Selena Gomez Admits ‘Some of the Magic Has Disappeared’ Amid ‘Emilia Perez’ Controversy

Selena Gomez recently addressed the ongoing controversy involving her "Emilia Pérez" co-star, Karla Sofía Gascón. During a Q&A at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 9, Gomez responded to questions about the drama surrounding the Netflix musical.

Gomez, 32, expressed her feelings, stating, "Thank you. I’m really good. Some of the magic has disappeared, but I choose to continue to be proud of what I’ve done. I’m just grateful and live with no regrets." She affirmed her commitment to "Emilia Pérez," which is nominated for 13 Academy Awards, saying, "I’d do this movie over and over again if I could."

Meanwhile, Gascón, 52, has faced backlash due to resurfaced tweets that have overshadowed the film's Oscar campaign. She has received criticism for remarks about the Muslim community, the May 2020 death of George Floyd, and even a perceived insult directed at Gomez. The Best Actress Oscar nominee initially issued an apology via a statement from Netflix. However, she later suggested that some of the statements attributed to her were misrepresented or taken out of context.

In relation to the situation, "Emilia Pérez" director Jacques Audiard spoke to Deadline about Gascón's behavior, describing it as a "self-destructive approach." He questioned her motives, saying, "Why is she harming herself?" Audiard also remarked on how Gascón's actions affect her colleagues, including Oscar-nominated actors Zoe Saldaña and Gomez. "I just don’t understand why she’s continuing to harm us," he stated.

On February 6, Gascón took to Instagram to share a renewed apology. She stated, "Following Jacques’ interview that I understand, I decided, for the film, for Jacques, for the cast, for the incredible crew, to let the work talk for itself. My silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference." She continued, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way," and included a photo from the "Emilia Pérez" film's Cannes premiere.

In a separate comment, Saldaña, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, expressed her feelings about the controversy. She told Variety last week that the situation has made her feel "sad." Saldaña shared, "Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened." She added, "I’m also disappointed... never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here."

Earlier, SSP wrote that Justin Baldoni discussed anxiety amid legal issues with Blake Lively.