Netflix Is ‘Reevaluating’ Vetting Social Media Accounts After Karla Sofía Gascón Backlash ‘Distracted’ From ‘Emilia Pérez’ Campaign

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Netflix might be considering revising the method they use to examine social media profiles of potential hires, following the debate sparked by the “Emilia Pérez” awards campaign, where the film’s actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, faced criticism due to old offensive online posts that resurfaced in January.

Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of content, mentioned on ‘The Town with Matthew Belloni’ podcast by Puck and The Ringer, that many discussions are taking place about this topic. Should we scrutinize the social media accounts of the multitude of individuals worldwide who contribute to our vast library of original films and TV series daily? It’s a complex issue that requires careful consideration. We need to understand the implications in a practical sense. However, Bajaria emphasized that the greatest challenge lies in the fact that such scrutiny could diminish the unique charm of a film that is exceptionally special.

Besides pointing out the logistical challenges in scrutinizing extensive amounts of social media content, Bajaria additionally mentioned that such a process is generally not routine. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding Gascón has prompted the wider industry to reconsider this practice.

Bajaria talked about how it’s hard and not usual to check large amounts of social media activity. But the situation with Gascón made the whole industry think again about whether they should do it or not.

Bajaria expressed that it’s truly unfortunate, isn’t it? For a film made by 100 exceptionally gifted individuals who produced something outstanding – as evidenced by the nominations and accolades it has garnered – it’s a pity that the attention seems to have shifted elsewhere. This change in focus has impacted many, including stars like Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, as well as our dedicated awards team who put in an exceptional effort promoting this movie.

The “Emilia Pérez” awards campaign experienced a significant shake-up in January, as Sarah Hagi dug up old internet posts by Gascón containing anti-Muslim rhetoric, comments on the murder of George Floyd, and racially charged remarks about diversity at the Oscars. Subsequently, it was revealed that Netflix is no longer footing the bill for Gascón’s travel expenses to award shows.

Bajaria stated, ‘If queried about my current knowledge, we’d still opt for purchasing the movie today.’ He described it as ‘incredible,’ ‘creative,’ and ‘bold.’ Such qualities are precisely what one seeks – the courage to make daring decisions.

This year at the Oscars, “Emilia Pérez” is the film that has received the most nominations, boasting a total of 13, among which are recognitions for Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), and Actress in a Leading Role (Gascón), as well as Supporting Actress nods for Zoe Saldaña.

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2025-02-14 06:46