Why Trans Actress Karla Gascon Is Facing Backlash Over Offensive Posts?

News Desk

Islamabad: Karla Sofia Gascon, the transgender actress who made history as the first openly trans Academy Award nominee for her role in the musical film Emilia Perez, has issued an apology following the resurfacing of old social media posts in which she criticized Islam and George Floyd.

The controversy erupted just days after Gascon’s groundbreaking nomination, threatening to overshadow Netflix’s Oscar campaign for Emilia Perez, which earned a record 13 nominations.

In a statement sent to AFP via a Netflix spokesperson on Friday, Gascon expressed regret for her past comments. “I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,” she stated.

The posts, dating back to 2016, included derogatory remarks about Islam, calling it “an infection” and a “deeply disgusting type of humanity.” Another post labeled George Floyd, whose murder by police sparked global anti-racism protests in 2020, as a “drug addict and a scammer.”

Gascon, 52, rose to international fame with Emilia Perez, in which she portrays a Mexican narco boss who transitions into a woman. The film won multiple awards at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was later acquired by Netflix. It has garnered significant attention due to its groundbreaking Oscar nominations.

However, the film has faced criticism for its portrayal of Mexico and the drug war, its handling of trans issues, and the use of artificial intelligence to alter Gascon’s voice in musical scenes.

As the film’s release and award campaign intensified, Gascon spoke out about the transphobic attacks she has received online.

This week, she also accused those working around her best actress rival, Fernanda Torres of Brazil, of speaking negatively about her and Emilia Perez. Despite the controversy, Gascon remains a front-runner for Best Actress, and Emilia Perez is considered a strong contender for Best Picture.

The controversial social media posts resurfaced Thursday, after being shared online by journalist Sarah Hagi.

In addition to her remarks about Islam and Floyd, Gascon made offensive jokes about a “Chinese vaccine” for Covid-19 and referred to a recent Oscars ceremony as an “Afro-Korean festival” or “a Black Lives Matter demonstration.” Gascon’s account on X (formerly Twitter) has since been deactivated.

In her apology, Gascon acknowledged the harm caused by her past actions. “As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well,” she said. “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.”