Fired Star Wars Actor Voices Discontent with Kathleen Kennedy

Article Key Points

In a social media post, Gina Carano, the former star of The Mandalorian, voiced her criticism of Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy. Carano referred to a recent South Park episode that ridiculed Kennedy and insinuated that she would potentially silence YouTubers and employ her publicists to discredit the creators of South Park.

Carano implies that Kennedy requested her to stop following specific accounts that criticized her, a move that Carano saw as concerning. This implies that Carano holds a unfavorable view of Kennedy and disagrees with her actions.

Although Carano's dismissal from The Mandalorian was claimed to be unrelated to politics, it is evident that Carano still holds animosity towards Kennedy and potentially the company's executives. Carano's remarks unveil a firm belief that Kennedy bears responsibility for the franchise's artistic deterioration and a particular public perception.

After a recent episode of South Park included criticism of Kathleen Kennedy, the executive of Star Wars franchise, Gina Carano, known for her role in The Mandalorian, expressed her strong discontent towards Lucasfilm boss in a lengthy social media post. Despite the success of The Mandalorian and the presence of a talented cast, including Carano who transitioned from being an MMA star to an actress, she ultimately got fired from the show due to a series of controversial statements made on social media.

The star likely holds animosity towards the executives responsible for her dismissal, particularly Kathleen Kennedy, the controversial head of Star Wars, who is rumored to be nearing the end of her tenure. Carano took to X to share a clip from a recent South Park episode that mocked Kennedy, accompanied by a lengthy caption. In the post, Carano suggests that Kennedy would demand the censorship of YouTubers who shared and enjoyed the episode, disable the thumbs down option on YouTube to avoid negative feedback, and use her publicists to smear the creators of South Park and their families through her network. Kennedy has faced criticism and ridicule in the past due to her involvement in the Star Wars sequels and other projects. However, some users called Carano out for her statement. In response, Carano revealed further details about her experiences with Kennedy, sharing that she was asked to unfollow certain accounts that spoke negatively about Kennedy, which raised concerns for Carano.

Disney's former CEO denied that Carano's firing from The Mandalorian was politically motivated, but it certainly seemed that way at the time. Carano, who previously portrayed Cara Dune, may still harbor resentment towards Kennedy, making her an easy target. While the truth of her claims about Kennedy cannot be verified, they suggest a person committed to presenting a specific public image. Some fans blame Kennedy for the franchise's recent creative decline, using her initial lack of involvement with The Mandalorian and its successful first season as evidence. Despite the controversy, many fans enjoyed Carano's appearances on the show and even speculated about a spin-off series centered around Cara Dune. Unfortunately, the possibility of that happening is unlikely, as Carano has severed ties with the casting table.

The Mandalorian is available for streaming on Disney Plus.

The Mandalorian

Release Date: November 12, 2019

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Burr, Temuera Morrison, Emily Swallow

Main Genre: Action

Seasons: 3

Creator: Jon Favreau

Writers: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Christopher Yost, Noah Kloor

Streaming Service: Disney Plus

Franchise(s): Star Wars

Directors: Jon Favreau, Rick Famuyiwa, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Deborah Chow, Carl Weathers, Lee Isaac Chung, Peyton Reed, Robert Rodriguez, Peter Ramsey

Source: Gina Carano/X

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Gina Carano's criticism of Kathleen Kennedy. On the one hand, I understand Carano's frustration with being fired from The Mandalorian, and I think it's unfair that she was targeted for her political views. On the other hand, I don't agree with Carano's methods of expressing her discontent. Her rant on social media was full of vitriol and personal attacks, and it did nothing to further her cause.

I think it's important for public figures to be able to express their opinions without fear of retaliation, but there's a line between free speech and hate speech. Carano's comments crossed that line, and I think she needs to be held accountable for them.

I'm also concerned about the precedent that Carano's firing sets. If actors and actresses can be fired for their political views, it will have a chilling effect on free speech in Hollywood. I hope that Lucasfilm and Disney will reconsider their decision to fire Carano, and that they will allow her to express her views without fear of reprisal.