Los Angeles, California – Gina Carano, a former actor in the “Star Wars” universe, has filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company over her firing nearly three years ago. Carano, known for her role as former Rebel trooper Cara Dune on the “Star Wars” television series “The Mandalorian,” was let go by Disney subsidiary Lucasfilm after making controversial posts on social media.
Carano is seeking to be rehired by Disney and Lucasfilm, claiming that her termination was due to her right-wing, conservative views. In a post announcing the lawsuit, Carano stated, “I was being hunted down from everything I posted to every post I liked because I was not in line with the acceptable narrative of the time.” Her firing came after she shared a post on Instagram comparing the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany to those with conservative beliefs in the United States. Lucasfilm and Disney stated that her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities were unacceptable.
Carano’s lawsuit alleges that Disney and Lucasfilm only allowed one accepted orthodoxy in their empire and did not tolerate anyone who questioned or failed to comply. She claims that she was terminated for voicing her own opinions on social media and elsewhere. Through the lawsuit, Carano is seeking to be recast as Cara Dune and receive $75,000 in punitive damages for wrongful termination.
The lawsuit also accuses Disney and Lucasfilm of harassing and defaming Carano for not conforming to their viewpoints on issues such as Black Lives Matter, preferred pronouns, and election interference claims. Carano argues that Disney turned a blind eye to offensive and denigrating posts made by her male co-stars directed toward Republicans.
Carano’s comments originally made on social media caught the attention of Elon Musk, who is now funding her lawsuit. X, Musk’s company, is supporting Carano in seeking her free speech rights and the ability to work without harassment or discrimination.
Disney and Lucasfilm have not made official statements regarding the lawsuit. However, Disney CEO Bob Iger did not seem pleased when asked about the matter during an interview. It is unclear when the case will proceed, but Carano expressed confidence in her legal team and their belief in her case.
Carano’s lawsuit raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and the enforcement of personal beliefs within the entertainment industry. The outcome of the case will determine whether Disney and Lucasfilm will face consequences for their handling of Carano’s termination, or if the court will rule in their favor.