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Karla Sofía Gascón Returns to the Spotlight with First Awards Show Appearance After Social Media Backlash.Viet

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Karla Sofía Gascón Makes First Public Appearance After Social Media Controversy at the César Awards

Karla Sofía Gascón is seen backstage during the 50th Cesar Film Awards at L'Olympia on February 28, 2025 in Paris, France.

Karla Sofía Gascón, star of the Oscar-nominated film Emilia Pérez, made her first public appearance since facing backlash over past social media posts. The Spanish actress, who became the first openly transgender acting nominee in Oscars history this January, attended the 50th annual César Awards in Paris on February 28.

A Triumphant Night for Emilia Pérez

The Mexico-set musical-thriller Emilia Pérez, in which Gascón plays the titular role, received 12 nominations at the prestigious French awards and won seven, including Best Film. The event marked a major moment for the film, though Gascón did not win Best Actress, an award that went to Hafsia Herzi for her role in Borgo.

Gascón was seen posing for photos in an elegant solid black dress with an asymmetrical neckline but reportedly bypassed the press line, accompanied by two men who appeared to be security personnel.

Controversy and Public Absence

Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez and Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez.

Shortly after Emilia Pérez received 13 Oscar nominations, resurfaced social media posts from Gascón’s past ignited controversy. The old posts on X (formerly Twitter) included criticisms of Muslim culture, George Floyd, and diversity, leading to widespread backlash. In response, Gascón deactivated her X account and issued statements defending herself before ultimately apologizing and announcing her intention to stay silent in a February 6 Instagram post.

As a result, Gascón was notably absent from several high-profile Los Angeles awards events throughout February, including the Critics Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Oscars class photo, and other industry gatherings.

A Divisive Reception

During the César Awards, Gascón was seated in the same row as her Emilia Pérez co-star Zoe Saldaña and director Jacques Audiard, though she was not sitting directly beside them.

Saldaña, 46, had previously expressed her disappointment over the controversy, stating in January:
“I’m really sad and disappointed. I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”

Audiard, 72, also condemned Gascón’s past remarks in a February 5 interview but later acknowledged her contributions to Emilia Pérez during his BAFTA Film Awards acceptance speech on February 16.

Despite the controversy, Gascón’s appearance at the César Awards signals a return to the spotlight as Emilia Pérez continues its successful awards season run.