Pedro Pascal has joined the growing list of celebrities voicing support for Jimmy Kimmel after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely. The Last of Us and Mandalorian star posted a photo of himself with Kimmel on Instagram, simply captioned, “Standing with you Jimmy Kimmel. Defend #FreeSpeech Defend #DEMOCRACY.” The gesture was widely read as a show of solidarity after Kimmel was yanked off air following his controversial monologue about MAGA supporters in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. But while Pascal’s post quickly drew praise from some fans, others weren’t buying it.
The actor is now facing criticism for what many see as selective outrage, pointing out that he stayed silent when his former Mandalorian co-star, Gina Carano, was fired by Disney in 2021. One viral tweet from writer Brittany Hugoboom pulled no punches, “Pedro Pascal, why weren’t you ‘standing with’ your real co-star Gina Carano? You fraud.” The tweet, which included photos of Pascal and Carano together during their Mandalorian days, racked up thousands of likes as fans reignited debates about Disney’s treatment of Carano versus Kimmel.
The Gina Carano Comparison
Carano was booted from The Mandalorian after posting a string of controversial social media messages, including one that compared being a Republican to the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. Lucasfilm called her remarks “abhorrent,” and Disney cut ties with her.
The actress later filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm, claiming she was punished for her political views while other stars, including Pascal, were not held to the same standard for their own political posts. In 2025, Carano settled her case with financial backing from Elon Musk. Pascal, meanwhile, remained quiet during Carano’s firing, and critics now accuse him of hypocrisy for loudly supporting Kimmel while never publicly defending his co-star.
The situation only highlights the growing divide in Hollywood over free speech, politics, and so-called “cancel culture.” Pascal’s show of support has been praised by many as a touching display of loyalty to Kimmel, but critics insist it shines a light on what they see as a glaring double standard in when and for whom celebrities decide to raise their voices.
