The Emilia Perez Oscar campaign was derailed by resurfaced social media posts from which controversial star?

The critically acclaimed film *Emilia Perez* saw its Oscar campaign significantly hampered by the resurfacing of controversial social media posts from its star, Karla Sofia Gascon. Gascon, who made history as the first openly transgender performer to receive an acting Oscar nomination for her role in the film, faced immediate backlash when past tweets came to light. These posts included racially insensitive and Islamophobic remarks, as well as offensive comments regarding George Floyd and the perceived diversity at the Academy Awards.

Among the unearthed posts, some dating back several years, Gascon had referred to George Floyd as a "drug addict and a hustler" and made disparaging comments about the growing Muslim population in Spain, even suggesting that Islam should be banned. She also criticized the 2021 Oscars ceremony, calling it an "Afro-Korean festival" or a "Black Lives Matter demonstration." The uproar led to Netflix, the film's distributor, reportedly distancing itself from Gascon, omitting her from promotional materials and awards events.

The film's director, Jacques Audiard, publicly condemned Gascon's statements as "inexcusable," further highlighting the severity of the situation. While Gascon issued an apology and deactivated her social media account, the controversy cast a shadow over *Emilia Perez*, which had garnered an impressive thirteen Oscar nominations. The incident underscored how past online behavior can significantly impact public perception and awards season momentum, even for groundbreaking cinematic achievements.