Zoe Saldaña is speaking out about the controversy surrounding her “Emilia Pérez” co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, whose past social media posts have resurfaced, drawing criticism for their offensive and Islamophobic rhetoric. The backlash has overshadowed the film’s historic Oscar recognition, including Saldaña’s first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
In an interview for an upcoming episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Saldaña expressed her sadness over the situation, emphasizing that the film was created with the intention of inclusivity and love.
“I’m sad. Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,” Saldaña says. “I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.”
The Spanish-language musical crime drama, directed by Jacques Audiard, received 13 Oscar nominations, making it the most nominated non-English language film in Academy Awards history. However, the resurfacing of Gascón’s past statements on Twitter/X has complicated the film’s awards campaign, with many in the industry grappling with how to separate the film’s achievements from the controversy.
Saldaña, who stars alongside Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Édgar Ramírez, did not comment directly on whether she had spoken to Gascón since the controversy erupted.
“I feel like I’ve spoken enough about it,” she said, adding that she is still processing the situation. “It’s not just something we have to figure out immediately.”
In a CNN Español interview, Gascón stated that Saldaña and Gomez “support me 200%.” When asked about this, Saldaña, taking a long blink, did not confirm that claim. Instead, she referred back to a statement she made in London, in which she denounced bigotry and racism.
“I do not support any negative rhetoric of racism and bigotry towards any group of people,” she reiterated. “That is what I want to stand for.”
Despite the controversy, Saldaña remains hopeful that the film’s legacy will endure and that audiences will recognize the work of everyone involved.
“I will always be a hopeful person,” she says. “I was not raised to have any negative judgment towards people of any group in any community. While being that person, I can still stand by a body of work that I can be proud of.”
As Saldaña moves forward in her career, she is focused on the broader impact of “Emilia Pérez” and the importance of bold storytelling.
“I think it’s important for our community of filmmakers to keep believing in what we set our hearts on,” she said. “Always look to grow as artists and be a part of telling stories that may sometimes be provocative but still bring up necessary conversations.”
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Saldaña will continue to promote “Emilia Pérez” throughout the rest of the awards season while navigating the complex emotions surrounding the film’s journey. Regardless of the challenges, she remains dedicated to her work, her community and the celebration of diverse storytelling.
The actress also spoke about the support from the Hollywood community. As Variety reported, multiple Academy voters have expressed sympathy that Saldaña has had to bear the brunt of the controversy, as communication between Netflix and Gascón’s PR team has ceased.
“I’m allowing myself to still experience that joy because we did come together as a team,” she recalls. “But we are also individuals who are responsible for everything that we say and everything that we do.”
She also acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and the personal growth that can come from it.
“You may believe that it’s just a statement I came up with alongside my team, but at the end of the day, when I can’t speak on behalf of anyone else, I can only speak on behalf of myself and what I witnessed,” she said. “And that needs to be enough for now. I’m still processing. I certainly think that this is a learning experience. Everything in life is a learning experience for all of us. And the point of uncomfortable events is for the sake of evolution. So I hope that we continue moving in the right direction.”
The person Gascón portrayed on social media, Saldaña noted, was not the person she met on set. However, she added, “I can’t attest to what people do in their private time with their private handles.”
The full episode will be released on Thursday.
