Karla Sofía Gascón Apologises for Controversial Past Posts. 

Karla Sofía Gascón, 52, the breakout star of Netflix’s "Emilia Pérez," recently made history as the first openly transgender actress to earn an Oscar nomination for her role in the film. The nomination has been a landmark achievement for both Gascón and the LGBTQ+ community. However, the actress now finds herself at the centre of controversy after old social media posts resurfaced, prompting her to issue an apology.

Karla Sofía Gascón (@karsiagascon Instagram)

Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly transgender actress to receive an Oscar nomination, made headlines for her groundbreaking role in Emilia Pérez. However, her historic achievement was soon overshadowed by backlash over controversial past social media posts. In response, Gascón issued a public apology, acknowledging the hurt caused by her past remarks. Her journey continues to spark conversations about accountability, personal growth, and representation in Hollywood.

"I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt," Gascón said in a statement. "As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain."

The controversy began on Thursday morning when journalist Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of Gascón’s past posts on X, which quickly gained traction and sparked fierce debate. One post, dated November 23, 2020, read: "Sorry, is it just me or are there more Muslims in Spain? Every time I pick up my daughter from school there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Next year instead of English, we'll have to teach Arabic…" This post was met with criticism for its apparent xenophobia, and social media users expressed their shock at Gascón’s remarks, especially considering her current position as a nominee for the prestigious award.

Hagi’s tweet about the posts went viral, with the journalist writing, "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."

Additionally, Gascón faced backlash over her views on George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. In a separate thread, she posted: "Honestly, I think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who still consider Black people to be… without rights and consider policemen to be assassins." These comments were widely criticised for seeming dismissive of the significance of Floyd’s death and the ongoing fight against systemic racism.

Further controversy surrounded Gascón’s criticism of the 2021 Oscars, where she commented on the diversity of nominees and the overall tone of the ceremony. She stated, "More and more the #Oscars are looking 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." Her remarks were labelled as insensitive by many, particularly in light of the Academy’s push for greater representation of people of colour in the film industry.

In response to the backlash, Gascón took down the posts and addressed the situation publicly. "All my life I have fought for a better world," she said. "I believe light will always triumph over darkness."

Gascón's Oscar nomination for Best Actress, following her portrayal of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender affirmation surgery in Emilia Pérez, has been historic in many ways. Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, the film has received critical acclaim for its unique narrative and the strong performances from its cast, including Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña. Despite the film’s critical success, it has also sparked debate and comparison to other films like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Crash."

Currently, Emilia Pérez leads the 2025 Oscar race with 13 nominations. Gascón’s nomination has also drawn attention to her previous comments and the scrutiny that comes with such a high-profile moment in her career.

In a recent interview, Gascón shared her thoughts on the public’s lack of awareness about her as an actress. "The other day, this woman came up to me and was telling me how wonderful my work was,” Gascón recalled. “Then she asked me, 'If you get nominated, will you be nominated for best actress or best actor?' And I told her, 'Ma'am, I am an actress! If I played a monster or an old dog, I would still be nominated as an actress!'"

Despite the controversy, Gascón remains a trailblazer in the film industry, and her apology has sparked conversations about accountability, personal growth, and the power of social media in today’s world. As the Oscars approach, all eyes will remain on Gascón, her performance, and the impact of her journey as a transgender actress in Hollywood.

Karla Sofía Gascón is a Mexican actress and the first openly transgender woman to receive an Academy Award nomination. She gained widespread recognition for her role in the 2025 film Emilia Pérez, where she portrays a Mexican drug lord undergoing gender affirmation surgery. Known for her groundbreaking work in film, Gascón is a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, using her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and representation. Despite facing controversy over past social media posts, she remains an influential figure in both the film and LGBTQ+ communities.