Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly transgender actor to receive an Academy Award nomination, is at the center of controversy after resurfaced social media posts revealed a history of inflammatory remarks about Islam, George Floyd, and the Oscars’ approach to diversity.
Gascón, nominated for Best Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez,” has come under fire for a series of now-deleted tweets posted between 2016 and 2022. In one tweet, she referred to Islam as “a hotbed of infection for inhumanity” and described the religion as “incompatible with Western values.” Another post from 2020 depicted a Muslim family at dinner, where a woman was wearing a burqa, with Gascón commenting, “How deeply disgusting of humanity.” In 2021, she went further, suggesting that “the West should ban Islam.”
Gascón has also been criticized for her past comments on the Academy Awards. In 2021, following Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” winning Best Picture, she wrote, “More and more, the #Oscars look like a ceremony for independent and protest films. I didn’t know if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration, or the 8M [International Women’s Day protests]. Apart from that, an ugly, ugly gala.”
Additionally, she posted a lengthy thread about George Floyd after his 2020 murder by a police officer, stating, “I really think very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler. His death has simply highlighted that some still see Black people as ‘monkeys without rights’ and police officers as ‘assassins.’ They’re all wrong.
These posts, many of which were recently deleted, were discovered and shared by Toronto journalist Sarah Hagi. “I was shocked they hadn’t been erased earlier,” Hagi told reporters. “If you become famous, you’d think you’d delete tweets like these … It’s a glaring blind spot.”
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Irfan Chaudhry, a hate crime researcher in Edmonton, called Gascón’s remarks “hateful and offensive,” emphasizing that “Islamophobic and anti-Muslim narratives remain prevalent in many societies, including our own.” He also expressed curiosity about how the Academy would respond to the controversy, considering its recent push for inclusivity. “Having the first openly transgender actress nominated for an Oscar is a milestone, but now these past remarks raise serious questions. Will there be any accountability?”
it’s so insane that karla sofía gascón still has these tweets up. straight up have never seen tweets this racist from someone actively campaigning to win an ACADEMY AWARD. there are more than a dozen… pic.twitter.com/1rcNzkJXuo
— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) January 30, 2025
The film “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, tells the story of a feared Mexican drug lord, Manitas del Monte (played by Gascón), who leaves behind a life of crime to transition into a woman and advocate for change. The film has received 13 Oscar nominations, setting a record for a non-English-language movie. However, it has been met with criticism, particularly regarding its depiction of Mexico, with some arguing that it romanticizes the country’s long history of cartel violence.
Additionally, some transgender activists have voiced concerns over the film’s portrayal of gender identity. Human rights advocate Láurel Miranda revealed that she received a casting call for a “middle-aged transgender actress with a robust build,” questioning the stereotype of trans women always being portrayed as “hardy.” She also pointed out that the original script suggested Manitas transitioned to avoid prosecution, though Gascón reportedly advocated for changes to depict a genuine desire for transition.
With the Oscars set to take place on March 2, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact Gascón’s nomination and the film’s reception. Netflix has yet to issue a statement regarding the backlash.
— With additional reporting from the Associated Press
