Disney CEO Bob Chapek got down on bended knee and offered a “mea culpa” in an email to the company’s LGBTQ community asking forgiveness for not standing up strongly enough against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and pledging allegiance in the fight for equal rights.

“It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights,” Chapek wrote in an email addressed to the company’s LGBTQ community. “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry.”

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Chapek has been caught in a media firestorm for his handling of Disney’s response to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would prohibit primary school classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity. The Florida Senate has passed the controversial LGBTQ school measure and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled he will sign the bill.

Chapek opted against denouncing the Florida legislation in favor of quietly working behind-the-scenes with DeSantis and state lawmakers — saying corporate statements do little to change minds and can be weaponized in counterproductive ways. Desantis slammed Disney for promoting a “woke” ideology after Chapek finally denounced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“Thank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the company’s response to the Florida ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill,” Chapek wrote in the email also posted to the company’s website. “Speaking to you, reading your messages and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was.”

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Chapek took heat from employees, critics and the media for playing both sides in Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” battle and the company’s financial support of politicians behind the legislation.

“Our employees see the power of this great company as an opportunity to do good. I agree,” Chapek wrote in the email. “Yes, we need to use our influence to promote that good by telling inclusive stories, but also by standing up for the rights of all.”

Chapek tried to deflect criticism by saying Disney supported the LGBTQ community and was changing hearts and minds by creating movies and TV shows promoting diversity and inclusion — but that only backfired and invoked more criticism.

“I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community,” Chapek wrote in the email. “I missed the mark in this case but am an ally you can count on and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve.”

Disney is reassessing political campaign donations in the wake of the company’s response to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, according to Chapek.

“Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states,” Chapek wrote in the email. “We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. And today, we are pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.”

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Last year, Disney launched a campaign to introduce more diversity and inclusion into its theme parks, workforce and company culture. At the same time, Disney is in the process of moving  the company’s theme park division headquarters, Walt Disney Imagineering and more than 2,000 employees to the Orlando area to take advantage of “Florida’s business-friendly climate.”

“I know there is so much more work to be done,” Chapek wrote in the email. “I am committed to this work and to you all and will continue to engage with the LGBTQ+ community so that I can become a better ally.”