Movie fans you know awards season is usually full of glitz glamour and maybe a little bit of drama right? But this year things got extra spicy around the movie Emilia Pérez and its lead actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón . Turns out some old tweets from Gascon resurfaced and let's just say they caused a major uproar right before the Oscars.
Years-Old Tweets Throw Shade on Oscar Run: What Did Karla Sofia Gascón Actually Tweet?
So what was the deal with these tweets? Well years ago Gascon posted some stuff on social media that people are calling offensive. The tweets contained remarks that have been described as racist and Islamophobic. There were also comments criticized as being disrespectful towards George Floyd and regarding diversity. When these old posts came back to light right before the Oscars it understandably created a storm of controversy.
For a movie like Emilia Pérez which was already getting mixed reviews and some criticism for its portrayal of trans issues and Mexican culture this tweet situation was not ideal. Suddenly the focus shifted from the film itself to the personal social media history of its lead actress and Best Actress nominee. Awkward timing doesn't even begin to cover it.
Backlash and Stepping Back: Gascon's Response to the Tweet Firestorm Before the Oscars Ceremony
The reaction to the resurfaced tweets was swift and strong. People online were not happy and started calling out the actress and questioning her nomination. Gascon pretty quickly deactivated her account on X (formerly Twitter) as the backlash grew. She also skipped a bunch of the usual pre-Oscars events like the nominee dinner and other award shows. It seemed like she was trying to avoid the spotlight as the controversy raged.
Gascon did release a statement on Instagram seemingly as a response to comments from the director of Emilia Pérez Jacques Audiard who wasn't too pleased with the situation. In her post Gascon apologized to anyone who was hurt by her words. She also mentioned hoping that her "silence" would help people appreciate the movie itself as a "beautiful ode to love and difference." Whether that apology was enough for everyone is another question.
The Show Must Go On (With Jokes?): Gascón Attends Oscars but Controversy is Still in the Air (and in the Monologue)
Despite all the drama Karla Sofia Gascon did attend the 97th Academy Awards ceremony. She walked the carpet well technically maybe skipped the red carpet entrance but she was definitely inside the Dolby Theatre. She wore a striking black dress and was photographed inside the event looking very much present despite all the surrounding controversy.
And guess what? The tweet situation even became part of the Oscars show itself. Host Conan O'Brien known for his comedic style did not shy away from the elephant in the room. In his opening monologue Conan made a joke directly referencing Gascon's tweets. He quipped about the movie Anora using the F-word a lot but then zinged "That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon’s publicist." Ouch. He followed that up with another joke directly to Gascon in the audience referencing her tweeting habits. It was a clear sign that the controversy was definitely part of the Oscar night narrative.
Co-Stars and Director Speak Out: Zoe Saldana and Jacques Audiard's Reactions to Gascon's Tweets
Gascon's Emilia Pérez co-star Zoe Saldaña also weighed in on the tweet controversy. Saldaña mentioned being "really sad" about the situation and made it clear she does not support "negative rhetoric towards people of any group." While expressing disappointment in Gascon's actions Saldana also said she was still "proud" of the movie itself and her work on it. It's a tricky situation when a controversy involves a fellow cast member.
Director Jacques Audiard's reaction was even stronger. He stated that he hadn't "spoken to her and I don’t want to" after the tweets resurfaced. He described Gascon as being in a "self-destructive approach" and said he didn't understand why she was "harming herself" and "harming people who were very close to her." That is a pretty blunt and public distancing from the film's director.
Oscar Night Results: Did the Controversy Impact "Emilia Pérez"'s Wins?
Emilia Pérez went into the Oscars with a whopping 13 nominations leading all films this year. But in the end it only took home two awards. Some people are wondering if the tweet controversy played a role in the film not winning more especially in the major categories like Best Picture and Best Actress for Gascon herself.
While Gascon didn't win Best Actress her co-star Zoe Saldaña did win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Saldaña gave an emotional speech where she paid tribute to her immigrant roots and her Dominican heritage. The film also won Best Original Song for "El Mal." So it wasn't a complete shutout but definitely less of a sweep than some might have expected given the initial nomination count.
Controversy and the Oscars: It's Not the First Time (and Probably Not the Last)
This whole situation with Karla Sofia Gascon and Emilia Pérez is a reminder that controversies and the Oscars often go hand in hand. Remember when "Green Book" won Best Picture despite backlash over racist portrayals and past tweets from its writer? Or when Eddie Redmayne was nominated for playing a trans woman and faced criticism for a cis actor taking a trans role? The Oscars and social issues have a long and complicated history.
It raises questions about how much past actions and social media posts should factor into awards consideration and public perception especially in today's world of instant online reactions and "cancel culture." It's a complex issue with no easy answers and the Karla Sofia Gascon tweet controversy is just the latest example of these tensions playing out on the Oscar stage.
Key Points of the Karla Sofia Gascón Tweet Controversy:
- Resurfaced Tweets: Years-old social media posts from Karla Sofia Gascón resurfaced right before the 2025 Oscars.
- Offensive Content: The tweets contained remarks criticized as racist Islamophobic and disrespectful towards George Floyd and regarding diversity.
- Backlash and Apology: The tweets sparked immediate backlash. Gascon deactivated her Twitter account and issued an apology statement on Instagram.
- Oscar Attendance but Low Profile: Gascon attended the Oscars ceremony but skipped pre-Oscar events and the red carpet.
- Conan O'Brien's Joke: Oscars host Conan O'Brien made jokes about the tweet controversy in his opening monologue.
- Co-star and Director Reactions: Zoe Saldaña expressed disappointment while director Jacques Audiard distanced himself from Gascon's actions.
- Impact on Oscar Wins? Some speculate the controversy may have affected Emilia Pérez's Oscar wins despite its many nominations though Zoe Saldaña did win Best Supporting Actress.