Karla Sofía Gascón blames ‘cancel culture’ after being sidelined from ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscar campaign
Just because she has been removed from the Oscar campaign, doesn’t mean Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón is going to stop posting.
In her latest Instagram statement on Tuesday, the embattled Best Actress contender yet again declined to fully apology for past incendiary tweets and instead portrayed herself as a victim of “cancel culture.”
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“Been on a rollercoaster of emotion these past few days,” she writes in her native Spanish (as translated by Google, see the full text below) after thanking her supporters and the filmmaking team behind Emilia Pérez. “Today, I finally know who I am. I only seek the freedom to exist without fear, to create art without barriers and to move forward with my new life. They want to apply the ‘cancel culture’ to me. I ask the experts in Hollywood, the journalists who know me and have followed my path, ‘How do we move forward?'”
The post, which was accompanied by supportive comments from fans, came hours after multiple outlets reported Gascón was essentially being barred from appearing at upcoming events ahead of the Oscars. She had been scheduled to visit Los Angeles this week to attend several key awards-season events — including the AFI luncheon, the Critics Choice Awards, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival — but those plans were scrapped.
Additionally, Netflix has reframed its For Your Consideration ads to deemphasize the presence of Gascón, who plays the film’s title character, and refocused its Instagram on costar Zoe Salda?a.
Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a pivotal week in the Oscars race, with multiple ceremonies and events scheduled before Oscar winner voting begins on Feb. 11. On Thursday, Gascón had been set to attend the AFI luncheon with her costars Salda?a and Selena Gomez and writer-director Jacques Audiard. Gascón would have appeared with Audiard and Salda?a on Friday at the Critics Choice Awards. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Best Actress nominee was set to attend the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night, where she would have been part of the Emilia Pérez presentation. On Sunday, Gascón was scheduled to be honored with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award.
Instead, the Emilia Pérez banner will now be waved by others — mainly, Salda?a who remains a frontrunner to win Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars despite the Gascón controversy. It’s widely predicted that Salda?a will win Best Supporting Actress at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday — voting for that event took place back in January, just after Salda?a won at the Golden Globes, long before Gascón’s toxic views about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars resurfaced. Thus far, the actress has distanced herself from Gascón. Last week, at an event for Emilia Pérez in London, Salda?a said of the controversy, “It makes me really sad because I don’t support, and I don’t have any tolerance for, any negative rhetoric towards people of any group. I can only attest to the experience that I had with each and every individual that was a part, that is a part, of this film, and my experience and my interactions with them were about inclusivity and collaboration and racial, cultural, and gender equity. And it just saddens me.”
On Sunday, while accepting Best Supporting Actress from the London Film Critics Circle, Salda?a expressed genuine surprise over the victory. “I didn’t have anything prepared, you guys. I wasn’t expecting this, and especially now,” Salda?a said, referencing the controversy. “I’m so grateful to you.” (Voting for the awards occurred before Gascón’s social media posts were revealed.)
While Salda?a has commented on the controversy, neither Audiard nor Gomez have discussed it publicly. Gomez was allegedly the target of Gascón in one social media post that referred to the star as a “rich rat,” although Gascón has said that post was doctored. “Of course, that’s not mine,” Gascón told CNN on Saturday. “I have never said anything about my partner. I would never refer to her that way.”
Gascón has taken an increasingly defiant and public approach to the scandal. Netflix released a statement attributed to the Best Actress nominee on Thursday, in which she said, “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. 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.” (Gascón is the first openly trans woman nominated for Best Actress.)
However, as widely reported, following the distributor’s sanctioned statement, Gascón communicated on her own accord about the scandal. This included a statement released directly to The Hollywood Reporter and an hour-long interview with CNN en Espa?ol on Saturday. In that interview, Gascón cried several times and said she wouldn’t renounce her nomination.
“I cannot renounce a nomination because what I have done is a job, and what is being valued is my acting work. And I cannot renounce a nomination either because I have not committed any crime nor have I harmed anyone,” she said. “I am not a racist, nor am I anything that all these people have taken it upon themselves to try to make others believe that I am.”
____________________
Here’s the complete translated text of Gascón’s latest Instagram post:
For years, I gave myself in body and soul to the Emilia Pérez Family.
As always I do with all that I love and believe in.
Today, more than ever, I want to thank those who have recognized my work, the festivals that have celebrated our film, and every person who has been part of this journey. To my team, my colleagues, the extraordinary Jacques Audiard, our producer, the incredible crew, the press and, above all, to those who have supported and understood my process.
Been on a rollercoaster of emotions these past few days.
I’ve been transparent because I have nothing to hide. During time, I felt lost in my transition, seeking approval in the eyes of others.
But today, I finally know who I am. I only seek the freedom to exist without fear, to create art without barriers and to move forward with my new life.
They want to apply the “cancel culture” to me.
I ask the experts in Hollywood, the journalists who know me and have followed my path, “How do we move forward?”
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