Actress Gina Carano, known for her role in the popular Disney series The Mandalorian, was terminated by Disney due to controversial social media posts discussing topics such as the Holocaust, the pandemic, and transgender rights.
Now, backed by Elon Musk’s company X, a Star Wars actor is taking legal action against Disney for wrongful termination. Carano filed a lawsuit in California on Tuesday, claiming that her firing was unjustified.
The lawsuit asserts that Carano was expressing her personal political opinions but faced harassment from an “extreme progressive” online community. It alleges that Disney’s response damaged her reputation and career prospects.
In a statement on X, Carano announced her decision to sue Lucasfilm and Disney, emphasizing the significance of the day for her.
X confirmed that they are funding Carano’s lawsuit, standing by their commitment to free speech. Carano’s termination stemmed from what Disney labeled as “abhorrent and unacceptable” social media posts, including one likening political conservatism in the US to Jewish persecution in Nazi Germany.
Another post mocked Covid-19 safety measures, while Carano had also faced criticism for her stance on transgender pronouns.
Carano maintains that her posts were meant to be thought-provoking and respectful, denying the use of aggressive language. Both her statement and the lawsuit suggest unequal treatment regarding freedom of speech compared to her male counterparts.
The lawsuit does not specify the damages sought, but it mentions losing a role in a planned Mandalorian spin-off, potentially worth between $150,000 to $250,000 per episode.
