Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón made her first public appearance at an awards event since facing backlash over past social media posts.
The Emilia Pérez star, who became the first openly transgender acting contender in Oscar history this year, attended the 50th annual César Awards in Paris on Friday, February 28.
Gascón Skips Press Line at the César Awards
Dressed in a solid black dress with an asymmetrical neckline, the 52-year-old actress posed for photos but avoided media interactions. According to Variety, she walked past the press line accompanied by two men who appeared to be security personnel.
Gascón was nominated for Best Actress at France’s national film awards alongside her Emilia Pérez co-star, Zoe Saldaña. However, the award went to Hafsia Herzi for Borgo. Meanwhile, the film Emilia Pérez won seven awards, including Best Film, with director Jacques Audiard taking home the trophies for Best Direction and Best Adaptation.
Absence from Major Hollywood Events
Gascón’s attendance at the César Awards followed weeks of speculation about her public appearances. Reports indicate that she had been absent from several major Los Angeles events throughout February, including the Critics Choice Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Oscar class photo session.
Her decision to stay away from Hollywood events came after old posts on X (formerly Twitter) resurfaced, where she had made controversial remarks about Muslim culture, George Floyd, and diversity. Facing criticism, she deactivated her X account and later issued statements defending herself. On February 6, she apologized in an Instagram post, stating that she would remain silent moving forward.
Reactions from Co-Stars and Filmmakers
The controversy surrounding Gascón has drawn reactions from her colleagues. Saldaña, 46, expressed her disappointment, stating in January that she was “really sad” and that she had “no tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”
Director Jacques Audiard, 72, also criticized Gascón’s past comments in a February 5 interview. However, he later acknowledged her contributions to Emilia Pérez, giving her a shoutout during his acceptance speech at the BAFTA Film Awards on February 16.
Will Gascón Attend the Oscars?
Despite the backlash, Gascón remains in the race for an Academy Award. She, along with Audiard and Saldaña (nominated for Best Supporting Actress), are among the Oscar nominees for Emilia Pérez.
A source told Media on February 24 that Gascón still plans to attend the 97th annual Academy Awards on March 2. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be broadcast live on ABC.
The Information is Collected from AOL and Variety.
