Bill Maher Blames ‘Cancel Culture’ For Emilia Perez’s Oscar Setback, Ties It To Karla Sofia Gascon’s Controversy

March 9, 2025: During a conversation on Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian and HBO host discussed the ongoing presence of “cancel culture,” stating that it has evolved into something more subtle but still impactful. He specifically pointed to the controversy surrounding Karla Sofia Gascon, which, according to Maher, played a role in Emilia Perez losing at the 97th Academy Awards.

At the 2025 Oscars, Anora took home the majority of the night’s awards, including Best Picture, while Emilia Perez, despite being a front-runner with 13 nominations, only won two awards. Maher believes that Emilia Perez was the favorite to win multiple categories, including Best Actress, but the movie’s chances were derailed by the fallout from Gascon’s social media controversy.

Gascon, who had been nominated as the first openly trans woman for Best Actress, faced backlash after old tweets from 2020 and 2021 resurfaced. These tweets contained controversial remarks about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars. The public outcry over these past comments led to Gascon being largely shunned from many award shows, though she still attended the Oscars. In response to the backlash, she issued a public apology, stating, “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” and reiterated her lifelong fight for a better world.

Maher argued that Hollywood was excited about the possibility of a trans woman winning Best Actress, especially with Emilia Perez in the running, but the scandal surrounding Gascon’s tweets shifted the narrative. “The movie that was going to win it all was Emilia Perez…Suddenly, it was out to lunch. And good news for Anora,” Maher said, referring to the unexpected success of Anora. He emphasized that cancel culture remains very much alive, even if it’s now more subtle than before.

Amid the controversy, Emilia Perez did see some success, with Zoe Saldana winning Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, and El Mal winning the Oscar for Best Original Song.

In Maher’s view, this Oscar moment is just another example of the influence of cancel culture, which continues to shape Hollywood outcomes, even if it’s not always immediately visible.