Disney asserts that artistic organizations must control casting decisions to protect their creative messages, particularly as performers increasingly shape their public personas online. “The court’s ruling, Disney argues, misunderstands the scope of artistic expression and the limitations imposed by the First Amendment,” the company stated.
Star Wars Actor’s Firing Suit : Carano’s Allegations
Gina Carano, known for her role as Cara Dune in “The Mandalorian,” claims she was fired after refusing to align with Disney’s and Lucasfilm’s political views. Carano alleged she was terminated for not supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, not displaying her pronouns on social media, and for comparing criticism of conservative opinions to Nazi actions. She argues that other actors expressing political views were not penalized.
Legal Arguments and Court Rulings
Disney and its subsidiaries previously argued that forcing them to hire actors based on their public statements infringes on their artistic freedom. However, Judge Garnett rejected their arguments in July, finding that Disney had not shown that it hires actors to promote respect and integrity and suggesting that Carano’s termination might have been an attempt to deflect criticism of the company.
