Why Karla Sofía Gascón’s Twitter Scandal Spells Trouble for the Oscars Ceremony

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In the same vein as the complex antiheroine of “Emilia Pérez” who disrupts her family and community, the film itself profoundly shapes its surroundings. It has garnered significant attention from the Academy since receiving two key prizes at Cannes by Greta Gerwig’s jury. Moreover, with 13 Oscar nominations (a number that, had there still been two sound categories, would tie the all-time record), it was previously considered the film to beat. However, what truly sets it apart is the emergence of its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, as a pivotal figure in this year’s awards race – not just a defining figure, but the defining figure. The recent unveiling of years’ worth of Islamophobic, racist, and otherwise harsh posts on the X platform has sparked an unprecedented sentiment: A wish that the Oscars didn’t take place at all due to the existence of this awards-season star.

Before January 30th, Gascón appeared to be a less-than-perfect advocate for her film, with flaws that could be overlooked due to her being new in the industry, or seen as endearing because of her human imperfections. Similarities between her character and herself were evident, as she is also transgender, leading some to hope for her as a role model, but it seemed she wasn’t fully committed to this idea. If Netflix had trained her in media interactions, it didn’t show, as demonstrated by her accusations against fellow nominee Fernanda Torres and her attacks on queer critics of “Emilia Pérez.” In an interview, Gascón stated, “Let me tell you: Being LGBT doesn’t make you less of an idiot.” Translated, this means that being part of the LGBT community does not make someone any more or less intelligent.

It’s clear that she’s living authentically, but her controversial, irrational, and sometimes downright strange thoughts (which she previously posted on a platform she later removed) have shown a serious lack of discernment, balance, or common sense. This has brought up profound doubts about whether her political campaign can continue or if her future awards night will even happen.

Before her controversial tweets were exposed, Ana de la Reguera (let’s call her “Emilia Pérez” in this context) won the best picture prize for a movie at the Golden Globes, saying that light always triumphs over darkness. However, when it was revealed that she had made insensitive tweets, people began to question what she meant by “the light.” Now, if she were to stand alongside her castmates, like Selena Gomez, and say the same thing, it might seem ironic or thought-provoking as to what exactly de la Reguera considers as “light” and “darkness.

In simple terms, the SAG Awards voting period lasts for weeks, and Gascón’s actions have potentially hurt her film’s chances, but she’s likely to still make an appearance. Netflix hasn’t responded about whether her campaign will continue taking her to future award shows. Gascón is also a nominee at the BAFTAs and Oscars. If the BAFTA host were to announce all nominees on stage, as Ariana DeBose did two years ago, there wouldn’t be much to say about Gascón. The same goes for the Oscars, which have announced a return to the “Fab Five” style of awards presentation where five past winners praise a nominated individual they admire. With jokes about other European stars who might believe in conspiracy theories aside, it’s hard to imagine anyone speaking positively about Gascón at this point. The Oscars host Conan O’Brien is known for his humor, but not usually rancorous or roasting humor. However, given the circumstances, he might feel compelled to address her. If Gascón attends the Oscars, she could be a major distraction at the center of the Dolby Theatre.

From the beginning of this year, the Oscars have been walking a fine line regarding taste. The Los Angeles wildfires have sparked discussions about the appropriate way to organize the show and even whether it should take place at all. Additionally, this Oscar season has been particularly contentious for reasons that old-school viewers may not recall. In previous years, studio executives might create controversy or tension. However, this season’s disputes – such as the prolonged and bitter argument over the absence of intimacy coordinators on the set of “Anora,” the recent uproar over a past video of Torres in blackface, and the debate about the use of AI in the making of “The Brutalist” – have been significantly intensified by social media.

However, the latest revelations concerning Gascón surpass previous scandals and have significantly impacted this year’s awards season, causing a stir similar to Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars. For about 40 minutes, viewers were left in suspense as they wondered how the broadcast would handle the sudden villain winning an award. This year, we have over a month of uncertainty. Initially, what could have been an entertaining diversion from global issues has turned into a debate on an unstable social media user whose posts mirror those of President Donald Trump upon his inauguration. A film that was once poised to inspire trans resilience has instead become a cautionary tale about how marginalized individuals can still exploit their power. The fate of “Emilia Pérez” has drastically changed, but one thing remains consistent: It serves as the defining film for an Oscar season that many fans now just want to conclude due to an unchecked and unpleasant new figure.

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2025-01-31 20:17