Is This Another Legal Cause Elon Musk May Take Up?

By: Julia Mehalko | Published: Feb 21, 2024

Early in February, Elon Musk took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to offer legal support to people who believe they were discriminated against by Disney or its subsidiaries. Caitlyn Jenner is the latest to publicly state that Disney discriminated against her.

This latest controversy comes as Musk continues his attacks on diversity and Disney. Jenner, meanwhile, has been criticizing Disney CEO Bob Iger in recent months.

Caitlyn Jenner Asks Elon Musk for Legal Help

After seeing Musk’s offer to legally help those who want to file a suit against Disney, Jenner quickly took to X to plead her case. According to Jenner, Hulu, which is a Disney subsidiary, didn’t allow her to be a part of its reality show “The Kardashians.”

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A close-up photo of Caitlyn Jenner with a pink and red background.

Source: Web Summit/Wikimedia Commons

As Jenner was a part of almost 20 seasons of the original E! show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”, she believes she was let go once the show was reworked for Disney’s standards.

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Jenner’s Disappointment Over “The Kardashians”

Back in 2022, when it was announced that Hulu would air the new reality show “The Kardashians,” Jenner revealed that she was upset she wouldn’t be a part of it.

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Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, both in white, at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Source: Nicole Alexander/Wikimedia Commons

“I was there when this started from day one. I watched it grow. And doing the show for almost 20 seasons was one of the highlights of my life,” she tweeted at the time. “To be able to work with my family for all those years, connect with the fans, it was incredible. Happy that it continues for my family.”

Jenner’s Fall Out with the Kardashians

After Jenner’s tweet to Musk, some were quick to point out that Jenner’s relationship with the Kardashians is not what it used to be.

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Portrait of Kim Kardashian in a gray tank top before a gray background.

Source: hayu/Wikimedia Commons

Jenner herself has recently said that she doesn’t speak to many of the Kardashians anymore. “I’ve lost all relationship with them,” Jenner said in 2023. “I don’t talk to any of them anymore.” Some believe this may be why she wasn’t asked to be on the show.

Jenner Doesn’t Expect to Be on “The Kardashians”

In late 2023, Jenner opened up to RadioTimes.com to discuss why she wasn’t on the new Kardashian reality show, especially when she was such a constant staple in the first show.

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Caitlyn Jenner wearing a black top talking with a red and pink background.

Source: Web Summit/Wikimedia Commons

“I’ve never been asked to be on the show and I certainly don’t expect to be asked to be on the show,” she clarified. “So yeah, I’ve kind of moved on in my life from that perspective.”

The Fight Against Disney’s Alleged “Woke” Agenda

Early in 2024, Jenner took to X to discuss Disney’s alleged partisan mentality. According to Disney critics, those who aren’t partisan enough — or woke enough — are fired.

A colorful rainbow Mickey Mouse cap with Mickey Mouse hands forming a heart in the middle, against a gradient pink background

Source: Brian McGowan/Unsplash

Jenner took a shot at Disney CEO Bob Iger, tweeting, “I must not be woke enough. Too bad… I remember when Bob Iger was a young, hard working, valet, carrying my bags, for me right after I won the Olympics.”

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The Lack of Loyalty Between Jenner and Disney

Jenner also insinuated that Iger and Disney aren’t as loyal to her as they should be, referencing the big audience that she brought in for her “20/20” special that followed her transitioning from a man to a woman.

A close-up of a Mickey Mouse black-eared hat that has a red and white Mickey Mouse circular logo on it that says Walt Disney World.

Source: Brian McGowan/Unsplash

“Disney dropping me was purely political,” she tweeted. “I wasn’t woke enough for them, and Bob had no sense of loyalty after I gave them highest rated 2 HOUR 20/20 special on ABC.”

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Musk’s Fight Against Disney

Jenner reaching out to Musk comes amid Musk’s ongoing fight against diversity and inclusion standards. His offer to help people fight Disney legally came after someone sent him an alleged list of inclusion rules Disney follows.

A Walt Disney Studios water tower in the daytime with green palm trees beside it and a cloudy white and blue sky.

Source: Seif Abukhalaf/Unsplash

Musk posted these standards online and said they were “mandatory, institutionalized racism and sexism.”

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Gina Carano’s Lawsuit

Jenner’s request to Musk also occurred right around the time actress Gina Carano announced that she and her attorneys were suing Disney. According to Carano, X Corporation will financially support her lawsuit.

Gina Carano at Comic-Con with a water bottle and microphone in front of her.

Source: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia Commons

Carano was fired from “The Mandalorian” in 2021, evidently in response to her post comparing Republicans to Jewish people during the Holocaust. As a result, Carano says she is suing for wrongful termination.

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Musk’s Fight with Disney Escalates

After Musk said he would help those wanting to sue Disney, he also appeared to joke about buying Disney at a small indie movie premiere. The premiere was for a movie starring Nicola Peltz, the daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz — a man who also is fighting Disney.

A close-up of Minnie Mouse at a Disney Resort during the holiday season.

Source: Adrián Valverde/Unsplash

When asked why he was there, Musk joked, “I’m just here with friends… Thinking about what companies to acquire.”

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Jenner and Musk’s Past

Though Jenner’s recent X interaction with Musk has made headlines, this isn’t the first time the athlete has interacted with the world’s richest man.

A portrait of Elon Musk against a white background.

Source: The Royal Society/Wikimedia Commons

In 2022, Jenner reached out to Musk on social media to say that she feared for his life. At the time, she believed that Musk was becoming “public enemy number one to some very very bad people.”

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Disney Under Attack by Conservatives

Musk and Jenner’s tweets come as there is an increase in attacks on Disney by some conservatives in the U.S. According to these critics, Disney has become too “woke” and panders to liberal views.

A colorful Disneyland castle against a clear blue sky in the daytime.

Source: Capricorn song/Unsplash

Not too long ago, it looked like the fight between Disney and conservatives would come to an end, as Iger said he wanted to “quiet the noise.” However, with Musk’s battle with Disney, it doesn’t appear that this will happen any time soon.

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