Gina Carano vs Disney: Former Mandalorian star wins big legal victory in Elon Musk-backed lawsuit

Gina Carano's lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiary Lucasfilm continues. A federal judge in Los Angeles has denied Disney's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which Carano filed after being removed from the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian" three years ago over her social media posts comparing the political climate in the US to the Holocaust.
US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, appointed by President Biden, rejected Disney's argument that it had the right to dissociate its artistic message from Carano’s political beliefs.
“I am moved to tears,” Carano wrote on her X account following the ruling. “After a brutal 3 1/2 years, I am being given the opportunity to move forward in the court of law before the judge and my peers to clear my name. I am so grateful for this opportunity.”
Carano is represented by attorneys hired by Elon Musk’s social media company, X. Musk has been actively involved in supporting Carano’s case, providing financial backing through X, and expressing public support for her cause. Earlier this year, Carano praised Musk on X for his “noble offer” to back her lawsuit, stating, “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought anyone would take on my case against Lucasfilm/Disney. 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 was fired from "The Mandalorian" in February 2021 after social media outrage over her posts denouncing COVID lockdowns and claiming conservatives were being persecuted. She faced severe criticism for a post comparing current political divisions to the early stages of the Holocaust.
Her character, Cara Dune, appeared in several episodes of the second season of "The Mandalorian." Carano, a former mixed martial artist, faced backlash for her social media posts mocking mask-wearing during the pandemic, alleging voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, and mocking the use of gender pronouns.
Trial attorney Rich Schoenstein commented that Carano's termination likely resulted from her social media posts and that she could prove this at trial. However, he noted that the broader issue is whether the court's decision will hold up on appeal, raising questions about employees' rights to make public statements that may not align with their employers' positions.
Musk’s involvement in the case appears to be driven by his broader concerns about free speech and corporate censorship. He has been a vocal critic of what he perceives as the stifling of free expression by large corporations, including Disney. Musk has argued that companies should not punish individuals for their personal views, especially when those views are expressed on personal social media accounts. By supporting Carano, Musk aims to challenge what he sees as an overreach by Disney and to set a precedent that protects employees' rights to express their opinions without fear of retribution from their employers.