Karla Sofía Gascón Attends 2025 Oscars Amid Controversies but Skips the Red Carpet

Karla Sofía Gascón, star of Emilia Pérez, attended the 97th Academy Awards on March 2 amid controversies surrounding her past social media activity. She became the first openly transgender acting nominee in Oscar history, drawing both attention and criticism for previous offensive tweets.

Gascón wore a diamond-studded black dress at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, opting to bypass the red carpet. Despite her absence from the red carpet, she was photographed inside the event by The Hollywood Reporter shortly before the ceremony began.

At 52, Gascón had previously avoided numerous major award shows after facing backlash. She did not attend the Oscar nominee dinner at the Academy Museum on February 25 but appeared at the 50th annual César Awards in Paris on February 28, marking her first public appearance since the controversy surfaced. Gascón was nominated for Best Actress at the César Awards.

The film Emilia Pérez, a Mexico-set musical-thriller, heads into the Oscars with 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Gascón's nomination as Best Actress is a historic achievement in the industry.

Following her nomination, old posts resurfaced, revealing criticisms of Muslim culture, diversity issues, and the George Floyd incident.

In response, Gascón deactivated her X account and provided statements denying accusations of racism. In an Instagram post on February 6, after comments made by Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard, she expressed hope that her silence would let the film be appreciated. "I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way," Gascón stated.

Her costar Zoe Saldaña, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, shared her sadness over the controversy in January. Saldaña emphasized her stance against negative rhetoric towards any group. While disappointed in Gascón’s actions, she still felt proud of their work in Emilia Pérez. Saldaña remarked, "I will always be a hopeful person... I can still stand by a body of work that I can be proud of."

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