Oscar's Best Actress nominee Karla Sofia Gascon is apologetic forher past social media posts that contained controversial views about Muslims, Black Lives Matter, and diversity at the Oscars.
- January 31, 2025
AceShowbiz - Karla Sofia Gascon, the star of "Emilia Perez," has issued a statement apologizing for a series of past social media posts that have caused hurt and offense. The posts, which were made on X, contained inflammatory language.
In one post from 2016, Gascón described Islam as a "hotbed of infection for humanity," while another criticized people for protesting against George Floyd's murder in 2020. These posts, along with several others, were brought to light by writer Sarah Hagi.
Gascón also drew criticism for a post about the 2021 Oscars ceremony, in which she expressed skepticism about its focus on diversity. She mockingly wrote that she "didn't know if [she] was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration or the 8M."
That year, black star Daniel Kaluuya won Best Actor for his role in "Judas and the Black Messiah" and Korean star Youn Yuh-jung collected Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Minari".
Gascón, who became the first openly trans performer to be nominated for an acting Oscar earlier this month, acknowledged the criticism and expressed deep regret for causing pain. She stated, "As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well."
"I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness."
The apology comes amidst multiple controversies surrounding Gascón. She recently faced accusations of violating Oscars campaign rules with comments made about fellow Best Actress nominee Fernanda Torres.
She clarified that she's a big fan of Torres and merely referred to "the toxicity and violent hate speech on social media that [she] sadly continue to experience."
Fernanda Torres herself landed in hot water for similar racial issues. She was blasted for her resurfaced blackface comedy sketch. "I am very sorry for this," she said earlier this month. "At that time, despite the efforts of Black movements and organizations, the awareness of the racist history and symbolism of blackface hadn't yet entered the mainstream public consciousness in Brazil."
Another nominee Zoe Saldana, who happens to be Gascon's "Emilia Perez" co-star, was also scrutinized for her past role as Nina Simone in a critically-panned biopic where she wore prosthetics and had her skin darkened. In 2020, Saldana expressed her regret for taking on the role.
