Emilia Pérez Director Thanks Karla Sofía Gascon Amid Scandal

OK, everyone knows the Emilia Pérez controversy is messy, however now even I’m confused.

In case you want a fast refresher, Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón made historical past this award season as the primary brazenly trans actor to obtain a Greatest Actress Academy Award nomination. Shortly afterwards, she made headlines as a legion of her racist and anti-Islamic posts resurfaced on-line.

Karla Sofía’s quite a few responses have been… questionable. After a few sort-of-apologies, she did an extended interview with CNN en Español insisting that her earlier actions didn’t outline her. Considered one of her statements on Instagram included what appeared like a declare that the racist posts resurfacing have been an try to stifle her Oscar possibilities. Which… is unquestionably a declare.

She additionally said on CNN that her Emilia Pérez costars have been in help of her “200%.” Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez — who play Rita and Jessi within the musical, respectively — have each since implied that that is not the case. Netflix has additionally reportedly stopped funding Karla Sofía for award season.

And whereas the Emilia Pédrez forged distanced themselves, the movie’s director, Jacques Audiard, was additionally left appalled by Karla Sofía’s previous posts.

In an interview with Deadline from simply two weeks in the past, Jacques described Karla Sofía’s previous phrases as “inexcusable.”

“It’s very laborious for me to suppose again to the work I did with Karla Sofía,” Jacques stated. “I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t wish to. She is in a self-destructive strategy that I can’t intrude in, and I actually don’t perceive why she’s persevering with. I’m considering on this factor of how hurting others, of how she’s hurting the crew and all these individuals who labored so extremely laborious on this movie. I’m considering of myself, I’m considering of Zoë [Saldaña] and Selena [Gomez]. I simply don’t perceive why she’s persevering with to hurt us.”

“I’m not getting in contact together with her as a result of proper now she wants house to mirror and take accountability for her actions,” he added.

Jacques went on to state that Karla Sofía had been “taking part in the sufferer” within the state of affairs. “It’s as if she thought that phrases don’t damage,” he defined.

And whereas the interview, carried out on February 5, appeared to make clear how Jacques felt about Karla Sofía, his latest speech on the BAFTAs has left folks confused.

Final night time, Emilia Pérez was awarded the BAFTA for Greatest Movie Not within the English Language. And whereas Karla Sofía was not current on the BAFTAs held in London, Jacques made a degree to thank her in his acceptance speech. And like, actually thank her.

“Above all, I wish to thank all of the fantastic artists who introduced this movie to life and who’re right here with us tonight,” he stated, translated by an interpreter. “My expensive Zoë, my expensive Selena, Giorgini, Paul, Juliet, Camille, Clement, Julia and your workforce, but in addition you, my expensive Karla Sofía, that I kiss. I’m deeply happy with what we achieved collectively. Lengthy stay Emilia Pérez!”

Jacques was not the one Emilia Pérez winner to shout out Karla Sofía in an acceptance speech. Zoë, who was awarded Greatest Supporting Actress, additionally gave her a point out, though it was somewhat extra covert.

“I wish to thank my fantastic forged, Karla, Selena, Adriana,” Zoë stated. “Movies are supposed to alter hearts and problem minds. And I hope that Emilia Pérez did one thing like this, please, as a result of voices must be heard.”

In the meantime, the net response to Emilia Pérez profitable extra awards has been just about what you’d count on. The controversy surrounding the movie started even earlier than Karla Sofía’s posts resurfaced, as many individuals felt that the movie was a misrepresentation of the Mexican group, particularly contemplating the distinct lack of Mexican people each in entrance of and behind the digital camera.

Along with the problems with Mexican illustration, members of the LGBTQ+ group have voiced their very own points with the movie, with GLAAD calling Emilia Pérez a “profoundly retrograde portrayal of a trans lady.”