Gina Carano sued Disney and Lucasfilm by claiming that her 2021 firing from ‘The Mandalorian’ broke discrimination laws. The company requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, saying they had the right to cut ties with the actress as her public views conflicted with their policy.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett of California rejected the motion on Wednesday:
“Defendants have not identified any evidence—in the Complaint or otherwise—to substantiate a claim that they employ public-facing actors for the purpose of promoting the ‘values of respect,’ ‘decency,’ ‘integrity,’ or ‘inclusion.’”
The Suit Will Move Forward
Disney started a dismissal motion against Gina Carano’s case in April. The company claimed the actress’s decision ‘to publicly trivialize the Holocaust by comparing criticism of political conservatives to the annihilation of millions of Jewish people’ damaged their reputation and pushed them into firing her.
But Judge Garnett’s 23-page order read:
“At this stage in the litigation, the Court cannot conclude, as Defendants urge it to, that Plaintiff’s continued employment by Defendants would inhibit or intrude upon Defendants’ rights to expressive association.”
The case, financially supported by Elon Musk, will likely head to trial following this ruling unless the two sides reach a settlement.
