Netflix has dropped Karla Sofia Gascon, the star of “Emilia Perez,” from its high-profile Oscars marketing campaign and distanced itself from one of the best actress nominee over her offensive social media posts, Hollywood commerce retailers reported Tuesday.
Images of Gascon, who made historical past as the primary overtly transgender appearing nominee in Academy Awards historical past, had adorned posters, billboards and commercials for the musical movie, which earned 13 Oscar nods — greater than every other film this yr.
But that marketing campaign has abruptly modified tack, after previous social media posts had been uncovered and broadly shared final week by which Gascon known as Islam “an infection” and “deeply disgusting.”
Gascon additionally denigrated or mocked wide-ranging topics, together with range efforts, China and George Floyd, the Black man whose 2020 killing by police spurred large protests.
The Spanish star, 52, initially apologized in an announcement issued through Netflix and deactivated her account on X, however quickly reversed course by defending herself publicly.
She informed CNN she is “not a racist” and won’t withdraw from Oscar competition, and blamed “cancel culture” in an Instagram submit.
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety mentioned streaming large Netflix, which has invested closely in hopes that “Emilia Perez” will present its first ever finest image Oscar win, has now dropped Gascon from all marketing campaign efforts.
A Netflix net web page selling the movie “for your awards consideration” on Tuesday contained a picture of Zoe Saldana, the film’s finest supporting actress nominee.
At a peak second in Hollywood’s award season, Gascon will not attend occasions together with Friday’s Critics Choice Awards gala as scheduled, commerce magazines reported.
Contacted by AFP, Netflix declined to publicly remark.
“Emilia Perez” tells the story of a Mexican drug cartel boss who transitions to life as a lady and turns her again on crime.
It had beforehand acquired criticism for its depictions of Mexico and its drug conflict, its illustration of trans points, and its use of synthetic intelligence to extend Gascon’s voice vary in musical scenes.
But at the very least till now it had appeared to climate these storms, remaining a perceived frontrunner for a number of Academy Awards.
Controversy has not at all times prevented movies from happening to get pleasure from success on the Oscars.
“Green Book,” a drama primarily based on the real-life story of a Black musician and his white driver within the Nineteen Sixties Deep South, was broadly condemned for perpetuating “white savior” stereotypes.
A tweet surfaced throughout Oscars campaigning, by which one of many film’s producers expressed help for false claims that Muslims had been celebrating in New Jersey following the 9/11 terror assaults.
It went on to win finest image.
© 2025 AFP