Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of Emilia Pérez, the most nominated non-English film at the Academy Awards with 13 nominations, has recently faced intense backlash due to resurfaced controversial posts on social media. Gascón, who made history as the first openly transgender woman nominated for Best Leading Actress, is now at the center of controversy as old tweets from 2020 and 2021 come to light, sparking public outrage and criticism.
The tweets highlighted by journalist Sarah Hagi include comments on the rising visibility of Muslims in Spain, the brutal murder of George Floyd, and observations about Oscar diversity. One tweet, dated November 2020, questioned the growing presence of Muslims, saying, "I'm sorry, is it just my impression or is there more Muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school, there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Next year, instead of English, we'll have to teach Arabic," by Gascón, as reported by Variety.
Another inflammatory post, from September of the same year, stated, "Islam is marvelous, without any machismo. Women are respected, and when they are so respected they are left with a little squared hole on their faces for their eyes to be visible… How DEEPLY DISGUSTING OF HUMANITY." This comment was accompanied by a photo of a Muslim family dining, where the woman is seen wearing a burka. Gascón’s remarks about Islam were not vague and, unfortunately, struck a chord with many who felt they were both Islamophobic and disrespectful.
Beyond her anti-Muslim sentiments, Gascón also sparked debates with her thoughts on the death of George Floyd, famously saying, "I really think very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate...” This statement was perceived as trivializing the uproar surrounding Floyd's death, which set off protests advocating for racial justice and equality.
Social media users condemned Gascón's resurfaced tweets, demanding accountability from the Academy and Netflix. They pointed out the contradictions of her outspoken critiques against intolerance and discrimination juxtaposed with her offensive commentary online.
The situation grew more complicated as Gascón had also openly criticized the Oscars prior, stating, “More and more the #Oscars are looking like a ceremony for independent and protest films...” Many saw this as hypocritical considering her own backlash during this awards season. The rising discussions around her tweets have opened up broader conversations about diversity representations and cultural authenticity within films, particularly as Emilia Pérez faced criticism for its portrayal of Mexican culture and its predominantly non-Mexican cast.
The film has garnered both accolades and criticism since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, winning several awards before even reaching Netflix. Many Mexican critics have remarked on the film’s simplistic representation of their culture, calling it shallow and poorly produced. Representatives from Netflix and the Academy have so far remained silent about the controversy.
While Gascón has faced personal challenges online, citing the toxicity and hate speech directed at her as the first transgender woman nominated for such honors, her comments on social media have elicited questions about genuine intentions behind her words. Consequently, these resurfaced posts reflect persistent divides within society and highlight tensions about how marginalized communities ought to engage with activism.
Despite the uproar, it appears Gascón’s film continues to thrive at awards ceremonies, with audiences wrestling with the conflicting nature of its triumph against the backdrop of her controversial social media history. The coming weeks will determine whether the Academy or Gascón will address these sensitive issues publicly or if they will deep-dive even more deeply within discussions about representation and respect for cultural narratives.
At present, Gascón and her representatives have not issued any formal statement reiterative of the turbulent issues surrounding her social media comments. This silence has left many wondering how she plans to navigate the heightened scrutiny and potential backlash as awards season progresses.