Disney’s top Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer will be leaving the entertainment giant to “pursue other endeavors” as the company continues to face headwinds from conservative customers over its promotion of LGBT themes and battles with Florida Republicans, according to a memo obtained by Variety. 

An internal memo sent to employees this week announced that Latondra Newton, the company’s chief DEI officer and senior vice president, would be moving on from the company, Variety reported Tuesday. Newton will reportedly be moving to a board at a different corporation after six years at Disney. 

“I’m writing to share the news that Latondra Newton has decided to leave The Walt Disney Company to pursue other endeavors,” the internal memo obtained by Variety read. “Working alongside all of you and so many others, she has inspired countless cast members and employees to bring about lasting change and to help create a world where we can all feel safe and we all belong.”

Julie Merges, currently a human resources executive at the company, will be the interim top DEI officer while a hiring search is conducted. 

At Disney, Newton worked “with various business segments and leaders across the enterprise to build on Disney’s commitment to produce entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone,” according to the company. 

Newton signed on to a letter from top Disney executives taking aim at “racial disparities” following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis resolving to pursue “real change.” 

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“The recent killing of George Floyd as well as other instances of lethal attacks and harassment of unarmed black citizens in our nation continue to drive outrage and calls for action by people of all cultural backgrounds, including many of our employees,” the May 2020 letter said. “We also realize that now more than ever is the time for us all to further strengthen our commitment to diversity and inclusion everywhere.”

Under Newton, Disney also began its “Reimagine Tomorrow” program which focused on “representation” for a host of different groups including increasing “gender diversity,” “Black Representation,” “Female empowerment,” “Diverse Families,” “LGBTQIA+ Representation,” and “Middle Eastern Representation.” 

In recent years, Disney has come under fire from some customers over its insertion of LGBT themes into children’s content, including the inclusion of a gay kiss into the 2022 “Lightyear” film which flopped at the box office. The company also voiced opposition to a Florida law intended to shield kids from being taught gender ideology and sexual topics in the classroom. 

The company has also faced backlash online after video emerged of a man in a dress welcoming small children into a Disneyland boutique full of princess costumes. 

Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for kids entertainment content.

Officials searching for the missing Titan submersible have reportedly detected banging sounds in 30-minute intervals near where the divers went missing.

The OceanGate Expeditions submarine went missing on Sunday while on its way to view wreckage from the Titanic.

“RCC Halifax launched a P8, Poseidon, which has underwater detection capabilities from the air,” said an internal e-mail update sent by the Department of Homeland Security.

Rolling Stone first reported on the internal DHS memo.

“The P8 deployed sonobuoys, which reported a contact in a position close to the distress position,” the update said. “The P8 heard banging sounds in the area every 30 minutes. Four hours later additional sonar was deployed and banging was still heard.”

Canadian officials on board a specialized aircraft were the ones that detected the banging underwater. The news comes as there is less than 30 hours of breathable air left.

The message added that “the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is working to find an underwater remote-operated vehicle through partner organizations to possibly assist.”

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The publication added that the president of the Explorers Society said in a message late on Tuesday: “It is being reported that at 2 a.m. local time on site that sonar detected potential ‘tapping sounds’ at the location, implying crew may be alive and signaling.” The Boston Coast Guard, which is leading the rescue efforts, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the reported tapping sounds.

OceanGate Expeditions says on its website that the vessel has a 96-hour life support system for a crew of five. The Titan weighs 23,000 pounds and can reach a depth of nearly 2.5 miles underwater, which is about the depth of the Titanic’s wreckage on the Atlantic Ocean’s floor about 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Featuring a viewport window on one end, the Titan is roughly the size of a van and can work with smaller, commercially available ships, Oceangate says. It does not require a “man-rated crane or A-frame” for launch and recovery.

Oceangate says the Titan has “pressure vessel material” made of carbon fiber and titanium. The vessel can move at a speed of up to 3 knots with four electric thrusters. Integrated technology features include sonar equipment, a laser scanner, lights, and cameras. The Titan attaches itself to a launch and recovery platform that can sink by filling tanks with water and return to the surface in two minutes by filling ballast tanks with air.

This report has been updated to include additional information.