Karla Sofía Gascón will stay in Oscar race after racism backlash

Karla Sofía Gascón has confirmed that she will remain in the Oscars race for Best Actress, despite backlash over resurfaced social media posts in which she criticized Islam.

The actress, who made history as the first transgender nominee in an acting category, stated that she has done nothing wrong and will not step down.

Apology but No Resignation

In an interview with CNN, Gascón apologized to those who may have felt offended but insisted she is not racist. She maintained that she has committed no crime and has not harmed anyone, making it clear she will not withdraw from the Academy Awards.

The controversy erupted after journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered posts from 2020 and 2021 on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some of the posts also referenced the death of George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars. Following the backlash, Gascón deactivated her X account and issued an apology, stating that as a member of a marginalized community, she understands suffering and regrets any pain she has caused.

Denial of Selena Gomez Post and Self-Defense Claims

Gascón told CNN that she does not recognize some of the posts attributed to her and feels she has not been given a fair chance to defend herself. She also denied writing a derogatory post about her Emilia Pérez co-star Selena Gomez, stating that she has never spoken negatively about her colleague and would never refer to her in a disrespectful manner.

A Landmark Oscars Nomination With Divided Reactions

Emilia Pérez, a French production set primarily in Mexico, has broken records as the most-nominated non-English language film in Academy Awards history. The Netflix musical leads this year’s race with 13 nominations, including nods for both Gascón and Zoe Saldana. However, the film has divided audiences and sparked debate in Mexico due to its portrayal of the country.

Despite its strong showing at the Oscars, critics warn that the controversy surrounding Gascón could impact the film’s chances of winning major awards when the Academy Awards take place on March 2. Neither Netflix nor Gascón’s representatives have provided further comment on the situation.