Following her termination from "The Mandalorian" in 2021 due to controversial social media activity, Gina Carano, known for portraying Cara Dune, has initiated legal action against Disney and Lucasfilm.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Gina Carano attends the premiere of Disney+'s 'The Mandalorian' at El Capitan Theatre on November 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Alleging Wrongful Termination
This move comes just four days after the passing of her former co-star Carl Weathers. With support from Elon Musk, Carano filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and citing perceived discrepancies in treatment compared to her male counterparts.
According to Engadget, Carano revealed her belief that her dismissal stemmed from her viewpoints diverging from what was deemed acceptable at the time. X has confirmed its involvement in assisting Carano with her legal proceedings.
Carano elaborated on her stance, asserting that her posts were not intended to be aggressive or inflammatory. She vehemently denied making any racist or transphobic remarks and refuted claims of comparing Republicans to Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Carano argued that while her male co-stars were allegedly permitted to express their opinions freely without facing repercussions, she was subjected to a different standard.
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This lawsuit marks a significant development in Carano's ongoing battle with Disney and Lucasfilm, shedding light on issues surrounding freedom of expression and gender equality in the entertainment industry.
Carano emphasized that artists retain their rights as American citizens even while under employment. However, as she faced no legal repercussions for her views, her constitutional rights appeared unaffected.
On the other hand, corporations like Disney reserve the right to refrain from employing individuals whose beliefs conflict with their brand image.
Support from Elon Musk, X
Expressing gratitude towards Elon Musk and X, Carano acknowledged their assistance in shedding light on her case by financing her lawsuit.
Musk had previously pledged to cover legal expenses for users facing consequences due to their posts on the platform, as reported by NPC. X confirmed its financial support, underscoring its commitment to freedom of speech.
A spokesperson for the company stated that X Corp is proud to contribute to Gina Carano's lawsuit, enabling her to defend her right to free speech on the platform and pursue employment without facing harassment, bullying, or discrimination.
How Did It Start?
Carano's conflict with Disney stemmed from her activity on social media platforms, including X and Instagram.
Through her posts, she raised doubts about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, attributed blame to the Biden administration for the deaths of vaccinated individuals, expressed skepticism about Jeffrey Epstein's death, and unconventional pronouns of "boop/bop/beep."
The Mary Sue reported that Disney's decision to part ways with Carano was precipitated by her Instagram post suggesting similarities between the treatment of conservatives in the Trump era and the persecution of Jews in Nazi-era Germany.
The day after the controversial post, Disney decided to part ways with Carano, terminating her involvement in both The Mandalorian and the Rangers of the New Republic series, which has since been canceled.
A spokesperson for Disney commented that while her actions were deemed intolerable, citing her social media posts as disparaging individuals based on their cultural and religious backgrounds. Concurrently, Carano's agency, United Talent Agency, also severed ties with her.
