's PTA Facebook page asking supporters to help "offset" the fine via donations.

The movie, a remake of the 1994 animated blockbuster, has made more than $1.6 billion globally, CNN reported.