Karla Sofía Gascón, a Mexican actress acclaimed for her groundbreaking role in the Netflix musical Emilia Pérez, has become the first transgender person nominated in an Oscars acting category. Despite a recent controversy surrounding past social media posts, Gascón remains committed to her quest for the best actress award. The film Emilia Pérez, a French production set predominantly in Mexico and performed mainly in Spanish, has garnered 13 Oscar nominations, highlighting its cinematic impact.
The controversy unfolded when journalist Sarah Hagi unearthed Gascón's tweets from 2020 and 2021, reported in Variety. The posts contained criticisms of Islam, prompting public backlash. In response, Gascón publicly apologized to anyone who "may have felt offended" by her remarks, asserting that she was not racist.
"I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am." – Karla Sofía Gascón
Gascón emphasized her longstanding commitment to fighting for a better world, expressing her belief that positivity will prevail over negativity.
"All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness." – Karla Sofía Gascón
Gascón deactivated her account on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the scandal. She clarified that she did not author a derogatory post allegedly about her co-star Selena Gomez.
"It's not mine, of course, I have never said anything about my colleague, I would never refer to her that way." – Karla Sofía Gascón
Despite the controversy, Gascón declared her intention to continue in the Oscar race, defending her nomination and arguing that she had committed no wrongdoing.
"I cannot step down from an Oscar nomination because I have not committed any crime, nor have I harmed anyone." – Karla Sofía Gascón
Emilia Pérez tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes a gender transformation, with Gascón starring alongside Zoe Saldana. The film has sparked mixed reactions among audiences, adding another layer of complexity to its reception.
Leave a Reply