Star of Emilia Perez Faces Backlash Over Old Social Media Posts, Including Offensive Remarks on Islam and George Floyd
Karla Sofia Gascon, the first transgender performer to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, has issued a public apology for past social media posts that have resurfaced, which include offensive remarks about Islam and George Floyd. Gascon, who stars in the Netflix musical Emilia Perez, acknowledged the hurt caused by her comments and expressed deep regret for the pain her words may have inflicted.
In a statement shared via Netflix, Gascon stated, “As someone from a marginalised community, I know this suffering all too well, and I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused.” She continued, “Throughout my life, I have fought for a better world. I believe that light will always triumph over darkness.”
Gascon’s role in Emilia Perez has been a groundbreaking achievement, as she is the first transgender actress to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. The film, which has already secured multiple Golden Globe wins, is up for 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez is being hailed for its genre-defying narrative.
However, the controversy surrounding Gascon’s past posts could overshadow the film’s success. The tweets, some dating back to 2016, included disparaging remarks about Muslims’ culture, dress, and language in Spain, even suggesting that Islam should be banned. Gascon also made insensitive comments about George Floyd following his tragic death in 2020, referring to him as a “drug addict” and claiming that “very few people ever cared” for him.
Writer Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of the old tweets, which were quickly deleted, expressing her disappointment at the discrepancy between the progressive values promoted by Emilia Perez and Gascon’s past comments. “You really have to laugh,” Hagi wrote. “Stuff like this doesn’t get flagged because you can say whatever you want about Muslims, it’s never considered racist.”
Gascon, who transitioned in 2018, was a well-known figure in Mexican telenovelas before becoming involved in the film. She has previously spoken about her role in shaping the transgender storyline in Emilia Perez, where she contributed her own experiences to ensure authenticity and realism.
The backlash over her old tweets echoes similar controversies faced by other public figures, such as James Gunn, Trevor Noah, and Blake Shelton, who all faced consequences for past actions. However, like them, Gascon has expressed remorse and continues to move forward in her career.
As Emilia Perez continues its awards campaign, Netflix will hope that the controversy does not overshadow the film’s success or Gascon’s historic Oscar nomination.
