Oh dear! A very uncomfortable situation has unfolded just a little over a month before the Academy Awards. This yearās big contender is Emilia PĆ©rez, which has racked up a record 13 nominations. However, it's precisely the lead actor, the Spanish-born transgender Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n, whose recent outbursts against religions and Arab culture have surfaced. While many agreed with some of her views (after all, she spoke out against the oppression of Muslim women), her phrasing was, to say the least, incorrect and harsh, certainly not fitting for an actress on the verge of global stardom. This is especially problematic because GascĆ³n is a member of the LGBTQ community, while the newly formed Trump administration continues to introduce more "reactionary" measures in this area. ZoĆ« SaldaƱaās fear is therefore justified, as the scandal has already led to a loss, especially for her, since this is her first Oscar nomination.
SaldaƱa gave an interview to Variety for the Awards Circuit Podcast regarding the Oscar. The actress has spoken out about the issue before and continues to feel sad, which is understandable.
āIām sad. I keep repeating this because itās eating at me inside, in my soul, ever since this whole scandal broke out. Iām also disappointed. Of course, I canāt speak for others; I canāt take responsibility for their actions. I can only speak about my own experiences, so from my perspective, I never imagined weād get to this point,ā the actress explained.
The Variety reporter asked if SaldaƱa had spoken to GascĆ³n since the scandal erupted. The star gave an evasive answer, so it seems sheās distancing herself from her colleague, who previously stated in an interview that SaldaƱa and Selena Gomez, the third central character of Emilia PĆ©rez, fully supported her and stood by her. SaldaƱa responded with:
āI do not support any negative, racist, or bigoted speech directed at any group of people. I want to stick to that. [ā¦] At the same time, I will always be a hopeful person. I was raised not to have any prejudice against any community or group. Of course, while I hold this belief, I can still stand by a piece of art that I am proud of.ā
The actress believes that despite the controversy surrounding GascĆ³n, Emilia PĆ©rez wonāt suffer any damage, and she stands fully behind the film. Additionally, several members of the Academy have expressed their sympathy. So, hope is not lost yet that she might still be recognized with an Oscar. SaldaƱa also emphasized that during filming, she did not know GascĆ³n as the person who recently posted racist and Islamophobic messages.
Weāll see how this unfolds. The Oscar ceremony is on March 2nd. Itās certain that Netflix, which is behind the film, has distanced itself from the lead actor, and the Academy members are also upset. This scandal is significantly damaging Emilia PĆ©rez's chances.
