Karla Sofía Gascón is feeling grateful after attending the 2025 Oscars. The Spanish actress, who competed for the coveted Best Actress award, which went to Mikey Madison for 'Anora,' shared a message directed to the academy, stating it had been an entertaining ceremony and mentioned Conan O'Brien's comments on her controversy.
The 'Emilia Perez' actress took to social media to express her thoughts, writing, "Thanks to the members of @theacademy for the nomination as best leading actress, for the invitation to the gala; I really liked it, very entertaining and funny." Gascón continued, "Especially its fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic, every day he looks more like the great Conan O’Brien," referring to Conan's joke on stage during the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Kimmel joked, "Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, keep my name out of it." Gascón also expressed her joy at reuniting with so many friends and colleagues on her return to the awards season, following recent controversies. She also congratulated her co-stars, saying, "Congratulations to all the winners, especially to [Emilia Pérez Best Supporting Actress] @zoesaldana and [Best Original Song songwriters] @camilleofficiel @clementducol."
Gascón expressed gratitude toward the film's director and to Netflix, stating, "Thank you Emilia Pérez for having taught me so many things." Although she did not walk the red carpet, she reunited with co-stars inside the theater.
O'Brien's jokes about Gascón's past controversy were one of the highlights of the evening. During his opening monologue, he made light of the media attention surrounding her social media activity. "Little fact for you, Anora uses the 'F' word 479 times. That's three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón's publicist," O'Brien said, eliciting gasps from the audience. He added humorously, "You tweeted what?!" Gascón was captured on camera blowing O'Brien a kiss, thanking him for his playful jab.
According to insiders, O'Brien was instrumental not only for managing the ceremony’s tone but for ensuring the events flowed seamlessly. A critic noted, "Conan's bizarre energy gave the show the electricity it needed, and managed both the heartfelt and blunt moments," illustrating the unique flair he brought. Early performance highlights included Cynthia Erivo's rendition of 'Defying Gravity' and Kieran Culkin's engaging acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor.
The impactful presence of O'Brien kept the night engaging and highlighted his skill at leveraging uncomfortable moments for comedic effect. Adapting to the tension around Gascón’s tweets resurfacing last January, O'Brien's deft handling of conversations about pressing issues including recent Los Angeles wildfires signified his versatility as host.
Conan’s unique brand of humor was not just limited to Gascón’s controversy, and with insensitivity addressed carefully, jokes took aim at colleagues and the broader entertainment industry. For example, he involved LA firefighters to deliver some edgy jokes, who lightened the mood by insisting, "Everyone has to laugh. These are heroes!" Captains Erik Scott and Jodi Slicker delivered quips about the damages from the fires to big-name productions like 'Joker 2' directly and hilariously, which allowed Conan to maintain his comedic edge without backlash.
The Academy's 97th Oscars began with strong performances and uproarious laughter, demonstrating how the ceremonies can transcend mere award-giving. With O'Brien's handling, the Oscars showcased the ability of film to weave narratives beyond just recognition—in this case, addressing social issues via humor and recognizing resilience within the entertainment community.
O'Brien blended absurdity with poignancy, past skits superimposing himself humorously within themed production elements. At one point involving the enormously popular sandworm from 'Dune: Part Two', he entertained viewers with segments rooted more deeply than surface-level comedy. Observers noted the stark difference back-to-back between Kimmel's stable hosting style from prior years and O'Brien’s unpredictable energy infused hope and laughter.
The event concluded highlighting O'Brien's standout moments alongside insights from winners and nominations. It cemented the essence of awards night as much more than selections but revelled true community. Gascón’s expression of thanks encapsulated both her determination to press forward from her past and her optimism about her future as part of the film industry. The Oscar night, filled with humor, heartfelt moments, challenges, and celebrations, left audiences and attendees alike wanting more, ensuring another memorable experience for the Academy Awards.