Actress Gina Carano filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, February 6th, against Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company. Carano, who is a former MMA fighter, portrayed Cara Dune in the first two seasons of the hit television series “The Mandalorian”.
Actress Gina Carano sues Disney, Lucasfilm over ‘The Mandalorian’ firing | Just The News https://t.co/9f8L39drJw
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 7, 2024
In the lawsuit filed by Carano, which was filed in California, she alleges that she was wrongfully terminated due to her posts on social media.
CBS News has more on Carano and her interactions on X:
In one post, the actress compared the divided American political climate to Nazi Germany. She was also accused of mocking transgender people and mocking mask-wearing during the COVID pandemic.
“The truth is 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,” Carano said in a Tuesday post on X. “My words were consistently twisted to demonize & dehumanize me as an alt right wing extremist. It was a bullying smear campaign aimed at silencing, destroying & making an example out of me.”
BBC News has more on Carano’s lawsuit:
The lawsuit is being funded by Elon Musk, who made an open call on his platform X for others to join the suit.
Ms Carano is seeking $75,000 (£60,000) in damages. She is also asking the court to force Lucasfilm to recast her.
Ms Carano claims she was fired “because she dared voice her own opinions… and stood up to the online bully mob who demanded her compliance with their extreme progressive ideology”.
The lawsuit alleges that the actress was treated differently from two male co-stars, who wrote or shared posts online maligning Republicans as Nazis but faced no penalty.
In a lengthy statement on X, Ms Carano said she had been subjected to “a bullying smear campaign aimed at silencing, destroying & making an example out of me”.
“Artists do not sign away our rights as American citizens when we enter into employment,” she added, thanking Mr Musk and those who have supported her.
The billionaire shared her statement, writing: “Please let us know if you would like to join the lawsuit against Disney.”
Mr Musk has previously vowed to financially support those facing discrimination for their posts on X.
Gina Carano sues Lucasfilm and Disney with Elon Musk’s backing
Actress Gina Carano is initiating legal action against Lucasfilm and Disney following her dismissal from “The Mandalorian” due to her social media activity.https://t.co/jF6RAWEriH
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 6, 2024
The 59-page civil suit lays out allegations of wrongful termination and retaliation in a narrative laden with Star Wars references.
Many people took to X to voice their opinion of Musk supporting Gina Carano:
Congratulations, remaining X advertisers! Your $$$ are now funding a lawsuit against @dIsney and @lucasfilm by actress who mocks trans people, criticizes #COVID19 mask mandates, and claims right-wingers are being treated like Jews during the Holocaust. https://t.co/apeoimyXUl
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) February 6, 2024
musk is funding it bcos he’s not an antisemite. 🙄
feel like this is more about the right’s war with disney than supporting gina carano… https://t.co/RA5650v7QX
— ℓყรɓεƭɦ ( 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ ) (@SloaneFragment) February 6, 2024
Thank you Elon Musk for supporting Gina Carano! She was a great addition to The Mandalorian and they fired her for no valid or legal reason I can discern.
— Cynthia Wilson (@cynwils) February 7, 2024
Good job Elon supporting free speech. @elonmusk @ginacarano https://t.co/XVQRcPXH4c Gina Carano Sues Disney Over ‘Mandalorian’ Firing in Lawsuit Funded by Elon Musk
— EVIL-Gender-Ideology-Must-Die! (@pickleballbp) February 6, 2024
CNBC News has more on Elon Musk supporting Carnaro:
Musk in August had said that X would fund the legal bills of X users “if you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform.”
Carano in an X post Tuesday said she had responded on X to that offer by Musk, and “to my surprise” she was contacted by a lawyer for the company, which eventually agreed to finance her suit.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude & thank you to @ElonMusk & @X for giving me an opportunity to bring my case to light,” Carano tweeted.
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. https://t.co/bPulK3nbAd
— News (@XNews) February 6, 2024
It will be extremely interesting to see how the lawsuit unfolds, and how much support Musk will provide in the coming months. It is good to know that the social media platform will support free speech rights.
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