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Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez,” a musical film about a Mexican cartel kingpin who fakes his death in order to transition into a woman, scored a massive 13 nominations when Oscar contenders were announced last month. But growing scrutiny of social media posts from the film’s star could jeopardize its Oscar chances.
Karla Sofia Gascón, who is the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role, has become the center of backlash online after users resurfaced deleted posts in which she appears to comment on Muslims, George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars.
In January, Gascón issued an apology via Netflix, but controversy has continued to follow the star, prompting some to speculate whether that will impact the film’s overall momentum ahead of the 97th Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 2.
Here’s what to know.
What is the film about?
Warning: This section contains some spoilers about the film.
Jacques Audiard’s genre-busting film, set in Mexico, follows a lawyer named Rita (Zoe Saldaña), who is approached by drug boss Juan “Manitas” Del Monte (Gascón) to help him transition into a woman and make his disappearance look like a murder. Rita travels the world — from Bangkok to Tel Aviv — looking for a discreet place for the kingpin to transition and the right doctor to take the procedure on.
After scheduling the surgery for Manitas — and getting his wife Jessi (played by Selena Gomez) and kids set up elsewhere — Rita moves to London. She later reunites with the former drug lord, now Emilia Pérez, who asks her to help her reunite with her family and relocate them back to Mexico.
While there, Emilia feels haunted by her past and inspired to help those impacted by cartel violence. She and Rita team up to launch an organization that helps families who have had loved ones killed or kidnapped by drug cartels find closure by locating the remains of the victims. But chaos ensues after a rebellious Jessi tells Emilia she plans to marry her new love, Gustavo (played by Edgar Ramírez), and move away with the kids.
How has the film been received?
The film has generated buzz since it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival last year, where the cast won the best actress award. In January, it also took home four awards at the Golden Globes, including best motion picture — musical or comedy.
But the overall reaction from critics and viewers has been mixed.
Some have said the film is a poor depiction of the trans community. In a blog post published in November, GLAAD said the film is a “step backward for trans representation.” The LGBTQ advocacy organization rounded a list of takes on the film with similar criticisms.
Others have pointed out that Audiard, the director, is French and does not speak Spanish. And neither Gascón nor Saldaña, both nominated for Oscars in the acting categories, are Mexican.
In an interview with Deadline, Audiard said the film intends to take artistic license with some of the Mexican influence. “It seems I’m being attacked in the court of realism,” he said. “Well, I’ve never claimed that I wanted to make a realistic work. If I wanted to make a work that was particularly documented, then I would do a documentary, but then there would be no singing and dancing.”
A handful of viewers have also criticized the film for its music, describing it as tonally bizarre and making fun of some of the musical numbers in videos on TikTok that have gone viral.
What’s going on with the Gascón backlash?
Criticism of Gascón first began in January, after writer Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of Gascón’s purported past posts on X, which have been translated by Google. The posts have since been deleted.
NBC News did not independently review Gascón’s past social media posts before they were removed. Screenshots circulating online suggest the posts, which were written in Spanish, were made in 2020 and 2021.
In a statement issued through Netflix on Jan. 30, Gascón said, “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt.”
“As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness,” she added.
Since the controversial comments went public, Gascón has also appeared to claim she was not behind some of the statements made in the posts, including a negative one about her co-star Gomez.
In an interview with CNN Español in February, Gascón claimed she had spoken with Gomez and said she didn’t write the post about the actress that has been circulating social media. She said that Gomez told her, “I’m with you 200%.”
A spokesperson for Gomez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The singer-actress has not commented publicly on her co-star’s controversy.
Gascón acknowledged her past post disparaging George Floyd, whose 2020 murder prompted a national reckoning on policing. At the time she wrote the post, Gascón said she used social media “more like a diary” than as a platform “that can influence someone, because before being here my post was viewed by three people.”
Gascón has since deactivated her account on X, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m sorry, but I can no longer allow this campaign of hate and misinformation to affect me and my family, so at their request I am closing my account on X.”
“I have been threatened with death, insulted, abused and harassed to the point of exhaustion,” she said. “I have a wonderful daughter to protect, whom I love madly and who supports me in everything.”
She told CNN Español she believes she’s “been judged.” “I have been convicted and sacrificed and crucified and stoned without a trial and without the option to defend myself,” she said in Spanish.
She defended herself further in a post on Instagram, which was written in Spanish and translated in part by Today.com.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m not racist (they’ll be surprised when they find out that one of the most important people in my current life and that I love most is Muslim,” she wrote.
Gascón “is bleeding out reputationally,” Eric Schiffer, a celebrity crisis PR expert and chairman of the Los Angeles-based Reputation Management Consultants, said.
The fallout around the actress could have an impact on how members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will vote, according to Schiffer, who predicted that Gascón’s “comments will not be received well by many and she’s likely tanked her chance of an Oscar forever.”
Final Oscar voting is set to open on Feb. 11.
What have Audiard and other cast members said about the controversy?
Representatives for Netflix, Saldaña and Audiard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an interview with Deadline published on Feb. 6, Audiard said he hasn’t reached out to Gascón “because right now she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions.”
He called Gascón’s purported old posts “inexcusable” and implied that she had broken his trust after they built a meaningful relationship on set. He said that he hasn’t talked to her, and “I don’t want to.”
In an interview for the “Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,” Saldaña expressed her disappointment over the situation.
“I’m sad,” she said. “Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened. I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.”
Gascón will reportedly not attend the events that nominees typically use to build momentum for their nominations, such as the Critics Choice Awards or PGA Awards, according to Deadline. However, Saldaña and Audiard are expected to continue to promote the film at events throughout the duration of awards season.
