Madrid, Spain (Pakistan Time: Tuesday, April 9, 2025) – Karla Sofía Gascón, the Spanish actress who gained international recognition for her role in the critically acclaimed film “Emilia Pérez,” has been embroiled in controversy following the resurfacing of numerous offensive posts from her X (formerly Twitter) account. The tweets, dating back several years, contain racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic views, sparking widespread condemnation and prompting the actress to apologize and delete her account.
The controversy erupted in late January 2025, just as Gascón was receiving significant attention for her Oscar nomination – a historic nod as the first openly transgender woman nominated for Best Actress. Journalist Sarah Hagi brought the old tweets to light, sharing screenshots of Gascón’s now-deleted posts.
The content of the tweets included:
- Racist Remarks: Gascón reportedly referred to George Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” and questioned the diversity of the 2021 Oscars, suggesting it looked like an “Afro-Korean festival” or a “Black Lives Matter demonstration.”
- Islamophobic Comments: Several posts targeted Muslims, with Gascón allegedly calling Islam a “hotbed of infection for humanity” and mocking Muslim attire and culture in Spain. She also reportedly suggested that Islam should be banned.
- Xenophobic Statements: Some of her older posts also contained Catalanophobic content.
- Defense of Adolf Hitler: Shockingly, one resurfaced tweet allegedly showed Gascón defending Adolf Hitler, stating he “simply had his opinion of the Jews.”
- Disparaging Remarks about BTS and Adele: The actress also reportedly made offensive comments about the appearance of the K-pop band BTS and singer Adele’s weight loss.
The resurfacing of these tweets led to immediate and intense backlash online. Many users expressed shock and outrage, questioning how someone who identifies as part of a marginalized community could harbor such hateful views towards other minority groups. BTS fans, in particular, voiced their fury over her racist remarks targeting the popular K-pop band.
In response to the growing criticism, Gascón issued a statement to Variety, saying, “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone 1 in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.” 2
Shortly after issuing this apology, Gascón deactivated her X account. However, the controversy has continued to cast a shadow over her and the film “Emilia Pérez,” which received 13 Oscar nominations.
There have been reports that Netflix, the distributor of “Emilia Pérez,” has distanced itself from Gascón’s Oscar campaign in the wake of the controversy and has cut direct communication with her.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about accountability for past online behavior, even before someone reaches a certain level of fame. It also raises questions about the vetting processes for individuals involved in high-profile projects and the potential impact of personal controversies on awards campaigns.
While Gascón has apologized for her past remarks, the controversy surrounding her tweets continues to be a significant talking point in the lead-up to major award ceremonies.