Kaylah Walton
The star of ‘Emilia Perez’, Karla Sofia Gascon, is making headlines just a day ahead of the 2025 Oscars, where she’s nominated for best leading actress. Gascon is currently facing backlash due to old tweets that surfaced in which she made derogatory remarks against Islam, its followers, Asian individuals, LGBTQ+ communities, and even criticized the Oscar awards themselves. The resurfacing of these tweets has been reported by journalist Sarah Hagi. Zoe Saldana, also nominated for Best Supporting Actress, shared her thoughts in a recent interview in London.
Zoe Saldana’s Take on Karla Sofia Gascon
In her remarks, co-star Zoe Saldaña expressed her feelings about the controversy surrounding Gascon, stating, “I’m still processing everything that has happened in the last few days and I feel saddened”.
Saldaña firmly stated her position on Gascon’s past remarks, saying, “I do not support or condone any harmful rhetoric directed at any group.” She emphasized the positive experiences she had with the cast, highlighting a focus on inclusion, collaboration, and equity in all aspects—cultural, racial, and gender. This experience, she noted, saddens me.
Zoe Saldaña: “Our unity is anchored in love, respect, and curiosity”
Saldaña pointed out that this situation detracts from the film’s intended message, which is meaningful and has the potential to create real change in marginalized communities every day. She asserted, “The message of this film is incredibly powerful”.
In conclusion, Saldaña clarified the core mission of ‘Emilia Perez’: “We united out of love, respect, and curiosity, and we plan to continue sharing that message. That’s all we can say for now. Thank you.”
