Bob Chapek may be gone from Disney, but he apparently has plenty to say about the company he once controlled — including who deserves credit for its current CEO.Nearly four years after Disney removed Chapek from its top job, the former executive is preparing to tell his side of the story. And one of his more eyebrow-raising claims involves Josh D’Amaro, the man now sitting in the CEO chair.Chapek essentially argues that D’Amaro might not have reached Disney’s highest office without him.It is a striking claim considering Chapek remains one of the most controversial executives in modern Disney history. As he prepares to release his memoir, Chapek appears ready to defend his record and claim some ownership over the executive now leading Disney.Chapek Wants Credit for Disney’s New CEOChapek discusses D’Amaro in his upcoming memoir, Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth, according to excerpts obtained by The New York Times.Rather than simply describing D’Amaro as a former colleague, Chapek portrays himself as one of the driving forces behind D’Amaro’s rise through Disney.“I consistently suggested the idea of promoting him,” Chapek writes, according to the Times. He also claims D’Amaro was relatively unknown within Disney’s corporate structure before Chapek identified his potential.Chapek goes even further.He describes D’Amaro as “the tip of my spear” when discussing the changes he wanted to make inside Disney.That description could prove uncomfortable for D’Amaro, particularly because Chapek’s approach to Disney remains deeply divisive among longtime fans.Credit: DisneyD’Amaro Rose During a Disney CrisisThe timing of D’Amaro’s ascent makes Chapek’s claim more interesting.Disney promoted Chapek from chairman of its parks division to CEO in February 2020, shortly before COVID-19 disrupted the company.Disney temporarily closed its theme parks, suspended cruise operations, and faced enormous uncertainty.D’Amaro moved into Chapek’s former position during that chaos, becoming chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products in May 2020.That placed D’Amaro in charge of Disney’s theme parks and other businesses during one of the company’s most difficult periods.The parks eventually reopened, but the Disney vacation experience looked considerably different.Guests encountered reservation systems, pricing changes, and a growing emphasis on premium products. Disney also moved away from several complementary offerings as the company searched for additional revenue.Credit: DisneyChapek Still Defends His Controversial Disney StrategyChapek’s upcoming book reportedly defends his aggressive approach to generating more revenue from Disney’s theme parks.Before becoming CEO, Chapek spent years overseeing the parks business and developed a reputation for a heavy focus on financial performance.The New York Times reports that Chapek remains proud of bringing airline-style dynamic pricing concepts into Disney’s theme park business. He argues that higher prices could reduce overcrowding while improving guest satisfaction.For many Disney fans, however, the Chapek years became associated with increasingly expensive vacations and the sense that Disney was finding new ways to charge guests.That makes his description of D’Amaro as a central player in his strategy especially notable.D’Amaro built a warmer public image than Chapek ever managed. He frequently appeared inside the parks, interacted with Cast Members, and became a more personable face of Disney Experiences.But Chapek’s version of events connects D’Amaro directly to the business philosophy that made his own leadership so controversial.Credit: DisneyD’Amaro Isn’t Taking the BaitFor now, D’Amaro isn’t publicly engaging with his former boss.A spokesperson for D’Amaro declined to comment when contacted by The New York Times about Chapek’s characterization of their relationship.D’Amaro officially became Disney CEO in March 2026 after the company selected him to succeed Bob Iger.Chapek’s Disney story ended much differently.Disney’s board removed him as CEO in November 2022 after less than three years in charge and brought Iger back almost immediately.Now, Chapek appears determined to influence how people remember that turbulent period.Chapek Is Rewriting His Disney LegacyThe larger story here isn’t simply whether Chapek helped D’Amaro earn promotions.Executives routinely advocate for promising people beneath them, and D’Amaro still had to build the résumé that eventually convinced Disney’s board to hand him control of the company.What makes Chapek’s comments fascinating is how firmly he connects D’Amaro’s success to his own legacy.Chapek isn’t distancing himself from the controversial Disney strategies of his era. He is defending them while portraying the company’s current CEO as one of the executives he selected to carry them forward.For D’Amaro, that creates an interesting problem.He has an opportunity to establish his own identity as Disney CEO, but Chapek is publicly reminding everyone that their careers were once closely connected.Credit: DisneyDisney Has Moved On, but Chapek Clearly Hasn’tDisney has entered another era under D’Amaro, while Chapek has spent years outside the company.Yet his upcoming memoir threatens to reopen arguments Disney probably hoped had been left behind.Chapek seems determined to make the case that his Disney tenure deserves reconsideration — and that D’Amaro represents part of his legacy.Whether Disney fans accept that version of history is another matter.But Chapek has made his position clear: if Josh D’Amaro becomes the face of Disney’s future, the former CEO wants people to remember who he says helped put him on that path.The post Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek Claims He Forged Current Chief Josh D’Amaro in COVID Crisis appeared first on Inside the Magic.