THE MANDALORIAN’s Gina Carano Eager to Clear Name Through Disney Lawsuit
By Movieguide® Contributor
Nearly four years ago, Disney and Lucasfilm fired THE MANDALORIAN star Gina Carano for her political views, and last month, she responded with a lawsuit backed by Elon Musk.
It all started with some social media posts that Carano shared.
“Carano, a heavy social media communicator with right-libertarian-leaning views (though she resists labeling her politics), bumped up against the corporate culture at Disney with an endless string of controversies involving tweets and Instagram posts on highly sensitive and divisive topics like COVID-19 vaccines and masking (she was against both and remains stridently anti-vax),” The Hollywood Reporter said. “Her views on Black Lives Matter and the transgender rights movement (she says she would not bend to pressure to announce her pronouns or tweet activist hashtags); and the results of the 2020 presidential elections (amid Donald Trump’s disproven claims of election-rigging, she tweeted ‘make voter fraud end in 2020’).”
Amidst her social media activity, Carano received a promising call from THE MANDALORIAN writer-director Jon Favreau, who told her about RANGERS OF THE NEW REPUBLIC, a spin-off show about her character, Cara Dune.
“Still, she remained on thin ice at a company that placed an emphasis on liberal values and inclusivity, at a time when tensions over identity politics were at an all-time high. Carano felt unfairly targeted and bullied both by the public and her work peers, and her instinct was to continue to fight for herself — just as she’d always done in the ring,” The Hollywood Reporter said.
One post that Carano shared “featured a photo of a terrified Jewish woman being chased by a boy holding a bat during the Holocaust. ‘How is this any different from hating someone for their political views?’ the accompanying caption asked. The posts were widely circulated, launching a Twitter hashtag campaign — #FireGinaCarano,” The Hollywood Reporter said.
Carano said the Holocaust post “just made sense — don’t hate your neighbor. Before the Nazis were as powerful as they became, you had to make it OK to hate this person next to you. That’s how we get to dangerous places. And history does repeat itself.”
Conservative speaker and Jew Ben Shapiro was perplexed by Disney’s interpretation of the post.
“I’m not tolerant of antisemitism in any way, shape or form,” said Shapiro. “When I saw that tweet originally, I was frankly puzzled as to why people would deem that antisemitic. In fact, the entire tweet doesn’t work unless you think the Holocaust is an evil, horrific thing that happened.”
Carano says her response to the trans movement also caused a “massive meltdown” at Disney.
“It erupted after Carano, resisting online pressure to announce her pronouns in solidarity with the trans rights movement, put the words “boop/bop/beep” in her Twitter bio,” The Hollywood Reporter said. “Carano maintains she was never trying to mock the trans community.”
“I’ve had male publicists with the same size feet as me and we run around in my shoes and try on my dresses,” she said. “I was just fed up. So I was like, ‘Fine, I’ll put something in my bio: ‘boop/bop/beep. I thought it was cute, like R2-D2.”
But Disney promptly fired her, indicating her Holocaust post as the reason. But the actress found out about her termination like everyone else did—online.
The Hollywood Reporter said, “’Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future,’ read the statement, attributed to a Lucasfilm spokesperson. ‘Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.’ She was dropped by her agency, UTA, and her Hollywood law firm, Ziffren Brittenham. Carano was canceled.”
Carano still can’t believe that one of the nails in the coffin of her career was “boop/bop/beep.”
“Boop/bop/beep?” she said. “Seriously? This was the start of the end for me? A 20-year career, the blood, sweat and tears of fighting? I never compromised myself for a job. I never ended in a bad situation where I did anything inappropriate. I had a clean and clear climb to where I got to and was going to just keep going. And boop/bop/beep was that harmful?”
Carano is resolved to fight back. So, last month, she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against one of the largest companies in the world.
“Raising the profile of that case is the fact that Carano’s legal bills are being footed by X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk — making good on an Aug. 5 post stating, ‘If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill. No limit,’” The Hollywood Reporter said.
Per the BBC, Musk invited anyone else wrongfully fired by Disney to join the lawsuit at his expense.
“I think it’s pretty incredible what he is doing,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “A lot of billionaires put their money into buying islands and building bunkers. Elon Musk is using his money to fight massive injustice battles.”
Musk already holds a grudge against Disney, as it removed all its advertisements on X after Musk confirmed that he supported a controversial view about Jews. In strong language, he indirectly told Disney that he didn’t need its advertisements.
“Disney has until April 9 to respond to the legal petition. So far, the company has issued only a single word regarding the lawsuit — though that word came from the top. When a CNBC journalist asked CEO Bob Iger if he had any comment on the matter, Iger responded, ‘None,” The Hollywood Reporter said.
Carano’s mind isn’t on the money that would come from a lawsuit win.
“I know this might sound odd,” she said. “But I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about clearing my name. I’m thinking about finally being healthier and having this monkey off my back and telling my story and just getting on with my life. Finally.”
Movieguide® reported on her experience on March 18:
The actress said she was “really grateful” for everything she’s gone through, adding, “I feel like God’s really kind of used my life to possibly take some sting off a very painful time that we’ve all been through in the last four years. People out there didn’t feel so alone in what they were going through, and I think when it comes down to that, then it’s all been worth it.”
“I kept on telling myself, ‘God is bigger than Disney,’” Carano concluded.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
