The Controversy Surrounding Emilia Pérez and Karla Sofía Gascón

One movie is currently on everyone's lips in Hollywood: "Emilia Pérez". From debates about the content of the film, to heated discussions in the course of the Oscar nominations, to the statements made by the leading actress - everything has already been discussed. In the meantime, the events and statements have come thick and fast, which is why we want to give you an overview here.

What is Emilia Pérez about?

"Emilia Pérez" can best be described as a musical thriller. A cartel boss wants to get out of the criminal business and start a new life as a woman. He is supported by a lawyer played by Zoe Saldaña.

Cast and Crew

The cast of the film is impressive. With Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez, the film features two top-class showbiz stars. Saldana is best known for her appearances in the "Avatar" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" films. Pop star Selena Gomez was most recently seen in the series "Only Murders in the Building", for example. The movie was directed by French director Jacques Audiard, whose previous films include the western "The Sisters Brothers".

At the center of the controversy is Karla Sofía Gascón. The previously relatively unknown actress was the shooting star of the project and is nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She made history as the first trans person ever to be nominated for an acting Oscar. However, a lot has happened since then...

Why is the Movie Controversial?

But let's start with the movie first, because "Emilia Pérez" has also received some criticism in terms of content. The film was punished on some popular rating platforms. The IMDb rating is currently 5.6/10 and on Letterboxd there is even a rating of just 2.2/5. Not quite the typical values for a film with no fewer than 13 Oscar nominations (the most nominations this year).

Among other things, the criticism focuses on the stereotypical portrayal of Mexico. In addition, the representation of transgender people is considered by many to be regressive. According to the film's critics, "Emilia Pérez" makes use of outdated clichés in this respect and the movie does not do justice to the complex topic. In addition, many do not consider the movie to be a particularly good musical.

Controversy Surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón

Despite the criticisms listed above, "Emilia Pérez" was the big winner at the 2025 Oscar nominations. However, the scandal was far from reaching its peak. Karla Sofía Gascón, from whom numerous tweets were rediscovered, was responsible for this.

The content of the tweets can be described as racist and islamophobic. If you want to read the tweets in full, you can do so here at the Hollywood Reporter. In a TV interview, Gascón apologized for her statements, but not without portraying herself as a victim.

Reactions to the Controversy

In the meantime, numerous people have commented on Karla Sofía Gascón's statements. Zoe Saldaña has expressed her disappointment with her co-star and director Audiard has already distanced himself from the actress. Netflix, the streaming giant involved in the movie, initially celebrated the Oscar nominations as a great success. However, the streaming service has now removed the leading actress from its Oscar advertising campaign.

Impact on the Oscar Race

Speaking of the Oscars: the movie originally entered the Oscar race as the favorite due to the numerous nominations mentioned above. The film has been nominated in the categories Best Actress (Gascón), Best Supporting Actress (Saldaña), Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, among others.

However, the scandal surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón has changed many things. It can be assumed that the controversy won't leave the Oscar voting process unscathed. The race for the coveted trophies has therefore become much more open.