Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans performer to be nominated for best actress, has spoken out after old, inflammatory tweets were resurfaced amid her Oscar campaign. The tweets, which date back to 2020, expressed controversial opinions about the murder of George Floyd and Muslims in her native Spain.
Gascón apologized for the remarks and deactivated her Twitter account, citing threats and harassment from trolls. She later re-emerged on Instagram, where she apologized again and defended herself against accusations of racism and hatred.
In a statement, Gascón acknowledged that she had made mistakes and had a lot to learn, particularly about expressing herself in a way that wouldn’t be taken out of context. She emphasized her commitment to fighting for a more just society and promoting love, peace, and freedom.
Gascón also reflected on the impact of the controversy on her and her family, stating that she had been threatened with death, insulted, and harassed to the point of exhaustion. She vowed to continue sending a message of hope and love, despite the challenges she has faced.
Despite the controversy, Gascón remains optimistic and has been taking an uplifting approach during awards season, repeatedly stating that “light will triumph over darkness.” However, it remains to be seen how the controversy will affect her chances of winning the Oscar.
