Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of Emilia Pérez, has reportedly decided to skip several upcoming award shows following controversy over her past social media posts. The 52-year-old Spanish actress will not attend the 2025 Critics Choice Awards on February 7 or the Producers Guild Awards on February 8, where she was originally scheduled to present. This decision follows a growing backlash after screenshots of past posts, dating from 2016 to 2021, were shared by journalist Sarah Hagi. These posts reportedly included controversial remarks about topics like Muslim culture, George Floyd, and diversity.
Gascón had been expected to attend the Critics Choice Awards, where Emilia Pérez received 10 nominations. She was nominated for Best Lead Actress for her role in the film, and her co-star Zoe Saldaña is nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Emilia Pérez, a movie musical directed by Jacques Audiard, tells the story of a Mexican drug cartel leader transitioning into a woman.
Her absence from the Critics Choice Awards is likely to set the tone for her participation in other upcoming events. She is also nominated for her performance in Emilia Pérez at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and has made history with her Academy Awards nomination as the first openly transgender actor to be recognized in the Best Actress category.
Amid the growing controversy, Gascón addressed the criticism in a February 4 Instagram post, explaining that during the period of the controversial posts, she was struggling with her transition and seeking approval from others. Despite the backlash, Gascón told CNN en Español on February 2 that she would not consider withdrawing her Oscar nomination, which places her alongside actresses like Cynthia Erivo, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres in the Best Actress category.
Emilia Pérez is currently streaming on Netflix and is up for 13 Oscars, including the prestigious Best Picture award. The Academy Awards ceremony is set for March 2, 2025.