In a recent development in the ongoing legal battle between actress Gina Carano and entertainment giant Disney, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett has indicated that she will soon make a ruling on whether Carano’s wrongful termination lawsuit can move forward. The case, which has been ongoing for three years, stems from Carano’s firing from the popular “Star Wars” spinoff series “The Mandalorian.”
During a court hearing on Wednesday, Disney’s attorney argued that the case should be dismissed on the basis of First Amendment rights. The company maintains that it has the right to disassociate itself from a high-profile performer who expresses views that could potentially turn fans away from the show. However, Judge Garnett questioned whether there was a factual dispute regarding the reasons behind Carano’s termination.
Carano’s legal team asserts that while her firing was primarily related to her political views, it was also an attempt by Disney to deflect criticism from its streaming platform, Disney+, and the leadership of then-CEO Bob Chapek. This claim suggests that there may be more to the story than simply a disagreement over Carano’s personal opinions.
Following her appearance in court, Carano took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express her thoughts on the case. She wrote, “Disney should not have carte blanch authority to fire any actor just because Disney disagrees with something they say outside of work. No actor would be free to have a voice if that were true. I look forward to this case moving forward and proving Disney’s blatant discriminatory actions.”
The actress initially filed the lawsuit against Disney in February, alleging that she was wrongfully terminated and lost millions of dollars in income as a result. Carano is seeking to force Lucasfilm, a subsidiary of Disney, to recast her in her previous role.
The controversy surrounding Carano’s termination began when she posted a screenshot of another social media post that drew comparisons between the current political climate and Nazi Germany. The post, which many deemed offensive, led to widespread backlash and ultimately resulted in Disney cutting ties with the actress.
However, Disney’s decision to fire Carano was not without its own backlash. Many fans and even some of Carano’s former castmates came to her defense, praising her character and questioning the fairness of her termination. Shortly after the high-profile firing, Carano partnered with The Daily Wire for a movie deal, which led to the production of the feature film “Terror on the Prairie,” released in June 2022.
As the legal battle between Gina Carano and Disney continues, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the entertainment industry. The central question revolves around the extent to which employers can control the speech and actions of their employees outside of work, particularly when those employees are public figures.
Judge Garnett’s upcoming ruling will determine whether Carano’s case has sufficient merit to proceed to trial or if it will be dismissed based on Disney’s First Amendment arguments. Regardless of the outcome, this case has sparked a broader conversation about the balance between an individual’s right to free speech and an employer’s right to protect its brand and reputation.
