Gina Carano says defending free speech against Disney was worth the cost before the Netflix battle
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Nearly 17 years after her last fight, MMA pioneer Gina Carano entered Thursday’s press conference already clutching a victory: a landmark legal settlement with Disney, the studio that fired her from “The Mandalorian” because of her liberal views.
As she prepares to unveil the live premiere of Netflix’s women’s MMA event against Ronda Rousey this Saturday, Gina Carano looks back on the public uproar that nearly sidelined her career.
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After hanging up the gloves in 2009, she stormed Hollywood in 2019 as Cara Dune in “The Mandalorian,” quickly established himself as a fan favorite in star Wars the whole place.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano pose after the press conference for MMA’s Most Valuable Promotions card at the Palladium Theater in New York on April 15, 2026. (Photos by Ed Mulholland/Imagn)
Two years later, he was demoted for life over social media posts that challenged the status quo on the rise of the COVID mandate and social justice awareness.
A national debate erupted over free speech, politics and ideological consensus in Hollywood.
When asked by OutKick at a press conference on Thursday to see if he will continue to stand by his beliefs despite disagreements at work, Carano made it clear that he has no regrets. Before his answer, “F— Disney” went out from the crowd.
“Standing for freedom of speech in this country,” Carano said, “I don’t apologize at all for anything I said. I look back and I’m very confident because everything I said has come true. Everything I’ve said has happened.”
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When asked about his impact after taking over Disney, Carano replied,
“Everybody was holding their breath but I wasn’t, and usually I’m the one who’s relaxed and calm, but I stood up and spoke up and paid a heavy price for it. But I would pay that price again and again, because we can’t let what happened in this country happen again.”
Carano has long argued that she was targeted because of her conservative views.
The claim became central to his lawsuit against Disney following his 2021 firing, which came after Lucasfilm publicly criticized his social media activity. Reflecting on the moment she chose to speak, Carano described a calm determination to counter what she saw as a culture of fear within the entertainment industry.
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Carano’s legal battle took a major turn in August 2025 when he reached an agreement with Disney and Lucasfilm after a long legal battle supported by Elon Musk and X.
“We cannot let go of our freedom of speech whether you like it or not. We must be able to talk to each other, open up to each other, and not lose our rights. There have been people who have been evicted and I don’t agree with their views, but I don’t think they should be evicted.”
Gina Carano attends the premiere of Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian” at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)
The deal was widely considered a significant victory for the actress, especially after Lucasfilm released a statement describing her as a “respected” talent and expressing openness to future collaborations.
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Carano framed the argument as a line he believed was worth holding, even at the cost of his career.
He also warned against what he saw as the growing influence of business over personal beliefs and private opinions, stressing that Americans should not be afraid to lose their lives because of their opinions.
“I don’t think we should take away their livelihood,” added Carano. “We should be able, in America, to set an example of freedom. And I don’t regret it at all, and it turned out well. Disney settled, and I’m proud of that. That was a big victory for me.”
Disney’s settlement provided a legal and financial victory, but for Carano, the past few years have been an uphill battle for public contempt.
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Gina Carano attends the Disney premiere of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 16, 2019.
The May 16 bout, headlined by Netflix’s first female MMA event, marks Carano’s first appearance since 2009.
“That was a physical victory,” he said, referring to the legal battle. “This is kind of personal; to take back the victory of my body.
Carano sounded at peace about taking on the rat and enduring years of backlash for fighting for what she believes is her right to free speech.
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