Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has thrown his support behind former “Mandalorian” actress Gina Carano in her lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm. Carano, who played the character Cara Dune in the popular “Star Wars” spinoff, was fired from the show in February 2021 after making controversial statements on social media. She claimed that Disney had terminated her contract due to her conservative political views and accused the company of being "woke."

Carano's social media posts included conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, false claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election, and a comparison between being a Republican and being Jewish during the Holocaust. These posts sparked outrage and led to her dismissal from the show. In addition to being dropped by Disney, Carano was also let go by her talent agency, UTA.

In her lawsuit, Carano alleges wrongful termination and discrimination, stating that male stars who expressed their opinions did not face similar consequences. She is seeking to be reinstated in her role on “The Mandalorian” and is asking for compensatory damages of up to $75,000, as well as emotional distress and punitive damages to be determined at trial.

Elon Musk's involvement in the lawsuit comes as no surprise, as he has been involved in a public feud with Disney CEO Bob Iger. The feud began when Disney pulled advertising from Musk's social media platform, X, over allegations of antisemitic content. Musk has pledged to support X users who claim they have faced discrimination at work due to their posts on the platform.

Joe Benarroch, X's head of business operations, stated that the company is providing financial support for Carano's lawsuit as a commitment to free speech and the fight against bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

A Disney spokesperson has not responded to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit. This legal battle between Carano and the entertainment giants highlights the ongoing debate surrounding free speech and the consequences of expressing controversial opinions in the public sphere.

Carano's lawsuit is not the first time she has faced backlash for her social media posts. However, her case raises important questions about the limits of free speech in the entertainment industry and the responsibility of companies to address controversial statements made by their employees. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of free speech and employment practices in Hollywood.