The unearthing of offensive social media posts by actress Karla Sofía Gascón has thrown the Oscar campaign for the film “Emilia Pérez” into turmoil. Gascón, who made history as the first trans woman nominated for Best Actress, had been a strong contender for the award until journalist Sarah Hagi discovered problematic tweets from 2020 and 2021. The posts included derogatory remarks about George Floyd, Chinese people, and Muslims.
One particularly inflammatory tweet criticized the 2021 Oscars, calling it “an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration or the 8M [International Women’s Day].”
The revelations have significantly harmed the prospects of both Gascón and “Emilia Pérez” at the Academy Awards. Film critic Wendy Ide from “The Observer” told the BBC, “I think we can safely say that Karla Sofía Gascón won’t be winning anything.”
Despite Gascón issuing an apology on Friday, admitting she was “deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,” the damage may be irreversible. Arts editor Ed Potton from “The Times” noted, “Emilia Pérez’s chances are strongly linked to its liberal credentials.
Once those are lost, they’ll be hard to regain.”
The controversy has led to finger-pointing within the Hollywood community. Some have accused Gascón’s PR team at the Lede Company and her agent at UTA of failing to vet her social media history.
Oscar hopes undermined by controversy
Others have suggested that rival awards consultants may have been involved in resurfacing the tweets. Zoe Saldaña, who is also nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Emilia Pérez,” defended her co-star at a Q&A event in London, saying, “It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”
As the Oscars approach, the focus has shifted from the films to the controversies surrounding their nominees. Stephanie Bunbury, a film journalist at the “Sydney Morning Herald,” remarked, “The scandals and the insults flying suggest a new imperative to win by fair means or foul.”
The controversy has added to existing criticism of “Emilia Pérez” for its alleged inauthenticity and insensitivity.
The film, which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender transition, has been accused of trivializing the violence of Mexico’s drug wars and portraying its trans character in a retrograde manner. In response, Mexican filmmakers have created a satirical parody called “Johanne Sacreblu,” which pokes fun at French stereotypes. The 30-minute video, posted on social media by trans filmmaker Camila Aurora, features dancers and actors in fake mustaches and berets, showcasing a romance between the trans heirs of rival croissant and baguette-producing families.
The parody underscores the ongoing debate about representation and authenticity in cinema, highlighting the need for genuine cultural insight and sensitivity in stories that cross national and personal boundaries. As the Academy Awards approach, it remains to be seen how the controversy will affect the chances of “Emilia Pérez” and its nominees. However, one thing is clear: the uproar has cast a long shadow over this year’s awards season.