An actor from “Star Wars,” supported by Elon Musk’s X, is taking legal action against Disney for her dismissal due to controversial social media remarks regarding the Holocaust, the pandemic, and transgender rights.
Gina Carano, formerly a prominent figure in Disney+’s hit series “The Mandalorian” until 2021, filed a lawsuit in California on Tuesday alleging wrongful termination.
In the lawsuit, Carano contends that she was merely expressing her personal political opinions but faced relentless harassment from an “extreme progressive” online community. She alleges that Disney’s response and public statements have tarnished her reputation and jeopardized her future job prospects.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Carano announced the legal action, stating, “Today is an important day for me — I am filing a lawsuit against @lucasfilm & @Disney.”
A spokesperson for X confirmed that the lawsuit is being financially supported by the company.
Disney terminated Carano’s contract citing her social media activity, which the company characterized as “abhorrent and unacceptable,” particularly for its denigration of individuals based on their cultural and religious backgrounds.
One of the posts that sparked controversy was Carano’s comparison of the experience of conservatives in the United States to that of Jews in Nazi Germany, drawing widespread criticism and condemnation.
In one of her controversial posts, Carano likened the ease with which Nazi soldiers rounded up Jews during the Holocaust to the ostracization of individuals based on their political beliefs, drawing a parallel that stirred significant backlash.
She also faced criticism for mocking Covid-19 safety measures, such as wearing multiple masks, during the pandemic in California, adding to the controversy surrounding her social media activity.
Furthermore, Carano had previously incurred backlash from the transgender community for her decision to include “boop/bop/beep” as preferred pronouns on her Twitter profile, a move that was perceived as dismissive and disrespectful.
In her statement on Tuesday, Carano asserted that her social media posts were intended to be thought-provoking and occasionally humorous, emphasizing that she had never resorted to aggressive language.
Both her statement and the lawsuit suggest that Carano’s freedom of speech rights were not upheld to the same extent as some of her male counterparts in similar situations.
Following a public response to Elon Musk’s offer to support individuals terminated for expressing themselves on X, Carano was approached by a lawyer from X offering assistance with her case.
In an official statement, X reiterated its commitment to free speech by providing financial backing for Carano’s lawsuit.
While the lawsuit does not specify the exact amount of damages sought, it highlights the loss of a role in the planned “Mandalorian” spin-off “Rangers of the New Republic,” which Carano claims would have been valued at “$150,000 to $250,000 per episode.”
