Following a contentious encounter with advocates of fellow Best Actress Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres, Karla Sofía Gascón has found herself under scrutiny for her inflammatory online postings spanning a variety of topics, from Islam to the tragic demise of George Floyd. The star of "Emilia Pérez" saw her X (formerly Twitter) postings gain widespread circulation early Thursday morning, as numerous users circulated screenshots and offered scathing critiques of her viewpoints.
For instance, barely a month after George Floyd was fatally arrested in Minnesota in 2020, sparking nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, Gascón shared a thread summarizing her stance. "Let me clarify," she penned in Spanish (translated here), "a man tries to pass a fake bill after ingesting methamphetamine, a foolish policeman arrives and goes overboard in apprehending him, resulting in his death, devastating his family and colleagues, and turning this bill-passing individual into a martyr hero. I genuinely think very few individuals ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict and hustler, but his death has merely served to underscore yet again that there are those who persist in viewing Black individuals as monkeys devoid of rights, and others who see policemen as murderers. All wrongheaded."
Later that year, she targeted Muslims in her native Spain. "Excuse me, but is it just me, or are there increasing numbers of Muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school, I see more women with their hair covered and their skirts dragging on the ground," she posted on November 23, 2020. "Perhaps next year, instead of English, we'll have to teach Arabic."
Regarding Islam, she advocated for a ban: "Until we prohibit religions that contradict European values and infringe upon human rights, such as Islam, under the guise of religious freedom, we will not alleviate part of the monumental issue we confront. Faith manipulates those who cling to it." Gascón also expressed her thoughts on the 2021 Oscar broadcast, where "Nomadland" claimed the Best Picture award: "The #Oscars are increasingly resembling a ceremony for independent and protest films. I wasn't sure if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration, or the 8M march. Besides that, it was an ugly, ugly gala."
Vanity Fair writer Chris Murphy weighed in on Gascón's Floyd-related postings, commenting, "You couldn't make this stuff up… for heaven's sake, do not award this woman an Oscar!!!" Gascón made history as the first transgender performer nominated for Best Actress, while her film, directed by Jacques Audiard, led the pack with 13 nominations for Netflix.
Shortly after 10 a.m. today, several of Gascón's postings began disappearing, including the one about Floyd that had been live earlier in the day. Later that Thursday, she apologized for her past tweets.
"As someone who has long navigated the challenges of a marginalized community, I am all too familiar with this pain, and I offer my heartfelt apologies to those whom I have inadvertently hurt," she shared in part of her statement. "Throughout my life, I have relentlessly striven for a brighter, better world, believing steadfastly that light will inevitably triumph over darkness." By Friday, Gascón's X account had been deactivated, a move she elaborated on in an exclusive statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "I can no longer permit this campaign of hate and misinformation to cast a shadow over my family or myself," she emphasized.
Many users expressed astonishment, not so much at the outspoken Spanish actress sharing her thoughts—freedom of speech being a cherished right—but at how, amidst the ever-intense awards season fray, her posts remained online for such an extended period. Elite contenders like Gascón are typically encircled by teams of seasoned publicists and strategists who excel in media training and shaping public perception.
The controversy erupted after Gascón hinted in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper that online forces were at play, endeavoring to tarnish her and the Emilia Pérez team's reputation. "What I deplore are social media handlers—those who work alongside such individuals—attempting to diminish our efforts, such as mine and my film, for such endeavors lead nowhere. There is no need to tear down one's work to elevate another's. I have never, at any juncture, uttered anything derogatory about Fernanda Torres or her movie. Yet, individuals associated with Fernanda Torres are undermining me and Emilia Pérez. This speaks volumes more about their film than mine," she asserted.
As the comments gained viral traction, countless X users tagged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, alleging that Gascón's remarks breached Academy rules against disparaging remarks towards fellow contenders. However, Ultimately, the Academy concluded that no rules had been violated; Gascón had demonstrated restraint by refraining from commenting on or, more neutrally put, "criticizing" Torres's performance or film. However, Gascón issued a statement to Variety to clarify the situation. "I am an immense admirer of Fernanda Torres, and it has been delightful getting to know her over the past few months," Gascón conveyed in the statement. "In my recent remarks, I was referring to the poisonous and violent hate speech prevalent on social media, which unfortunately, I continue to encounter. Fernanda has been a remarkable ally, and everyone associated with her has been nothing short of supportive and incredibly generous."
In a recent cover story with THR, Gascón dismissed the online vitriol she faces as a transgender actress with a shrug. "Social media is but a fabrication," she declared. "The reality lies on the streets, where people approach you to express their gratitude."
