Gina Carano Sues Disney For Wrongful Termination Stemming From 'The Mandalorian' Firing

Originally posted on MMA News | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated 2/6/24

Women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano's ongoing feud with Disney and Lucasfilm escalated to another level this week in court.

Carano, a former co-star of the hit Star Wars series The Mandalorian, filed a complaint in California federal court against Disney and Lucasfilm. She is accusing her former employers of discrimination and wrongful termination after her abrupt firing from the show.

Carano alleged that Disney and Lucasfilm terminated her contract for espousing right-wing positions on social media, most notably on Twitter (now known as 'X'). Business magnate Elon Musk will reportedly cover the legal bills for her courtroom battles with the two companies.

Carano was let go from The Mandalorian in 2021 ahead of the filming of the show's third season. The firing came after a controversial post from Carano comparing being a modern-day Republican with being Jewish during the Holocaust.

Carano's lawsuit accuses Disney and Lucasfilm of defamation after allegedly refusing to conform to viewpoints on preferred pronouns and other social issues. Disney allegedly required Carano to meet with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination along with a public apology.

Gina Carano Seeking Re-Casting After 'Discrimination & Wrongful Termination'

“Defendants went so far as to try and convince Carano’s publicist to force Carano to issue a statement admitting to mocking or insulting an entire group of people, which Carano had never done,” Carano's legal team wrote in the complaint, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Carano is seeking at least $75,000 in damages and a recasting in The Mandalorian.

Carano accumulated a 7-1 professional MMA record, with fights against the likes of Cris Cyborg and Tonya Evinger. She fought for the inaugural Strikeforce women's featherweight title in 2009 against Cyborg, losing by first-round TKO.

Carano briefly hinted at a possible return to the cage to face UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey, although the fight never came to fruition. It's uncertain if she'll attempt a combat sports comeback amidst her legal battles.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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