Karla Sofía Gascón’s night at the Academy Awards was far from the glamorous celebration she once hoped for.
Despite making history as the first transgender woman nominated for an acting Oscar, the Emilia Pérez star found herself on the sidelines, overshadowed by controversy over past social media posts.
Accusations of racism and offensive remarks targeting Muslims and George Floyd surfaced, leading to a wave of backlash that left her largely isolated during Hollywood’s biggest night.
Fallout and Distance from Netflix and Co-Stars
Once considered a frontrunner for Best Actress, Gascón’s chances dwindled after the scandal erupted.
Netflix, which had heavily promoted Emilia Pérez, distanced itself from the actress, canceling many of her pre-Oscars appearances.
Even her co-stars, including Selena Gomez, kept their distance, leaving Gascón to navigate the event with only a small group—including her daughter, agent, a Netflix publicist, and private security.
Despite speculation that she might skip the ceremony, Gascón did attend.
However, she avoided the red carpet and refrained from posing with anyone associated with her film.
The audience offered polite applause when her name was mentioned, though it was noted that the reaction lacked warmth.
Limited Interactions and Strict Supervision
While she was seen briefly chatting with Selena Gomez in the audience, her interactions were kept to a minimum.
The New York Times reported that she shared a friendly moment with Best Actor winner Adrien Brody at the bar, but any attempts to speak with the press were swiftly shut down by Netflix’s publicist.
“She was jovial and interested in chatting,” the NYT wrote, “but before she could answer, the Netflix publicist cut the conversation short and moved the reporter away.”
The presence of a bodyguard and Netflix representative at all times underscored the tense atmosphere surrounding her.
Oscars Host Takes a Jab
Host Conan O’Brien didn’t let the controversy slide, addressing it head-on during his opening monologue.
He joked about Gascón’s publicist’s frantic damage control, quipping, “Anora uses the F-word 479 times… That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist: ‘You tweeted WHAT?’”
Gascón responded with a tight smile but remained silent as O’Brien continued, “Karla, if you’re gonna tweet about the Oscars, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
Controversial Social Media Posts Resurface
The uproar began when Muslim writer Sarah Hagi resurfaced several of Gascón’s past social media posts.
In one from November 2020, she questioned the increasing number of Muslims in Spain, making an insinuation about Arabic being taught instead of English.
Another post from September 2020 mocked Muslim women’s attire, sarcastically describing it as a sign of respect while calling it “DEEPLY DISGUSTING OF HUMANITY.”
Her comments about George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement also drew criticism.
In one post, she referred to Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” while condemning both racism and police brutality, a statement that was widely condemned.
Apology and the Road Ahead
As the backlash intensified, Gascón issued an apology through Netflix.
“As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well, and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,” she stated.
She insisted that her words did not reflect racism and emphasized her lifelong advocacy for a better world, adding, “I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”
Gascón’s career has spanned decades, with a strong presence in Mexican telenovelas before her transition in 2018.
In Emilia Pérez, she portrays a cartel kingpin who transitions after faking his death, later seeking to reconnect with his family.
The future remains uncertain for Gascón.
While Emilia Pérez continues to stream on Netflix, her Hollywood prospects could be in jeopardy.
The entertainment industry has seen public figures recover from controversy, but whether Gascón can regain favor remains to be seen.