Today, we’re venturing once more into a galaxy far, far away to delve into the ongoing legal battle between Gina Carano, recognized for her role as Cara Dune in Season 1 of Disney+’s The Mandalorian, and her former employer, Disney.
Let’s recall Carano’s character’s notable line, “Unless you want to go another round, one of us is going to have to leave, and I was here first.” This quote seems to harbor a new implication today, following Disney’s failed endeavor to dismiss Carano’s discrimination lawsuit after her 2021 departure from the Star Wars series.
California-based Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett has maintained that Disney has not presented any evidence to back its claim that it hires actors to espouse values like respect, decency, integrity, or inclusion. The decision decimates Disney’s attempt to dismiss Carano’s lawsuit and could lead to far-reaching consequences.
What’s apparent now is that, unless there’s a sudden turn of events, Carano’s lawsuit, endorsed by Elon Musk, is on track for a trial. However, many feel that Disney could offer a settlement.
Intriguingly, Judge Garnett, in her 23-page denial order, has noted that Disney, Lucasfilm, and Huckleberry Industries are for-profit corporations, unlike non-profit organizations. These corporations employ actors and administrative staff to produce series and films. Currently, Disney has refrained from commenting on Judge Garnett’s decision.
Back in April, Disney attempted to dismiss Gina Carano’s wrongful-discharge and sex discrimination lawsuit. They asserted that Carano’s employment was terminated in 2021 following her public trivialization of the Holocaust, wherein she compared the criticism of political conservatives to the genocide of millions of Jewish people. They argued that this was the final provocation.
However, Carano, insisting that her intention was to foster dialogue rather than show cultural insensitivity, alleged that her words were frequently distorted to brand her an extremist. She’s currently seeking to reclaim her role and pursue compensation for damages.
