Bill Maher Criticizes 'Cancel Culture' for Impacting 2025 Oscars Outcomes

Maher claims resurfaced tweets from trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón cost 'Emilia Pérez' key wins, benefiting 'Anora.'

Bill Maher argued on HBO's Real Time that 'cancel culture' influenced the 2025 Oscars results, particularly in the Best Actress category.
Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly transgender nominee for Best Actress, faced backlash over resurfaced offensive tweets, which Maher described as 'child-like' and 'Kanye-esque.'
Following the controversy, Gascón issued a public apology, acknowledging the harm caused by her past social media posts and expressing regret.
'Anora' emerged as the big winner at the Oscars, securing five awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
'Emilia Pérez,' initially a frontrunner with 13 nominations, won two Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, but lost momentum after the scandal.