Musk-Backed Suit Over Disney Actor’s Firing Bets on State Law

Former "The Mandalorian" actor Gina Carano, funded by Elon Musk, is suing The Walt Disney Co. over her termination from the series. The lawsuit is seen as a test case for California's unique protections for political speech. Carano claims wrongful termination for expressing her political views on social media, arguing that her male co-stars faced no consequences for similar behavior. California's Labor Code protects employees' political activity outside the workplace, and Carano's case could test this protection amid Disney's diversity backlash. Grant Alexander, an employer-side attorney at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, said that in many ways, Carano’s lawsuit will serve as a test case for a rarely litigated provision of California’s Labor Code.

“The issue for Ms. Carano may be that companies like Disney have policies in place that discuss use of social media,” Alexander said. “And when you use social media or other platforms or you go on TV and you espouse views or say things that could reflect poorly on the company and its reputation, the company has the right to separate you from your employment or discipline you.”

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