MOVIE NEWS – Gina Carano is suing Disney and LucasFilm over her firing from The Mandalorian series, in a lawsuit backed by Elon Musk!

MMA fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano left The Mandalorian in 2021 after starring as Rebel ex-commando Cara Dune for two seasons. She has now sued the two entertainment companies behind the series.

Actress Gina Carano is suing Disney and LucasFilm for wrongful termination and discrimination, claiming she was fired from The Mandalorian for expressing “personal political opinions.”

Carano was fired in February 2021 because of her political views expressed on social media, the suit says. The 41-year-old actress made reference to the Nazis’ treatment of Jews while speaking about the political differences in the United States at the time.

Production company LucasFilm then issued a statement suggesting that “social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

The actress’ lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of California, is being funded by X Corp, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk.

She is seeking at least $75,000 in damages and a jury trial. Court documents allege that Disney and LucasFilm “targeted, harassed, publicly humiliated, defamed, and went to great lengths to destroy Carano’s career.”

Gina Carano also claims in her lawsuit that she was treated differently than her male co-workers

Attorney Gene Schaerr, managing partner of Schaerr Jaffe, said: “Disney bullied Ms Carano, trying to force her to conform to their views about cultural and political issues, and when that bullying failed, they fired her.”

“Punishing employees for their speech on political or social issues is illegal under California law.”

Carano, who began her career as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, has starred in other Hollywood franchises. Among others, in Fast & Furious 6 as Riley Hicks. Also in Deadpool, in which she played Angel Dust.

“We rely on our leaders and people in positions of power to be just, cool-headed and steady-handed and to be able to listen to all sides of the story, keep the peace and act justly,” she said.

“Some of us have been unfairly singled out, harassed, persecuted and had our livelihoods stripped away because we dared to encourage conversation, asked questions, and refused to go along with the mob.”

Carano also said she was “honoured” to have the support of Tesla CEO Musk. The latter contacted her for the first time on X.

“As a sign of X Corp’s commitment to free speech, the online platform is proud to provide financial support for 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,” – says the company’s statement.

Source: Variety