Gina Carano, a former mixed martial arts athlete and prominent figure in “The Mandalorian,” filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm on February 6. The lawsuit revolves around claims of discrimination and wrongful dismissal.
In her federal lawsuit filed in a California court, Carano asserted that her termination resulted from her conservative views expressed on social media. Carano’s dismissal from “The Mandalorian” was announced by Lucasfilm shortly after she made a somewhat contentious post on social media in 2021.
The actress made connections between past events and current political discussions in her social media updates. Her conservative viewpoints on various topics, such as the recent global health crisis and the integrity of elections, have sparked debate and ultimately resulted in her dismissal from UTA, her talent agency.
Musk offered financial support for Carano’s legal case. Joe Benarroch, X’s Vice President of Commercial Operations, stressed the company’s backing of free speech. He expressed that Gina Carano could seek remedy for her freedom of expression with this financial assistance.
X users who have faced workplace harassment or reprisal due to their actions on the platform will receive financial assistance, as previously pledged by Musk. Musk has reiterated his intention to hold company boards accountable and has emphasized that there will be no limitations on costs.
In her lawsuit, Carano alleges that Disney and Lucasfilm subjected her to harassment and defamation because she did not align with their political and social perspectives, particularly regarding social justice issues. Carano asserts her entitlement to a fair trial by highlighting instances of derogatory social media comments made by her male co-stars. One example she cites is Pedro Pascal’s 2017 tweet, where he likened Donald Trump to Hitler.
The lawsuit mentions coercive actions by Disney, such as being compelled to engage with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and issuing a public apology. Carano’s refusal to adhere to these demands resulted in her exit from “The Mandalorian” and other Star Wars projects.
During his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who holds a critical view of Disney, emphasized the notion of holding corporations accountable for their embrace of woke ideologies as a key theme.
