'Emilia Pérez''s Karla Sofía Gascón Faces Backlash Over Islamophobic Tweets Amid Oscar Buzz

Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón, widely praised for her groundbreaking role in "Emilia Pérez, is now facing intense scrutiny as past controversies resurface, overshadowing her historic Oscar nomination. While previous backlash remained largely within Latino and Spanish-language media, newly unearthed tweets about Islam and Muslims have escalated the scandal, sparking global outrage and raising questions about her public image.

In one such tweet, Gascón questioned, "Is Islam a religion of peace? Tell that to the victims of terrorist attacks." Another post read, "Why do we keep pretending that Islam is compatible with Western values?" These statements have ignited widespread criticism, with many accusing Gascón of perpetuating harmful stereotypes against Muslims.

In another one, she wrote, "Islam is becoming a hotbed of infection for humanity that urgently needs to be cured."

The backlash has been swift, with social media users and industry professionals expressing their disappointment. One user commented, "It's disheartening to see such ignorance from someone in her position." Another added, "These comments are unacceptable and promote division."

Some have gone as far as demanding that her name is removed from the Oscar nominations.

Gascón and Audiard have also criticized and demeaned Latino culture

The backlash against Gascón started with the "Emilia Pérez" movie itself. The film, which tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who transitions to escape a life of crime, has been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about both the transgender community and Mexican culture. Critics argue that the narrative is regressive and fails to provide an authentic representation.

The controversy surrounding the film intensified this week when director Jacques Audiard made remarks about the Spanish language that many found offensive. In an interview, Audiard stated, "Spanish is a language of modest countries, of developing countries, of the poor, and of migrants."

Before, he apologized to the Mexican audience. "If there are things that seem shocking in Emilia Pérez then I am sorry ... Cinema doesn't provide answers, it only asks questions. But maybe the questions in Emilia Pérez are incorrect," said Audiard, speaking to CNN.

Gascón has also been criticized for her response to negative reactions from Mexican and Brazilian audiences regarding "Emilia Pérez." In interviews, she referred to Mexican critics as "cats" and suggested that those who disliked the film were "intellectually inferior." These remarks have been perceived as xenophobic and dismissive of valid cultural critiques from Latinos and Mexicans.

Her latest tweet regarding the controversy was posted on Wednesday January 29, when she said:

"I love art, which is why I applaud the creativity of all the hater groups who try to come up with a new controversy or a new way to insult me every day. That's a good thing because it stimulates the brain cells, and maybe one day they'll understand that hate won't get them anywhere.

Sincerely,
Public Enemy No. 1"

The culmination of these controversies has cast a shadow over Gascón's historic Oscar nomination, prompting discussions about accountability and the responsibilities of public figures in their communications.