The announcement of Karla Sofía Gascón’s nomination for Best Lead Actress at the BAFTA Film Awards sparked a rather subdued reaction on the evening of February 2025.

While the film Emilia Pérez, which stars Gascón, earned multiple accolades, including Best Director for Jacques Audiard, Gascón’s nomination was met with little applause.

The reason for the awkward silence stems from resurfaced social media posts, filled with offensive comments that have ignited controversy across multiple communities.

The Controversy Surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón’s Social Media Posts

Karla’s past online comments have triggered public outrage, especially due to their racist, homophobic, and body-shaming nature.

In one post, she infamously referred to George Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” and expressed distasteful opinions about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Her other posts included offensive remarks about Islam, body-shaming Adele, and targeting her co-stars, including Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber.

These comments, which were uncovered by Muslim writer Sarah Hagi and later translated, have since been deleted from her X (formerly Twitter) account. However, the damage has been done.

The BAFTA Ceremony and Karla’s Cold Reception

During the BAFTA awards, Gascón’s nomination was presented by actors Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who acknowledged each nominee with snippets from their performances.

While other actresses received enthusiastic applause, Karla’s moment was notably cold.

The scene featuring her singing a sorrowful song alongside Zoe Saldaña was met with silence, and an uncomfortable moment followed when only a headshot of Karla was displayed, as she was not present at the ceremony.

In stark contrast, Jacques Audiard, the film’s French director, received an outpouring of support when he accepted his award for Best Film Not In The English Language.

He publicly expressed his gratitude toward Gascón, saying, “I kiss you,” despite the controversy surrounding her.

Reactions from Co-Stars and Crew

Zoe Saldaña, who won Best Supporting Actress, gave an emotional acceptance speech, thanking numerous people—including Gascón—despite the tension that had surfaced between the two due to Karla’s online comments.

Audiard, on the other hand, condemned Gascón’s hateful posts in a previous interview, noting that the actress’ comments had affected his relationship with her and the cast.

He admitted that the trust they had shared during filming was damaged by the posts, calling them “inexcusable.”

Gascón’s Apology and the Growing Backlash

After the controversy erupted, Gascón issued an apology, acknowledging the harm caused by her past social media behavior.

She expressed regret, especially as someone who belongs to a marginalized community herself.

Despite her apology, her actions have continued to spark backlash, especially from organizations like the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who criticized her posts for being “hurtful, offensive, and shocking.”

The Oscars and Emilia Pérez: Karla’s Journey Amidst Controversy

Karla’s nomination for Best Actress at the upcoming Oscars places her alongside other notable nominees, including Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison.

Her film Emilia Pérez has garnered mixed reviews but earned 11 nominations overall.

The movie, which explores the story of a cartel leader who seeks to live her authentic life, features Gascón as the titular character.

Despite her personal controversies, Karla has managed to secure significant recognition within the film industry.

A Film Amidst Criticism: Emilia Pérez‘s Troubling Themes

While Emilia Pérez has won multiple accolades, it hasn’t been without its own controversies.

One major point of criticism revolves around a song from the film that simplifies gender-affirming surgery in a way that many have found offensive.

The song, titled “La Vaginoplastia,” features a ridiculous exchange between characters, including a doctor explaining the surgery in an overly simplistic manner.

The backlash to this scene has been swift, especially as the film’s success at the Golden Globes and Cannes Film Festival has raised its profile even further.

Gascón’s Journey as a Transgender Actress and the Film’s Reception

Karla Sofía Gascón made history as the first transgender actress nominated for an Oscar.

She began her transition in 2018, after years of working in Mexican telenovelas.

In Emilia Pérez, she portrays a character who is not only a cartel boss but also navigating her gender transition.

The film’s exploration of gender-affirming surgery, along with its portrayal of a marginalized community, has led to both praise and criticism.

Moving Forward: Will Gascón’s Controversies Affect Her Career?

As Karla Sofía Gascón continues to make waves in the film industry, the ongoing backlash from her past behavior will likely follow her.

Whether or not her apology and career trajectory will overshadow her controversial past remains to be seen.

With the Oscars fast approaching, all eyes are on how the industry will handle the situation, and whether Gascón can separate her personal history from her professional accomplishments moving forward.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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