Disney has filed a motion to dismiss a wrongful termination lawsuit from actress Gina Carano, who was fired from her role in “The Mandalorian” for controversial social media posts, arguing that it has a constitutional right not to associate its artistic expression with Carano’s speech.
Disney’s not taking it lying down. They’ve hit back at Gina Carano, the fighter-turned-actress, with a motion to dismiss her lawsuit. And guess what? Elon Musk, the billionaire Twitter owner, is partially funding her legal battle.
Disney’s move came on Tuesday, in sunny California. They’re asking the court to dismiss Carano’s lawsuit. She’s claiming discrimination and wrongful termination. Remember her role in the Star Wars spinoff, The Mandalorian? Yeah, she got booted from that.
Carano’s lawsuit is interesting. She’s saying Disney fired her for expressing right-wing views on social media. She’s accused them of bullying and harassment over her stance on Black Lives Matter, gender pronouns, and her opposition to COVID-19 mandates.
Disney’s response? A whopping 24-page document. They’ve detailed a pattern of behavior from Carano, especially on social media, that led to her firing.
Disney’s pointed out a few posts where Carano criticized COVID-19 mandates and vaccinations. They’ve also highlighted posts where she questioned the 2020 presidential election results. She claimed, without any evidence, that the election was marred by “voter fraud”. She even said the incumbent administration needed to “investigate every state” and “flush out the fake votes”.
The last straw for Disney was in February 2021. Carano reposted a meme on Instagram. It compared the Holocaust atrocities to the public persecution over political views in America.
Disney’s motion to dismiss had this to say: “Disney had enough. The same day Carano grotesquely trivialized the Holocaust as comparable to sharp political disagreements, Lucasfilm announced that “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
Disney’s requested a June 12 hearing in federal court. They want the lawsuit tossed out.
In their closing remarks, Disney claimed the lawsuit should be dismissed. They argued that they have a constitutional right not to associate their artistic expression with Carano’s speech. They believe the First Amendment provides a complete defense to Carano’s claims.
Carano’s lawsuit is asking for a court order to force Disney to re-hire her for her lost role in The Mandalorian. She’s also seeking at least $75,000 and punitive damages.
After losing her Star Wars role, Carano signed a deal with conservative website The Daily Wire. She’s set to produce films, including her lead role in the western film Terror on the Prairie. She’ll be starring alongside UFC veteran Cowboy Cerrone.