Netflix has removed Karla Sofia Gascon, the star of "Emilia Perez," from its Oscars campaign following the resurfacing of offensive social media posts, Hollywood trade outlets reported on Tuesday.
Gascon, who made history as the first openly transgender acting nominee in Academy Awards history, was prominently featured in promotional materials for "Emilia Perez," which leads this year's Oscar nominations with 13 nods. However, Netflix swiftly changed its approach after past social media posts surfaced in which Gascon made derogatory remarks about Islam, calling it "an infection" and "deeply disgusting."
In addition to her comments on Islam, Gascon also reportedly mocked diversity initiatives, China, and George Floyd, whose death in 2020 sparked global protests against racial injustice. Initially, she apologized via a Netflix-issued statement and deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account, but later defended herself, blaming "cancel culture" in an Instagram post.
Despite Netflix's significant investment in promoting "Emilia Perez" as a potential best picture winner, the streaming giant has now removed Gascon from all campaign efforts. On Tuesday, a Netflix "For Your Consideration" webpage replaced her image with that of Zoe Saldana, the film's best-supporting actress nominee.
Gascon is also no longer scheduled to attend key awards season events, including Friday's Critics Choice Awards gala, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Netflix has declined to comment publicly on the matter.
"Emilia Perez" tells the story of a Mexican drug cartel boss who transitions to life as a woman and abandons crime. The film has faced criticism for its portrayal of Mexico's drug war, trans representation, and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance Gascon's vocal range in musical performances. Despite previous controversies, the film remained a strong Oscars contender.
Past controversies have not always derailed Oscar campaigns. "Green Book," which faced backlash over its depiction of race relations and an anti-Muslim tweet from one of its producers, still secured the Academy Award for best picture in 2019. Whether "Emilia Perez" will withstand the current fallout remains to be seen.
