Karla Sofia Gascon Breaks Silence On Oscar Backlash, Calls It A “Campaign” Against Her

March 22, 2025: Mexican actress Karla Sofia Gascon has addressed the storm that engulfed her Oscar aspirations following controversial tweets that led to widespread backlash. The actress, who was on the verge of making history as the first openly transgender performer to win an Academy Award for her role in Emilia Perez, found her chances derailed after journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered problematic posts from 2016. These tweets included derogatory remarks about Islam, George Floyd, and the LGBTQ+ community, igniting a firestorm on social media.

In a recent event promoting her biographical book, Lo que queda de mi (What’s Left of Me), Gascon discussed the impact of the controversy on her career. She suggested that there was a targeted effort to sabotage her Oscar campaign. “It’s clear that there was a campaign against me and that they kept going until they got what they were after,” Gascon said in an interview.

Gascon’s response to the backlash has been mixed. At times, she has issued apologies, but in her most recent comments, she expressed defiance. When asked if she felt forgiven for her past tweets, she replied, “No one has to forgive me for anything. If anyone feels offended by things I may have done in my life, let them come and tell me.”

The actress also strongly rejected accusations of being far-right or racist. “If there’s one thing I’ve done all my life, it’s that I’ve been against all this,” Gascon said, recalling how she used to fight with skinheads in her younger years. She further challenged those offended by her actions to confront her directly, adding, “When someone comes up to me and I ask them: ‘But what is it about me that offends you?’, no one can come up with anything or tell me anything.”

Following the backlash, Emilia Perez producer Netflix initially distanced itself from Gascon but later invited her to its Oscars party. The streaming giant has yet to publicly address the controversial tweets, with Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, only calling the situation a “bummer” for the film’s campaign. In a more recent interview with Variety, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed openness to collaborating with Gascon in the future, emphasizing the importance of extending grace to individuals who make mistakes.

Gascon’s comments have reignited the conversation about cancel culture, the power of social media, and the complexities of forgiveness in the public eye.