Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón, nominated for the 2025 Oscar, has been embroiled in controversy due to allegedly racist and xenophobic comments made in the past. This controversy has repercussions on her participation in promotional events for the film and the awards campaign.
Gascón, who is competing in the best actress category at the Oscars, has been excluded from the film's promotion and will be absent from events in Los Angeles during a crucial week for voting by members of the Hollywood Academy.
The film's director, Jacques Audiard, has distanced himself from Gascón after describing the actress's comments as "absolutely hateful and deserving to be hated." Netflix has also severed ties with her, as has the public relations agency that represented her.
Zoe Saldaña, nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the same film in which Gascón participates, has expressed her sadness over the controversy and the criticism aimed at Emilia Pérez, particularly from the Latin American audience. However, she has limited herself to commenting that she has already said enough about the topic.
Gascón, for her part, has defended herself against the criticisms on social media, stating that she has nothing to hide and is a victim of what is known as "cancel culture." As the deadline for voting by Hollywood academics approaches, the actress's presence in the campaign and promotional events is compromised by the consequences of her controversial comments.
