Selena Gomez Responds to ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversy: ‘I Live with No Regrets’
Though she did not get into specifics, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez made her first public statement about recent controversies, including Karla Sofía Gascón‘s offensive past social media remarks, while at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Asked by moderator and Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger during the Virtuosos panel how she was doing right now with the film under such public scrutiny, the BAFTA Award-nominated actress said, “I’m really good. Some of the magic has disappeared, but I choose to continue to be proud of what I’ve done, and I’m just grateful. I live with no regrets, and I would do this movie over and over again if I could.”
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Gascón was meant to be feted alongside her at the event honoring the biggest breakout performances of the year, but dropped out after her tweets scandal. With previously announced honorees “Babygirl” star Harris Dickinson and “A Real Pain” star Kieran Culkin skipping as well, the final Virtuosos Awards 2025 lineup ended up being Gomez, Ariana Grande, Clarence Maclin, Fernanda Torres, John Magaro, Mikey Madison, Monica Barbaro, and Sebastian Stan.
Later on in the onstage conversation, Gomez expressed gratitude for the trust that director Jacques Audiard put in her playing Jessi Del Monte, the wife of Mexican cartel leader Manitas, who is left in the dark about her husband’s gender confirmation surgery to become activist Emilia Pérez, saying, “The whole experience was actually very cathartic. Being able to express this character that was trapped in a situation that is unimaginable was really fun.”
Ultimately, “I was so grateful because I’ve gotten to show people that I am capable of doing more, and I hope that this is just the beginning for me,” she said, echoing the same sentiment she had in December when accepting the Spotlight Award for her work in “Emilia Pérez” at the winter 2024 edition of IndieWire Honors.
The crowd at the Arlington Theatre mostly showered Gomez with cheers and applause at the event. But her answer for what she is ready to tackle next was met with gasps, and one audible “nooo,” at one important facet of her career she’s put on the backburner.
“I’m ready to just focus on this for a while. I think film and art making and being around such incredible, talented people that have done nothing but uplift me along the way,” she said. “I don’t know, it’s going to be very hard for me to ever go back to music after this.”
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