Why did Gascon stay away from spotlight on Oscar night?
Los Angeles: Karla Sofia Gascon made an appearance at the Oscars 2025 but opted out of posing on the red carpet, following recent backlash over her resurfaced tweets.
As reported by Variety, the actress was first spotted on camera during host Conan O'Brien's monologue. The comedian didn’t hold back, joking about the number of f-bombs her publicist likely dropped this awards season. Directly addressing Gascon, he quipped, "If you are going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel."
Backlash Over Past TweetsGascon found herself in hot water after social media users unearthed controversial tweets from 2020 and 2021. The posts included remarks about Muslims, George Floyd, and the Oscars' increasing focus on diversity.
In response, she issued an apology via Variety: "I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well, and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness."
What did Gascon’s old tweets say?
Among her resurfaced posts, Gascon criticised the diversity at the 2021 Oscars, writing: "More and more the #Oscars are looking like a ceremony for independent and protest films. I didn't know if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration, or the 8M. Apart from that, an ugly, ugly gala."
She also made inflammatory comments about George Floyd, referring to him as a "drug addict swindler" after his tragic death at the hands of police, which sparked worldwide protests.
Historic nomination amid controversy
Despite the controversy, Gascon’s film 'Emilia Perez' received 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Her own nomination was groundbreaking—she became the first openly trans woman to be nominated for Best Actress. However, the resurfaced tweets have cast a shadow over what could have been a historic and celebratory moment for her.
ANI