Top 10 Celebs Who Were Fired by Disney

Big entertainment companies make tough calls when controversies, contract disputes, or creative clashes hit their projects. Disney is a huge umbrella that includes ABC, ESPN, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and Disney Channel, so decisions made across those labels often get grouped together as Disney decisions in the public eye. That means actors, directors, and even on air personalities have seen their jobs end quickly when problems surfaced.

This list looks at notable cases where employment ended with a clear termination rather than a quiet exit or a standard contract lapse. Each entry explains what happened, which Disney owned outlet or studio was involved, and what changed after the decision so you can see the context behind the headlines without the noise.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano portrayed Cara Dune on the Star Wars series ‘The Mandalorian’. Lucasfilm announced that she was no longer employed and that there were no plans for her to return after a series of social media posts that the company described as unacceptable. Her character was removed from future storylines and merchandise plans were adjusted after her departure.

The decision affected planned appearances tied to the expanding slate of Disney Plus Star Wars projects. Production teams revised scripts and promotion materials to proceed without the character, and Carano’s previous episodes remained available while new casting choices and spin off ideas moved forward without her involvement.

James Gunn

James Gunn was removed from directing ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ after old social media posts resurfaced and triggered a review by Disney. The studio ended his employment and paused active work on the film while it decided how to proceed with the franchise and with the cast that had already worked with him on two successful entries.

Months later the studio reinstated Gunn to direct the film after internal discussions and public statements from the cast and crew. The production returned to development with him in the lead creative role, but his initial firing stood as a formal termination before that later reversal.

Roseanne Barr

ABC ended Roseanne Barr’s employment after she posted a racist tweet while starring in the successful revival of ‘Roseanne’. The network canceled the revival the same day and then moved forward with ‘The Conners’, a continuation that retained the ensemble cast but excluded Barr from on screen appearances, credit, and participation.

The network structured the new show so existing contracts and production schedules could continue without interruption. Writers, producers, and cast members reworked scripts and set plans to transition to the rebranded series, and ABC publicly confirmed that Barr would have no creative or financial involvement going forward.

Stoney Westmoreland

Stoney Westmoreland played Ham Mack on the Disney Channel series ‘Andi Mack’. After his arrest during the show’s run, Disney Channel terminated his employment and removed him from the series, with episodes and marketing adjusted to reflect the change in cast.

Production responded by rewriting or reshooting upcoming material to exclude his character. The network also updated promotional assets and digital listings to align with the decision, while legal proceedings took their own course outside of the show’s production timeline.

Mitchel Musso

Mitchel Musso, known for roles connected to Disney Channel including ‘Hannah Montana’ and the Disney XD series ‘Pair of Kings’, was removed from ‘Pair of Kings’ following a DUI arrest. Disney XD replaced him in the cast and continued the series with a new lead alongside the returning ensemble.

The show’s production pivoted by introducing a new character and revising storylines to maintain continuity for viewers. Scheduling, press materials, and episode credits were updated to reflect the change, and Musso did not return to the series after the network’s decision.

Jake Paul

Jake Paul starred on Disney Channel’s ‘Bizaardvark’ before the network announced that he would be leaving the series effective immediately during the second season. The announcement followed widely publicized off set controversies and neighborhood complaints tied to his online content, and his character was written out of upcoming episodes.

Writers and producers adjusted scripts already in progress so production could continue without interruption. The network removed him from promotional plans for the series while keeping completed episodes in rotation and moving forward with the remaining cast.

Steve Whitmire

Steve Whitmire performed Kermit the Frog for decades and worked extensively with The Muppets Studio. Disney confirmed that he was no longer with the company and named a new performer to assume the role after internal concerns about performance notes and professional conduct.

Following the change, Kermit appearances across television, live events, and digital content transitioned to the new performer. The Muppets Studio coordinated updates to recordings, scheduling, and marketing materials so the character’s voice and appearances would remain consistent for upcoming projects.

Isaiah Washington

Isaiah Washington’s contract with ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ was not renewed after an off set incident that involved a homophobic slur and subsequent fallout. The decision effectively ended his employment on the show, and the series wrote his character out at the end of the season to reflect the change.

Production addressed the exit by crafting a storyline that closed the character’s arc while maintaining continuity for ongoing plots. The network and producers proceeded with the next season’s planning without Washington, and casting needs were adjusted to fill the gap left in the ensemble.

Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN. The network terminated his employment after he shared a social media post that violated company policies, citing its standards for public conduct by on air talent and digital contributors.

Programming teams reallocated assignments for live game coverage and studio shows after his departure. ESPN updated its talent roster for baseball season coverage and moved forward with existing hosts and analysts to maintain its broadcast schedule without disruption.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were removed as directors from ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ by Lucasfilm during principal photography. The studio cited creative differences and brought in Ron Howard to complete the film, which meant Lord and Miller’s employment ended while production continued under new leadership.

The change required reshoots, scheduling shifts, and updated credits to reflect the directing transition. Lucasfilm coordinated with cast and crew to finish the project on time, while Lord and Miller retained certain producer acknowledgments based on guild rules and prior contractual agreements.

Share which cases surprised you most and tell us in the comments if there are other Disney firings you think should be on the list.