Karla Sofía Gascón Faces Backlash as Emilia Pérez Controversy Grows

The Emilia Pérez controversy continues to get bigger, and now one of its stars, Karla Sofía Gascón, is at the center of a major backlash. Gascón’s resurfaced tweets reveal a history of Islamophobic, racist, classist, and ableist comments, prompting calls to revoke her Oscar nomination. As social media users uncover more of her past statements, many are questioning whether Hollywood should reward someone with such a history.

Gascón’s Resurfaced Tweets Spark Outrage

Over the past few weeks, people have shared screenshots of deleted tweets from Gascón’s X (formerly Twitter) account, exposing troubling statements on various topics. These include offensive remarks about Islam, race, welfare recipients, and even past Oscar winners. 

Islamophobic Remarks and Calls for a Ban on Islam

Gascón has made several anti-Muslim statements over the years. In one post, she described Islam as a “hotbed of infection” and said humanity urgently needed to cure it. In another, she suggested that Spain needed to “expel the Moors again”, referencing the historical expulsion of Muslims from Spain.

One particularly shocking tweet mocked Muslim women’s clothing, sarcastically stating that Islam “respects women so much” that they only allow them to show their eyes and mouths if they behave well. This comment, alongside others, has led many to label her views Islamophobic and racist.

Racist Comments About George Floyd and Black Lives Matter

After George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Gascón downplayed the role of race in the police brutality case. She described Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” and argued that people exaggerated his death as a racial issue, claiming it was more about class struggles.

She mocked Floyd as a “martyr hero” and dismissed the Black Lives Matter movement’s fight for justice. Many see these comments as part of a pattern of racial insensitivity in her statements.

emilia pérez’ lead actress, karla sofía gascón just deleted her racist tweet about george floyd but since i predicted she would delete it I screen recorded it. pic.twitter.com/DRdKn39dLI

— َ (@chlmtslut) January 30, 2025

Dismissing Diversity at the Oscars

Gascón’s offensive tweets extend beyond George Floyd and Black Lives Matter. She also dismissed diversity efforts at the Oscars, mocking the presence of Black and Asian winners. After the 2021 Academy Awards, she criticized the ceremony for becoming an “Afro-Korean party,” the same year Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah and Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress for Minari.

This remark reduces historic wins for Black and Asian actors to a joke, disregarding their talent and the significance of their achievements. Her words reflect a deeper issue—she does not see these victories as progress, but as an inconvenience. The lack of respect in her comments adds to the growing backlash, reinforcing calls for the Academy to revoke her nomination.

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Mocking Immigrants, Welfare Recipients, and Past Oscar Winners

People have accused Gascón of xenophobia and classism. In past tweets, she insulted immigrants, calling them “tribal murderers” and “ignorant of history”. She also made classist remarks, saying that people on social welfare are just “chronic complainers” who protest too much.

Gascón even took shots at former Oscar winners, mocking Jean Dujardin’s 2012 Oscar win for The Artist. She called him “el mudito” (a dismissive term meaning “the little mute one”) because the film was silent. Gascón also ridiculed his acceptance speech, where he thanked the U.S. Academy, calling him a “brown noser” for saying “I love your country.”

Targeting Prince Harry and British People on His Wedding Day

One of Gascón’s most viral tweets resurfaced from the day Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018. She referred to English people as “classless sheep” and mocked Prince Harry, questioning where he got his money from and why people cared about him. She dismissed the royal wedding as “bread and circuses” for the masses, implying that it was a distraction from real issues.

Given the racist abuse Meghan Markle has faced, some now see Gascón’s remarks as part of the broader hostility Meghan and Harry have endured.

Gascón Deletes Controversial Tweets Amid Backlash

As more of Karla Sofía Gascón’s offensive tweets resurfaced, she quickly began deleting them. However, activists had already archived her posts, ensuring they remained in public discourse. Critics have called for The Academy to revoke her Oscar nomination, arguing that her past remarks contradict Hollywood’s supposed commitment to diversity and inclusion. Some have drawn comparisons to past nominees who faced backlash for offensive statements, questioning whether the industry will hold her accountable.

As pressure mounted, Gascón issued an apology.

The apology did little to quell criticism. Many questioned her attempt to frame herself as a victim, with the phrase “as someone in a marginalized community” standing out as particularly tone-deaf.

Gascón is now faces growing calls for accountability. While she insists her words do not define her, her deleted posts—and the outrage they continue to generate—suggest otherwise.

What This Means for Emilia Pérez and the Oscars

This controversy adds another layer to the already heated debate over Emilia Pérez. The film, directed by Jacques Audiard, has been accused of cultural appropriation and misrepresenting Mexico. Now, with Gascón’s offensive history exposed, many are questioning whether the film deserves its Oscar recognition.

Hollywood has historically overlooked problematic statements from actors, especially when they are attached to award-season favorites. However, with increased pressure from audiences, the Academy may be forced to respond to the backlash.

Will the Academy Take Action?

The Emilia Pérez controversy continues to grow, and Karla Sofía Gascón’s resurfaced tweets have only made it worse. With clear evidence of Islamophobia, racism, classism, and ableism, many are demanding that her Oscar nomination be revoked.

It remains to be seen whether the Academy will respond or if Hollywood will once again overlook a controversy. But one thing is certain—this backlash is not going away anytime soon.