Netflix’s Oscar Dream Crumbles as Controversial Star Gets Dropped from Campaign

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It was announced on Tuesday that Netflix has removed Karla Sofia Gascon, who plays Emilia Perez in a prominent project, from their Oscars campaign due to controversial comments she made on social media. The streaming giant has also distanced itself from Gascon, who is nominated for Best Actress. This information comes from industry news sources.

Posters, billboards, and advertisements showcased pictures of Gascon, a trailblazer as the first openly transgender acting nominee in the history of the Academy Awards. This groundbreaking musical film garnered an impressive 13 Oscar nominations, making it the most nominated movie of this year.

However, the campaign for Gascon has suddenly shifted its strategy following the resurfacing and widespread sharing of his old social media posts from last week, where he referred to Islam as a “contagion” and found it “deeply offensive.” Additionally, Gascon made disparaging remarks about a variety of subjects such as diversity initiatives, China, and George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police in 2020 sparked nationwide protests.

Initially, the 52-year-old Spanish celebrity expressed regret through a statement released on Netflix and deactivated her account on the platform formerly known as Twitter. However, she later chose to defend herself publicly. In an interview with CNN, she declared that she is “not a racist” and has no intention of withdrawing from the Oscar race. On Instagram, she also attributed the situation to the “cancel culture.

The absolute state of the Oscars

Leading contender for Best Actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, frequently becomes emotional during an interview with CNN, discussing her controversial tweets.

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) February 3, 2025

According to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, the streaming platform Netflix, which had put significant resources into the hope that “Emilia Perez” would be the first film to earn it a Best Picture Oscar, has decided to remove Gascon from all promotional activities related to the awards campaign.

On Tuesday, a Netflix webpage showcased the film “for your awards consideration,” featuring an image of Zoe Saldana, the movie’s nominee for Best Supporting Actress. During the height of award season in Hollywood, Gascon has decided not to attend events such as the Critics Choice Awards gala scheduled for Friday, according to trade magazines. When reached by AFP, Netflix chose not to comment publicly on the matter.

The series titled “Emilia Perez” narrates the journey of a former Mexican drug cartel leader who undergoes gender transition and renounces his criminal past. Initially, it faced criticism concerning its portrayal of Mexico and the drug war, transgender representation, and the application of artificial intelligence to enhance Gascon’s vocal range in musical sequences. Despite these criticisms, it seemed to navigate through them successfully, maintaining its status as a top contender for several Academy Awards.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve noticed that controversy hasn’t always stopped movies from winning Oscars. One such instance was “Green Book,” a drama based on the true tale of a Black musician and his white driver in the ’60s Deep South, which faced criticism for reinforcing “white savior” stereotypes. During its Oscar campaign, one of the movie’s producers shared a questionable tweet, expressing support for baseless claims that Muslims were celebrating in New Jersey after the 9/11 attacks.

It went on to win best picture.

via Breitbart News

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2025-02-09 19:00