Karla Sofia Gascon, the star of the Netflix musical “Emilia Perez,” has issued an apology for past social media posts that included derogatory remarks about Islam and referred to George Floyd as “a drug addict and a hustler.” In a statement released through the streaming platform, Gascon expressed her remorse, saying, “As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”
Gascon has made history as the first transgender performer nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the film, which has received a total of 13 nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best International Feature Film. The film has already won four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and is directed by Jacques Audiard.
Old posts from Gascon’s Twitter account, dating back to 2016, resurfaced recently, in which she criticized aspects of Muslim culture in Spain and suggested a ban on Islam. Additionally, shortly after George Floyd’s death in 2020, she made disparaging comments about him, claiming he was a drug addict who was largely ignored by society. These now-deleted posts were highlighted by writer Sarah Hagi, who criticized the contrast between Gascon’s past remarks and the film’s progressive messaging.
Gascon, who transitioned in 2018, previously shared her involvement in shaping the film’s transgender storyline, emphasizing her contributions to make it more authentic. She is not the first celebrity to face backlash for old social media content; others like James Gunn, Trevor Noah, and Blake Shelton have also dealt with similar issues but have managed to recover in their careers.
