In this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, Gina Carano opens up about her turbulent upbringing in Las Vegas and how her Christian faith and athletic pursuits helped her overcome personal struggles. She reflects on her groundbreaking career in MMA and her transition into acting, where she faced challenges like sexual harassment in Hollywood.
The conversation delves into Carano's controversial firing from "The Mandalorian" over social media posts, leading to her legal battle with Disney. Carano shares her perspective on the events and her concerns about eroding traditional values in society. She discusses her aspirations for her production company and her commitment to empowering others through storytelling.
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Gina Carano's childhood in Las Vegas was turbulent, with her older sister's drug addiction exposing Carano to trauma at a young age. She credits sports like basketball and MMA with keeping her focused. Carano emphasizes the importance of her Christian faith in overcoming personal struggles and miscarriage.
Carano was a trailblazer, participating in the first-ever sanctioned female MMA fight. She transitioned to acting after director Steven Soderbergh cast her in "Haywire". However, Carano faced sexual harassment and exploitation in Hollywood. She refused roles that compromised her principles and values.
Disney fired Carano from "The Mandalorian" over controversial social media posts. Carano claims she was not mocking trans people or comparing Republicans to Jews in the Holocaust. She is now suing Disney with help from Elon Musk's lawyers to share her side.
Carano relies heavily on her Christian faith, starting each day reading the Bible. She sees divine intervention guiding her path and sought God's justice when "cancelled". Carano is concerned about satanic influence and eroding traditional values in society.
Carano formed her own production company, Raven C, to develop films and TV series aligned with her values. She remains committed to empowering others to speak out through her stories and public engagements, despite facing adversity.
1-Page Summary
Gina Carano’s childhood and personal life are marked by challenges, including a turbulent childhood in Las Vegas and a journey of personal growth and spirituality.
Carano grew up in a well-to-do family, with her father, a former Dallas Cowboys player, and her grandfathers involved in the hotel and casino business in Nevada. Despite this affluent background, Carano and her older sister frequently found themselves in trouble, with her sister struggling with drug addiction. Carano adopted a protective role, trying to shield her younger sister from these issues.
Carano’s family, despite their efforts to provide a safe environment, faced numerous challenges. Carano recounts her older sister's heavy drug use, which led Carano to become the family’s protector. Her mother had to juggle multiple jobs, and her father lived in a different city due to work, leaving Carano to confront the household's turmoil. Carano’s older sister's addiction to [restricted term] was particularly troubling, leading to a dangerous upbringing for Carano, who once tried [restricted term] in ninth grade herself.
Despite the prestige associated with her family's success, Carano witnessed traumatic events, including the murder of her friend and the drug-related death of her ex-boyfriend’s brother. This exposure to violence and drugs, along with her parents' divorce, contributed to a chaotic environment during her youth. Nonetheless, Carano views her family positively, appreciating the hard work and love her parents provided. She remembers her grandfather in Nevada, who started in the gasoline business and later dealt with "mafiosos" to integrate slot machines into his station, and her other side of the family who were involved in the casino business in Reno.
Carano credits her involvement in sports, particularly competitive basketball during her education at a small Christian school, and later mixed marti ...
Carano's upbringing and personal life experiences
Gina Carano has been recognized as a trailblazer for women in mixed martial arts (MMA) and has successfully transitioned into an acting career in Hollywood while maintaining her principles and values.
Carano's entry into MMA came after a swift victory in her first fight, which earned her the "bug for MMA" and led to a successful fighting career with a record of seven wins and one loss. Despite her family's initial opposition to her fighting path, Carano persevered and made history by participating in the first-ever sanctioned female MMA bout in Las Vegas.
Before her transition to MMA, Carano excelled in Muay Thai with a record of 12 wins, one loss, and one draw. She worked her way up to face Christina Martin, an admired figure in the sport. After an unexpected victory in an exhibition match, Carano fought Martin to a draw at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. Their third bout, which Carano describes as her trilogy fight, ended with Carano's knockout victory.
Carano's fighting prowess in the ring caught Hollywood's attention, leading to her film debut in "Haywire" after director Steven Soderbergh proposed the project during a meeting after one of her fights. Despite her lack of prior acting experience, Carano was mentored by seasoned actors in the industry through her role in the film.
Carano has faced troubling experiences with sexual harassment and exploitation within the industry, including a near-encounter where she had to assert her boundaries with an actor at his guest house. She advocates for actresses to develop skills and confidence rather than acquiescing to inappropriate demands and has chosen to work with those who respect her and others' integrity.
Carano's career path in MMA and Hollywood
Gina Carano's departure from "The Mandalorian" caused a stir, evolving into a contentious legal battle with Disney.
Carano faced dismissal from the show after a series of social media posts criticizing the LGBTQ agenda, COVID-19 handling, and election fraud which Disney and Lucasfilm found controversial. The posts sparked considerable public outcry and support from fans, contrasting with the lack of support from her former Hollywood colleagues.
After her firing, Carano and her partner moved to Arizona, living on her mother's property for around one and a half years. Carano had challenged vaccine mandates and discussed the pandemic's impact on mental health and small businesses, expressing concerns about how hospitals managed patients and the financial incentives for ventilators.
A court incident highlighted a particular post featuring "beep, bop, boop," which was interpreted as mocking trans pronoun usage, a claim Carano denies. She explains that the post was about not demonizing neighbors, referencing the Holocaust's lead-up events without calling anyone a Nazi or Hitler. However, Disney and Lucasfilm's interpretation suggested she was comparing Republicans to Jews during the Holocaust, denigrating cultural and religious identities, leading to her firing.
Gina Carano, with Elon Musk's lawyers' help, is fighting a legal battle with Disney to voice her side of the story. Despite the financial burdens of litigation, Carano mentions a desire to exp ...
The Disney controversy and Carano's legal battle
Gina Carano, the noted actress and former mixed martial artist, openly discusses the significant role her Christian faith has played during challenging times and how it shapes her view of society and her career choices.
Carano's faith journey is deeply personal and has become the cornerstone of her resilience and approach to life's obstacles.
Carano cites her growing responsibility to her morals, rooted in her faith since 2019, as pivotal to her. She sincerely believes that God's guidance is instrumental and that divine intervention corrects her path when needed. This reliance on faith is evident as she explains how she has given her challenges over to God, especially during personally distressing times such as her miscarriage. The role of Jesus Christ is paramount in Carano's life — she starts her day reading the Bible, suggesting a need for spiritual anchoring.
Additionally, Carano's reliance on prayer and seeking justice from God during times of perceived injustice illustrates her deep faith. This was particularly poignant when she was "cancelled" within her professional circles, a period she describes as "spiritual warfare" when she felt haunted by malevolent presences in her dreams. Despite the turmoil, she trusted in her faith to guide her future, open to all possibilities including career changes.
Faith not only provided comfort for Carano during difficult times but also played a crucial role in her decision-making process. She recounts a period of hardship coinciding with legal support from Elon Musk's attorneys, interpreting the timing as an answer to prayer. Although she does not explicitly mention prayer, Carano references handing traumatic events over to God, indicating her belief in divine intervention in her personal growth. Additionally, she speaks about a spiritually significant dream involving a deceased person she mourned, which she saw as a blessing and a form of divine guidance.
Through her experiences, Carano has voiced concerns about the moral direction of Hollywood and society as a whole, including the influence of satanic forces and the erosion of traditional values.
The role of Carano's Christian faith
Gina Carano outlines her future plans, focusing on her entrepreneurial spirit and her ongoing commitment to speaking her mind and inspiring others through her work and public engagements.
Gina Carano has taken a decisive step towards shaping her career by founding her own production company, Raven C. This venture marks her transition into film and series development, as well as a continued commitment to storytelling.
Carano reveals that she named her production company Raven C after the name she would have given to a baby she lost. She draws inspiration from the biblical story of Noah's Ark, wherein the raven doesn't return to the Ark, unlike the dove, implying a sense of independence and adventure for her company's journey.
Carano is in the process of developing her comeback project, a sci-fi movie, in collaboration with her manager and a writer. About six to eight months following an initial announcement, she managed to get a film project moving with the Daily Wire.
Gina Carano discusses where she sees her business headed, indicating that she will operate independently and align with writers and producers who share her values, her creative vision, and her desire for open, candid expression of beliefs in film.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Carano remains committed to using her platform for empowerment and open dialogue.
The personal interactions at fan expos have become a cherished aspect of Carano's relationship with her audience. She finds these events an opportunity to hug, listen to, and connect with her fans, providing them with the warmth of personal touch, especially after periods of lockdown. Carano is touched by the opportunity to show her human side and reciprocate the support she's received.
Carano's future plans and aspirations
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