Gina Carano has initiated legal action against Disney and Lucasfilm, marking a significant turn in her career trajectory. The former MMA fighter, who transitioned into acting with roles in “Deadpool” and “Fast & Furious 6,” was cast as Cara Dune in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian.” Despite her success in the first two seasons alongside Pedro Pascal, Carano’s tenure was cut short in 2021 due to controversial social media posts.
Lucasfilm and Disney severed ties with Carano following her tweets that disparaged mask-wearing, propagated unfounded voter fraud allegations following the 2020 US Presidential Election, and likened being a Republican to being Jewish during the Holocaust. Her post stated: “Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views.” This comparison was deemed ‘abhorrent and unacceptable’ by a spokesperson, leading to her dismissal from “The Mandalorian.”
Carano, with the backing of Elon Musk, is now suing Disney and Lucasfilm, alleging she was ‘harassed and defamed’ for her conservative views. Her lawsuit claims she was terminated for expressing personal opinions and resisting a “mob” demanding adherence to “extreme progressive ideology.” She seeks $75,000 in damages and aims to be recast in the series. Carano was reportedly paid $25,000 per episode for her role in “The Mandalorian.”
Following the lawsuit’s filing, Joe Benarroch, X’s head of business operations, expressed support for Carano, highlighting X Corp’s commitment to free speech and their financial backing of her legal battle. “As a sign of X Corp’s commitment to free speech, we’re proud to provide financial support for Gina Carano’s lawsuit, empowering her to seek vindication of her free speech rights on X and the ability to work without bullying, harassment, or discrimination,” he stated.
Carano has publicly thanked Musk and X for their support, sharing her appreciation on social media. She expressed a desire to resume her storytelling career and clear her name from the allegations and labels imposed by “the most powerful entertainment company in the world.” Carano’s statement reflects her gratitude towards Musk for his significant support and her eagerness to move past the controversy.
