Netflix is attempting to disassociate from “Emilia Pérez” actress Karla Sofía Gascón to preserve the movie’s chances for Oscar recognition. As the Spanish actress navigates the fallout from her past social media content, which contained offensive views perceived as Islamophobic and racist, she is handling it independently, without Netflix or her public relations team offering assistance.
Originally set to journey from her residence in Spain to Los Angeles for a crucial part of the Oscars promotion, Gascón – who made history as the first openly transgender actress nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards – had a packed schedule. This schedule included significant industry events such as the AFI Awards luncheon on Thursday, the Critics Choice Awards on Friday, the Directors Guild of America Awards and the Producers Guild of America Awards on Saturday, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday. Unfortunately, it appears that she will not be attending any of these events now.
The lack of her presence has made the campaign strategies for Netflix and their film’s award team more challenging. Worsening the situation, Gascón and her fellow actor Zoe Saldaña are represented by the same PR firm, The Lede Company. According to sources at EbMaster, Netflix and the PR agency have ceased direct communication with Gascón, choosing instead to liaise through her talent agent, Jeremy Barber. Sources also hint that Netflix no longer covers her travel costs for award ceremonies or styling expenses for appearances at these events.
If I’m accompanying her on these planned trips, it would be my responsibility to cover all expenses from her travel costs to her lodging. The actress was virtually unrecognized when she landed the breakthrough role in “Emilia Pérez,” which translated into an estimated 100,000 Euros ($104,000) for her performance in the film, as per a source privy to her contract details. Gascón declined to comment on the matter when approached.
A recently unveiled For Your Consideration advertisement from Monday showcases “Emilia Pérez” receiving 13 Oscar nominations, in categories such as Best Picture, International Feature, Director (Jacques Audiard), Supporting Actress (Saldaña), and Original Song (“El Mal”). Interestingly, the movie’s title and images of Gascón are absent from most of the promotional materials. Instead, the campaign emphasizes Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz, who were not nominated. This change in strategy implies that Netflix aims to downplay Gascón’s involvement to prevent her past comments from casting a shadow over the film or the achievements of her fellow actors and colleagues. The official FYC page for the movie features a prominent image of Saldaña but no visuals of Gascón.
The Oscar competition has moved into its post-nomination stage, a time when campaigns tend to focus their marketing efforts on categories they believe could potentially result in victories. Saldaña and her movie were considered stronger contenders for top awards than Gascón, who was already predicted to lose the Best Actress award to Demi Moore (“The Substance”) before the scandal broke out. However, excluding the film’s leading actress and the title of the film from promotional materials has sparked some surprise.
One awards expert says it’s challenging to envision a strategy for success without featuring the main character, if the goal is to win top honors,” the consultant tells EbMaster.
As a passionate movie lover, I found myself compelled to address the recent controversy surrounding my posts that made headlines not too long ago. After issing an apology, I sat down for an interview with CNN en Español over the weekend, a decision I made independently of Netflix’s involvement. In a heartfelt Instagram post, I questioned the attempts to cancel me, stating: “They are trying to subject me to ‘cancel culture,'” I wrote. I reached out to Hollywood insiders and journalists who have followed my career closely for guidance on how to navigate this situation moving forward.
However, certain Oscar voters, preferring anonymity, expressed that regardless of Gascón’s apologies and entreaties, they have chosen to let go of both her and the movie that initially caught their attention.
Initially, I almost had a moment of empathy for her,” an Academy member expressed, “but now I find myself thinking, ‘I don’t care about that.’
Another long-time Oscar voter downplayed the influence of the controversy, stating, “I believe it has no bearing on the outcome. I assess the movie based on its qualities alone. I can’t evaluate actions unrelated to the film itself.
Nevertheless, another voter anticipated negative consequences for the film and voiced empathy towards Saldaña. “I believe it will have a significant impact,” they stated. “It seemed to leave a bitter aftertaste among viewers.” They added, “Individuals may hold their own opinions, but I don’t wish to inhabit a universe where a racist or bigot is showcased and lauded. Initially, I intended to vote for her due to her exceptional talent, but now it seems unthinkable. I hope this doesn’t impact Zoe. It truly shouldn’t. I don’t believe people are that naive.
How will the Oscars deal with Gascón if she attends the ceremony?
Changes have been implemented in the broadcast to help reduce awkwardness. The Oscars have revealed that they will bring back the “Fab 5” moments, a segment where past Oscar winners acknowledge nominees in their respective categories. This tradition, which has only recently been established, has struck a chord with audiences who appreciate the recognition of artistic talent spanning generations. Notable instances include Rita Moreno, an Oscar winner for “West Side Story,” paying tribute to supporting actress nominee America Ferrera for her work in “Barbie,” and Kevin Kline, an Oscar winner from “A Fish Called Wanda,” honoring Heath Ledger posthumously when he won the award for best supporting actor in “The Dark Knight.
According to insider reports, the “Fab 5” moments will likely not appear in the acting categories during this year’s ceremony, and this decision was made prior to the announcement of official nominations. However, it could potentially occur in the director’s category and for certain technical awards. The Oscars are dealing with a challenge as the broadcast might run out of past winners if the annual tradition continues, leading to potential repetition of presenters. Despite this, top-tier stars are still anticipated to participate in the event. However, the Academy will not face the predicament of finding a previous winner to praise Gascón’s performance if she wins, as they won’t be asking past winners to do so.
The Netflix team hasn’t initiated talks about inviting Gascón to L.A. for the broadcast, despite her being nominated. While she’s invited to the ceremony, there are worries that her presence could eclipse the other nominees in the 23 categories or that she might deliver unexpected interviews on the red carpet, which could detract from the event’s celebratory tone.
It seems like “Emilia Pérez” might face some challenges in her Oscar campaign, as many contenders have encountered controversies before ultimately overcoming them. For instance, Universal Pictures’ “Green Book,” which faced scrutiny ahead of the 2019 Oscars. Director Peter Farrelly had to apologize for old reports suggesting he exposed himself to actors, co-writer Nick Vallelonga was criticized for a tweet endorsing a false claim about Donald Trump and 9/11, and lead actor Viggo Mortensen used a racial slur during a film screening. Despite these issues, “Green Book” still managed to win best picture, original screenplay, and supporting actor awards.
It’s uncertain how “Emilia Pérez” will handle the repercussions of Gascón’s social media posts. As the deadline for the Oscars is approaching, both the movie’s destiny and Gascón’s chances of winning an award are hanging on a thread.
Elsa Keslassy and Marc Malkin contributed to this report.
Read More
- “I’m a little irritated by him.” George Clooney criticized Quentin Tarantino after allegedly being insulted by him
- South Korea Delays Corporate Crypto Account Decision Amid Regulatory Overhaul
- What was the biggest anime of 2024? The popularity of some titles and lack of interest in others may surprise you
- Destiny 2: When Subclass Boredom Strikes – A Colorful Cry for Help
- Deep Rock Galactic: The Synergy of Drillers and Scouts – Can They Cover Each Other’s Backs?
- Sonic 3 Just Did An Extremely Rare Thing At The Box Office
- Final Fantasy 1: The MP Mystery Unraveled – Spell Slots Explained
- Influencer dies from cardiac arrest while getting tattoo on hospital operating table
- Smite’s New Gods: Balancing Act or Just a Rush Job?
- Twitch CEO explains why they sometimes get bans wrong
2025-02-05 00:47