Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans performer to be nominated for best actress, is speaking out after her past tweets containing inflammatory opinions were resurfaced amid her Oscar campaign.
Gascón apologized for her earlier remarks, during which she expressed controversial views on the murder of George Floyd and Muslims in her native Spain. She then deactivated her X account at the request of her family, citing harassment and abuse that left her “exhausted” and “terrified for her daughter’s safety.”
In a new statement on Instagram, Gascón apologized again and condemned those who have attacked her, saying they have “already won” and achieved their goal of “staining my existence with lies or things taken out of context.” She reiterated her commitment to fighting for a just society and her love for “a world of freedom, peace, and love.”
Gascón also addressed her past comments, saying she has always fought for minorities and supported events against racism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination. She acknowledged that she still has much to learn about expressing herself, especially with the larger platform she has gained through her Oscar-nominated film.
The actress ended her post on a positive note, quoting her mother, who told her “I don’t care if you win anything, I just want you to be well and not get hurt.” Gascón expressed her intention to use her platform to spread hope and love, and her message of light triumphing over darkness has become a recurring theme amid ongoing attacks on the trans community and anti-trans executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.
