Disney Is Shelling Out $5 Million for Notre-Dame, Too

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Like many other companies, Disney is rushing to Frances aid to help rebuild Notre-Dame, the iconic Parisian church damaged by a tragic fire on Monday. The studio has pledged $5 million toward the churchs repair, joining brands like Apple, Louis Vuitton, and LOréal.

“Notre-Dame is a beacon of hope and beauty that has defined the heart of Paris and the soul of France for centuries, inspiring awe and reverence for its art and architecture and for its enduring place in human history,” Disney C.E.O. Bob Iger said in a statement, per CNN. He also notes that Disney “stands with our friends and neighbors in the community.”

Disney has a special connection to the Parisian landmark, thanks to its 1996 animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The film, based on the Victor Hugo classic, tells the story of Quasimodo, a hunchback who lives his whole life within the confines of the cathedral. The studio is also working on a live-action version of the film.

After news of the Notre-Dame fire first broke, Hugos book reportedly shot back to the best-seller list on Amazon France. Thanks to the Disney connection, the fire has also since sparked a viral subgenre of Quasimodo fan art, as well as some really bad jokes by perennially unfunny senator Ted Cruz.

Thus far, a whopping $735 million has been raised for Notre-Dames restoration, thanks to companies and billionaires like François-Henri Pinault (the husband of actress Salma Hayek, who once starred in a live-action version of Hunchback), rushing to Frances aid. In a statement, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he hopes the cathedral will be rebuilt within the next five years.

“It is up to us to convert this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are,” he said. “It is up to us to find the thread of our national project.”

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The Night of the Generals, 1967

From Everett Collection.

<em>Count Your Blessings</em>, 1959

Count Your Blessings, 1959

From Everett Collection.

Notre Dame de Paris, 1956

Notre Dame de Paris, 1956

From Everett Collection.

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