Karla Sofía Gascón, the lead actress in “Emilia Pérez,” is making arrangements to attend the 2025 Oscars, as per a report by Variety. Despite facing criticism for past social media posts denigrating Islam and describing George Floyd in a negative light, the Oscar-nominated transgender actor is set to be present at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 2. Sources indicated that Netflix will cover Gascón’s expenses for her trip to Los Angeles to participate in the ceremony.
While specific details about her participation, such as walking the red carpet, engaging in interviews, or seating arrangements with co-stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and director Jacques Audiard, are still being finalized, it is mentioned that Gascón also plans to attend the César Awards in Paris just before the Oscars on Feb. 28.
Netflix and representatives for Gascón have not responded immediately to CBC News’s requests for input. Despite being at the forefront of the Oscars race with 13 nominations, “Emilia Pérez” faced challenges when Gascón was removed from the film’s Academy Award campaign following the resurfacing of her offensive comments.
Gascón, who made history as the first transgender performer nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, has played a pivotal role in making “Emilia Pérez” the most nominated film leading up to the upcoming awards show. Netflix is hopeful that the film’s Oscar prospects will not be negatively affected by the ongoing controversy surrounding Gascón’s past remarks.
The controversy surrounding Gascón emerged when journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered old social media posts in which Gascón made derogatory comments about Muslims, George Floyd, and China. Following public backlash, Gascón issued an apology through a statement provided by Netflix.
Some of these posts dated as far back as 2016, targeting aspects of Muslim culture in Spain and advocating for the banning of Islam. Additionally, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020, Gascón criticized him as a drug addict with few people caring for him, following the tragic incident that sparked widespread discussions on police brutality and racism. Gascón’s social media account was subsequently deactivated.
Prior to her transition in 2018, Gascón had a successful career in Mexican telenovelas. In “Emilia Pérez,” she portrays a dual role as a menacing cartel leader who fakes his death and the woman who emerges in the aftermath. The character seeks assistance from a lawyer (Zoe Saldaña) to reunite with her wife (Selena Gomez) and children.
Celebrities like James Gunn, Trevor Noah, and Blake Shelton have faced similar challenges with past tweets resurfacing, but have managed to rebound from the controversies. Gunn, for instance, was rehired to direct Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” sequel and the upcoming “Superman” reboot. Noah hosted this year’s Grammy Awards, while Shelton continued as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice” for several seasons.
