image source, Good pictures
Gina Carano says she faced „a bullying smear campaign” through her social media posts
Actress Gina Carano sued Disney and Lucasfilm after she was fired in 2021 over a social media post in which she compared the Republican Party to being Jewish during the Holocaust.
The lawsuit was funded by Elon Musk, who called on others on his Platform X to join the cause.
Ms Carrano is seeking $75,000 (£60,000) in damages. She's asking the court to force Lucasfilm to recast it.
Representatives for the defendants were not immediately available for comment.
Ms Carano, 41, a former MMA fighter, portrayed Kara Dune in the first two seasons of Disney+ show The Mandalorian.
During that time, he often tangled with leftists online.
Critics called for his removal after he shared a post on his Instagram account in February 2021 that equated the persecution of Jews by the Nazis to the political climate Republicans face today.
„Most people today don't realize that because history has been revised, Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government made them hate their own neighbors for being Jewish in the first place,” the post said.
„How is this different from hating someone for their political views.”
On the same day, Ms Carano was dropped by Lucasfilm, the production company behind the show, and UTA, the talent agency that had represented her for nearly two years.
In a statement at the time, a Lucasfilm spokesperson said his „social media posts that denigrate people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
UTA was not named in a court filing Tuesday that alleges the agency wronged the Walt Disney Company in letting it drop.
The 59 page civil caseThe filing in California federal court alleges wrongful termination and retaliation in a story full of Star Wars references.
„Some time ago, in a galaxy not far away, the defendants made it clear that only one orthodoxy of thought, speech or action was acceptable in their empire, and that those who dared to question or failed to fully conform would not be tolerated,” the complaint begins.
Ms Carano claims she was fired „for daring to express her own views… and standing up to online bullies who demanded she conform to their ultra-progressive ideology”.
The lawsuit alleges the actress was treated differently from two male co-stars who wrote or shared posts online denigrating Republicans as Nazis, but no fines were imposed.
In a lengthy statement at X, Ms Carano said she had been subjected to „a bullying smear campaign aimed at silencing, destroying and making an example of me”.
„Artists don't sign away our rights as American citizens when we get to work,” he added, thanking Mr Musk and those who supported him.
The billionaire shared his statement: „Let us know if you want to join the lawsuit against Disney.”
Mr Musk has previously pledged to financially support those facing discrimination for their positions at X.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for her company said it was „honored” to support Ms Carano's case as part of its commitment to free speech.