Oscars 2025 Faces Backlash Over Karla Sofía Gascón Nomination

Historic nomination for the first openly transgender actress is overshadowed by resurfaced social media posts and industry criticism.

Karla Sofía Gascón, star of 'Emilia Pérez,' is the first openly transgender woman nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, but her nomination has been marred by resurfaced social media posts criticized as racist and Islamophobic.
The posts, dating back several years, included disparaging remarks about Islam and other controversial statements, leading to widespread backlash in the industry and on social media.
Netflix distanced itself from Gascón's awards campaign, and her co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez have publicly expressed disappointment over her comments.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer condemned hate speech but emphasized the importance of respect for all nominees, stating that Gascón is welcome to attend the ceremony despite the controversy.
Gascón has apologized for her past remarks, citing personal growth and the challenges of being part of a marginalized community, but many Academy members reportedly shifted their votes due to the scandal.