Netflix’s ‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Faces Backlash Over Controversial Social Media Posts Amid Oscar Campaign

Actress Karla Sofía Gascon attends the red carpet for Emilia Perez film Premiere at Cinepolis Plaza Carso. on January 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Photo: smael Rosas/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire

The world of Hollywood and the Oscars has once again been thrust into turmoil due to a star’s controversial social media history. Karla Sofía Gascón, a nominee for her role in Netflix’sEmilia Pérez,” is under fire for old social media posts that have resurfaced during this year’s awards season. The posts, which date back roughly four years, have sparked outrage for their disparaging comments on a variety of sensitive topics, from Islam to the tragic death of George Floyd to the diversity of the Oscars themselves. In a turn of events that has stunned industry veterans, Netflix and the film’s producers did not vet Gascón’s social media history before her role in the film was thrust into the Oscar spotlight.

Gascón, whose role in “Emilia Pérez” has earned her significant recognition, now finds herself at the center of a scandal that has prompted questions about the due diligence performed by both Netflix and those involved in the film’s promotional campaign. Industry insiders, including eight awards strategists and communications experts who spoke with Variety under the condition of anonymity, have expressed shock over the failure to thoroughly vet the actress’s past. This oversight could have severe consequences for the film’s Oscar aspirations.

A Dangerous Oversight

The controversy first erupted when Gascón’s problematic posts, which were written in Spanish on her X (formerly Twitter) account, resurfaced just as the film was gaining momentum in the awards race. The posts, which included inflammatory remarks about Islam, the Black Lives Matter movement, and criticisms of the diversity efforts at the Academy Awards, quickly went viral, causing an uproar on social media. Gascón has since deactivated her X account and issued a public apology, stating, “I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain.” However, industry experts believe this may not be enough to stem the fallout.

The failure to vet Gascón’s social media history before the film’s release highlights a critical lapse in the campaign strategy for what was poised to be one of Netflix’s major Oscar contenders. According to the sources, the cost of vetting an actor’s social media presence is minimal compared to the multi-million-dollar budgets typically allocated to Oscar campaigns, which can easily exceed $30 million when factoring in tastemaker screenings, for-your-consideration ads, and lavish parties. A thorough background check on an actor’s online activity would typically cost between $5,000 and $20,000, a small fraction of the overall budget but potentially crucial in avoiding a social media scandal.

The Stakes of Oscar Season

The Oscars have become a high-stakes battlefield, with every nomination carefully crafted and every potential scandal scrutinized. Social media has become an ever-more important part of that equation. A single misstep or controversial post can severely damage a campaign, as evidenced by past incidents in which celebrity tweets and online behavior have led to significant public backlash. In 2018, Kevin Hart stepped down as Oscar host after homophobic tweets resurfaced, and in the same year, Disney fired James Gunn over old social media jokes. Similarly, ABC canceled the popular sitcom “Roseanne” after Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet led to a public outcry.

This level of scrutiny is particularly acute for Gascón, who made history as the first openly trans person nominated for an acting Oscar. Strategists emphasize that anyone who is the “first” in their field will face heightened scrutiny and a greater chance for controversy. “If you are the ‘first’ anything, you’re going to get so much more scrutiny,” said one strategist. “This was so avoidable. They could have found all of these messages and dealt with them months ago.”

Hollywood’s Bias and Blind Spots

Some behind-the-scenes figures in Hollywood have raised concerns about the biases at play in this situation. One awards strategist argued that Gascón, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, may not have been viewed as a likely target for controversy, thus leading to a lack of thorough vetting. “She does not meet the requirements of somebody who would normally be vulnerable to posting toxic commentary because she’s part of the LGBTQ+ community,” the source said. This perspective, however, reflects a deeper issue within Hollywood—its own biases and blind spots regarding race, gender, and class. The assumption that Gascón would not face scrutiny because she is part of a “protected class” inadvertently overlooked the potential for her past comments to resurface and derail the film’s campaign.

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A Lesson in PR and Vetting

The Gascón controversy also serves as a wake-up call for other Oscar campaigns and film studios. Industry veterans have now expressed concern that more stringent vetting procedures must be put in place moving forward. Some insiders noted that they never previously conducted social media background checks on the actors they worked with, but the Gascón situation may prompt a reevaluation of that approach. “Sometimes you’ll have someone post something unfortunate about another nominee or say something that gets people upset during the campaign, and you have to deal with that, but this feels new,” said one strategist.

Netflix, which acquired Emilia Pérez at the Cannes Film Festival last year, faces the brunt of the controversy. Some experts have criticized the company for not performing sufficient due diligence when they acquired the film. “They should have done more background checks when they bought the film,” said one strategist. “But the filmmakers are also to blame—they didn’t seem to consider the possibility that Gascón was documenting such hateful sentiments online.”

The Echo of Previous Scandals

The Gascón situation draws parallels to the controversy surrounding the film The Birth of a Nation in 2016. That film, which was initially hailed as a major Oscar contender, saw its campaign derailed after it came to light that its director and star, Nate Parker, had been accused of sexual assault years earlier. Despite being acquitted of the charges, the scandal contributed to the film’s commercial and critical failure. “After that happened, everyone said we need to be more careful about these acquisitions,” one strategist recalled. “But I’m not sure things changed.”

Looking Ahead: Can the Campaign Be Saved?

As the controversy swirls, it remains uncertain whether Gascón’s social media scandal will cost her the Oscar nomination or diminish Emilia Pérez’s chances of winning Best Picture. While she still has a shot at the award, with nominations at the Critics Choice Awards and SAG Awards, her past comments have cast a shadow over the campaign. Some strategists suggest that the rest of the Emilia Pérez cast and crew may need to distance themselves from Gascón to protect the film’s chances.

Netflix, meanwhile, is now in full damage control mode, trying to salvage the film’s campaign and its Oscar prospects. “They have to hope that Karla didn’t just give all these Oscar voters a good reason to vote against their movie,” one strategist said. “You want people to feel excited about their choice, not ashamed.”

Ultimately, Gascón’s controversial social media history serves as a cautionary tale for both Oscar campaigns and talent management, highlighting how a lack of proper vetting can lead to unexpected and damaging consequences in the highly competitive race for Hollywood’s most prestigious award.

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