Gina Carano Thanks ‘The Mandalorian’ Fans For Support After ‘Star Wars’ Firing
By Kristin Myers on March 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM EST
After making several controversial comments on social media, actress Gina Carano was fired from Disney and Lucasfilm. Her agency cut ties with her as well.
The former MMA fighter had starred in the first and second seasons of “The Mandalorian” as the fan-favorite character Cara Dune. As expected, she did not return for the Disney+ show’s third season, much to the disappointment of some fans.
Over the weekend, the 40-year-old actress took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support alongside artwork of her character.
Gina Carano Thanks 'Star Wars' Fans For Support After 'The Mandalorian' Continues Without Cara Dune
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In a brief statement on Instagram, the Texas native thanked her fans for their support throughout her long career in the entertainment industry.
"Thank you all for the support you’ve shown me not only over the past few days but over the past few years and some of you even longer from my early MMA days," she wrote. "You’ll never know how much that support matters and makes a difference."
"It was an honor to play Cara Dune, she will always have a special place in my heart," she concluded, adding the signature quote, “Until our paths cross.”
Many fans were glad that the show didn’t kill off her character. Instead, her absence was addressed during a conversation between Din Djarin and Greef Karga in the season 3 premiere. Greef told Din that she was training with the special forces, which always opens the door for her appearance in the series later on.
Carano was actually supposed to star in her own spin-off series called “Rangers of the New Republic.” However, that series was canceled after her firing. Even though the galaxy far, far away is now in her rearview mirror, many fans are still upset that the show will continue on without her.
Fans Show Support For Carano Despite Her Controversial Firing
“The show definitely isn’t the same without you Gina. Miss you so much. You continue to be such a powerful inspiration & are one of the women whom I look up to the most. God bless you Gina. You’re a treasure,” one fan commented. “Disney truly screwed up. You added a lot to the show,” another follower wrote.
“40yr old longtime SW fan here: Out of all the movies, books, shows and comics - Cara Dune was the character I saw the most of myself in. I finally felt like I was actually a part of the legacy I have loved my entire life,” another fan shared.
“When Cara Dune is on screen, I think ‘that’s so me!’ and I can’t help but smile, feel empowered and inspired to ‘be better’ and never give up. Thank you for bringing her to life and for giving her to the fans. Truly and sincerely grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
Bill Burr Comments On Gina Carano's 'Bizarre' Firing From 'Star Wars'
As The Blast previously reported, Gina Carano's "The Mandalorian" costar, comedian Bill Burr, called Carano's firing "bizarre" in an April 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Carano had been fired for her social media posts, which included mocking mask-wearing and questioning the results of the 2020 Presidental election.
“I thought it was funny that the liberals proved her point,” Burr said at the time. “They just use outrage because they don’t like your politics. As someone who considers himself liberal, it’s disappointing to see the left become how the right used to be when they went after the Dixie Chicks after they criticized George W. Bush.”
“There’s not a lot of people like that — most are just trying not to get in trouble — but there’s this small collection of lunatics — either on the right or the left, at any given moment – that cause hysteria,” he continued. “And now there’s so many [media outlets] that want eyeballs, they make money off advertising, that they give attention to these crazy fringe people.”
“The whole thing with Gina: You can’t chime in when the s—’s happening, because then you cause static for other people on the [show]. That somebody’s opinion — or their political beliefs — makes people try to destroy their ability to make a living, it’s f—ing bizarre to me.”