Karla Sofía Gascón, a trans actor and star of the movie “Emilia Pérez,” has apologized for her old social media posts that denigrated Islam and referred to George Floyd as a “drug addict and a hustler.” The posts, which date back to 2016, were resurfaced this week and sparked widespread criticism.
Gascón, who made history as the first transgender performer to be nominated for the Oscar for best actress, said in a statement that she is “deeply sorry” for the pain she has caused and that she has always fought for a better world. She also expressed hope that “light will always triumph over darkness.”
The controversy surrounding Gascón’s posts comes as her film “Emilia Pérez” is gearing up for the Oscars, where it is the most nominated film. Netflix, the streaming service that released the film, is likely hoping that the controversy does not derail the film’s chances.
Gascón’s old tweets also included posts that took aim at Muslims’ dress, language, and culture in her native Spain, and suggested that Islam be banned. Additionally, she referred to George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer in 2020, as a “drug addict who very few people ever cared for.”
The controversy surrounding Gascón’s posts is not the first time that old tweets have come back to haunt celebrities. Other celebrities, including James Gunn, Trevor Noah, and Blake Shelton, have also faced backlash for their old social media posts. However, all of these celebrities have rebounded from the controversy, with Gunn getting rehired to direct a Marvel film and Noah hosting the Grammy Awards.