As her film "Emilia Pérez" finds itself ensnared in a public relations tempest stirred by controversial social media posts from her co-star, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez is finally speaking out. During a Question and Answer session at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday, celebrating her Virtuosos Award victory, the Golden Globe nominee candidly shared how the recent uproar has colored her emotions amidst the Netflix crime-drama-musical's accolade sweep at Hollywood award ceremonies.
"I'm doing well. I'm truly fine," expressed Gomez, 32. "A fraction of the enchantment has dimmed, yet I elect to stand tall, basking in the pride of my endeavors, submerged in a sea of gratitude."I carry no regrets and would readily embark on this film journey again and again if given the chance."
Gomez's remarks follow closely on the heels of director Jacques Audiard's Feb. 5 interview with Deadline, where he publicly dissociated himself from Gascón, branding her past social media postings as "inexcusable" and confirming that they had no contact since the posts came to light. Over recent weeks, Gascón has issued multiple public apologies for her racist and xenophobic remarks aimed at Muslims, Oscar diversity, and George Floyd, which resurfaced at the end of January, dating back as far as 2020.
This is a pivotal moment in Hollywood's award season, with the final Oscar votes set for Feb. 18, ahead of the March 2 ceremony. "Emilia Pérez" leads the pack with an impressive 13 nominations.
Gascón has tendered her "heartfelt apologies" for her offensive past comments, while also lambasting those who dragged her old posts into the spotlight, writing, "They have succeeded in their mission to tarnish my existence with falsehoods or snippets taken out of context."
In a captivating 50-minute conversation with Juan Carlos Arciniegas for CNN en Español on February 2nd, Gascón revealed to CNN that she did not "acknowledge" several of her older social media posts which had recently come under scrutiny by users. During the lively Q&A session, Gomez exuded enthusiasm for her burgeoning acting career, highlighted by Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her roles in "Only Murders in the Building" and "Emilia Pérez," respectively.
"It was a truly unique experience to have someone see potential in me beyond the obvious," Gomez beamed. "The director placed immense trust in me, and I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate my versatility. I sincerely hope this marks just the beginning of my journey in this field."
Moreover, Gomez cast a shadow of doubt over her future as a singer. "I'm prepared to concentrate solely on this [acting] for the foreseeable future," she confessed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "The world of film and art, surrounded by incredibly talented individuals who have only ever uplifted me, is incredibly inspiring. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to return to music after this experience."
Upon hearing this revelation, the film festival audience expressed their astonishment, prompting Gomez to burst into laughter that lasted for at least ten seconds. When pressed if she would ever say "never say never," the former Disney Channel star replied with a playful, "Maybe."
Gascón was also honored this year with the Virtuosos Award, which celebrates "up-and-coming" actors for their breakthrough performances, albeit she was unable to attend the festival. Other recipients of the prestigious award included Kieran Culkin, Ariana Grande, Mikey Madison, Harris Dickinson, Clarence Maclin, and John Magaro.
Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña, Gomez's co-star in "Emilia Pérez," was bestowed with the American Riviera Award by SBIFF, recognizing her "outstanding achievement in American film." Saldaña, who had previously criticized Gascón's posts, expressed her disappointment during a Q&A on January 31st, captured in a video by The Hollywood Reporter.
"It saddens me deeply because I do not support [her posts], and I have zero tolerance for any form of negative rhetoric directed towards any group of people," Saldaña emphasized, her voice tinged with sincerity.
