Variety magazine reported that Karla Sofía Gascón, an Oscar nominee for *Emilia Pérez*, issued an apology after resurfaced social media posts revealed controversial comments on religion and race.
In a statement, Gascón acknowledged the backlash, expressing remorse for her past remarks:
“I want to address the conversation surrounding my past social media posts that have caused pain. As someone from a marginalized community, I understand this suffering and deeply regret any harm I’ve caused. I have always fought for a better world and believe that light will always triumph over darkness.”
Among the posts drawing criticism is a 2020 comment where she mocked Islam, sharing a photo of a Muslim family at a restaurant:
“Islam is wonderful, without any machismo. Women are so respected that they’re given a tiny square hole to see through, but only if they behave well. Of course, they dress like this for their own enjoyment. How DEEPLY REPULSIVE FOR HUMANITY!”
In 2021, she criticized multiple religions, writing:
“I’m sick of all this bullshit—Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, and all the damn beliefs of idiots who violate human rights.”
One of her most controversial posts surfaced in 2020, shortly after George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent protests in the U.S.:
“I honestly think very few people cared about George Floyd, a scamming drug addict. But his death has once again shown that some still see Black people as monkeys without rights and police officers as murderers. Everyone is wrong.”
Additionally, Gascón criticized the 2021 Oscars for prioritizing diversity in nominations, a comment that now contrasts with her own historic recognition at the Academy Awards:
“The #Oscars are looking more and more like an indie protest festival. I didn’t know if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter rally, or a feminist march. Other than that, an ugly, ugly ceremony.”
A Historic Oscar Nomination Under Scrutiny
The controversy comes just as Gascón became the first openly trans person nominated for an Academy Award in an acting category. In 2023, she won Best Actress at Cannes, sharing the honor with Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. She was also the first trans woman nominated for a Golden Globe in a film acting category.
Gascón recently alleged that a social media campaign is trying to harm her Oscar chances. In an interview with a Brazilian outlet, she accused supporters of *I’m Still Here* and its star, Fernanda Torres, of orchestrating the backlash:
“If she wins, great. If I win, great. But I don’t like that a social media team is working to undermine my work and my film—that leads nowhere. You don’t need to tear others down to elevate someone else.”
Despite the controversy, Gascón insisted she has no issue with Torres and praised her performance:
“You won’t hear me speak badly about Fernanda Torres or her film. But I do see people from her camp speaking negatively about me and *Emilia Pérez*. I believe that says more about them and their film than it does about mine.”