DISNEY CHANGES TUNE ON ACTRESS

COMPANY DROPPED GINA CARANO FROM A TV SHOW AFTER SHE POSTED RIGHT-WING VIEWS - BUT THEN SHE SUED

- STORY: BROOKES BARNES

The Walt Disney Co. has written a cheque — and all but issued a public apology — to make one of its messiest legal battles disappear.

Disney and its Lucasfilm division said on Thursday they had resolved a dispute with actress Gina Carano, who sued the entertainment companies for wrongful termination from The Mandalorian in 2023. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Ms Carano was always well respected by her directors, costars and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect," Lucasfilm said in an unsigned statement.

"With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms Carano in the near future."

Carano said in a post on the social platform X that she was "excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter." She added, "I am humbled and grateful to God for His love and grace in this outcome." A trial had been scheduled to start next month.

Carano filed the suit after Lucasfilm dropped her from the hit show The Mandalorian for posting conspiracy theories and right-wing views, some of which were seen as transphobic and antisemitic, on social media.

Carano, an outspoken former martial arts fighter-turned-actor, was fired by Disney in 2021 for what the company at the time dubbed "abhorrent and unacceptable" social media posts "denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities."