Movies

Column: How Karla Sofia Gascón turned a historic Oscars first into a historic Oscars nightmare

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Karla Sofia Gascón has put Oscar voters between a historic first and a hard place.

When I learned that Gascón was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her outstanding performance in Netflix’s movie “Emilia Pérez,” I felt an immense sense of pride. Not only did she become the first openly transgender individual to be recognized with an acting nomination, but she also emerged as the clear front-runner with 13 nods, making “Emilia Pérez” this year’s most celebrated film, receiving recognition in categories like picture, international feature, and director.

Despite facing criticism from LGBTQ viewers over its portrayal of the trans experience and Mexican viewers for stereotyping the country, “Emilia Pérez” appears well-suited for a film academy that has been expanding and diversifying its membership to reflect the world’s vast array of stories and artists.

So much so that historic firsts have become a looked-for feature of the Oscar telecast.

It appears I’m not the progressive figure or inspiring representative that some might have expected based on Netflix portrayals or academic assumptions. The reemergence of my past tweets, which are racist, Islamophobic, and openly against diversity, has caused a stir in the Oscar race for me and every other potential nominee like “Emilia Pérez.

She swiftly expressed regret for the controversial tweets (while also clarifying that she never penned a tweet criticizing Selena Gomez), stating various points such as admitting her past use of social media as a personal journal, acknowledging an evolvement in her views towards Muslims, explaining that the statements were misconstrued or taken out of context, and expressing remorse over any distress her words might have inflicted.

She frequently suggested that the tweets were orchestrated as part of a defamatory campaign against her. Her interview on CNN en Español was at times remorseful, argumentative, and self-compassionate. “I feel I have been unfairly judged,” she stated. “I have been condemned, persecuted, crucified, and stoned, all without a fair trial and without the chance to defend myself.

Awards

“Emilia Perez” might have the most Oscar nominations, but it’s not No. 1 for this critic.

Following the unauthorized interview, it appears that Netflix has significantly curtailed the awards campaign for Gascón, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Consequently, she is said to be skipping events such as the AFI Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Producers Guild Awards (where she was initially set to present), and the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Furthermore, she has already been taken off some digital promotional materials for the movie on For Your Consideration (FYC) advertising.

The curious thing is why Netflix, with its large awards team, skilled social media presence, and substantial budget, didn’t address Gascón’s tweets earlier, even before the Oscar competition started. It seems that they believed it wasn’t crucial to do so. The reasoning appears to be that as a trans woman, Gascón would empathize with the struggles of minorities and wouldn’t intentionally make things worse for them. As she has stated since then, this is indeed her viewpoint.

Being transgender is about personal identity, not a system of political beliefs; standing up for one’s right to live authentically doesn’t mean adopting a specific set of views. It’s illogical to believe that all trans women and men share the same perspectives or are immune to prejudiced thoughts. Karla Sofia Gascón is an individual, not a political mold.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve always known that Emilia Pérez’s movie was bound to ignite the cultural battleground, with its exploration of gender issues at the heart of some of our most contentious debates – from the very existence and roles of genders to the rights we fight for. However, the backing this film has received recently seems to have taken a turn away from what many initially perceived as a resistance against the transgender policies under President Trump’s administration.

This year’s Oscars have drawn comparisons to the complex political landscape of a “Conclave,” due to debates surrounding artificial intelligence (“The Brutalist”), cultural issues like blackface (as portrayed by Fernanda Torres in “I’m Still Here”), and the need for intimacy coordinators (“Anora”).

The book “Conclave,” by Robert Harris, delves into the contrast between reality and symbolism. Several cardinals, each embodying distinct perspectives of the Church, rise to prominence, only to have their underlying flaws and human frailties revealed. Ultimately, an underdog candidate is selected due to his ability to straddle different viewpoints, suggesting a balance yet undefined.

If there’s anything Gascón has made clear, it’s the gap that lies within our presently held beliefs.

Awards

For the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 2, the nominees have been revealed. Here’s a look at the contenders for the 2025 Oscars.

If she identified as a woman biologically (cisgender), it’s likely she would anticipate support from figures like Trump and Elon Musk, who are often critical of “wokeness”, to step in on her behalf. They might criticize Hollywood liberals for canceling a performer they had recently praised, simply because the individual expressed opinions that these figures find disagreeable. However, the conservative movement has become so united against transgender issues that such support is unlikely in this case.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t defend the assertion that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are to blame for the recent changes in the Oscars, which some claim Trump is using as an excuse to cut funding. In one of her contentious tweets, Gascón even criticizes these very initiatives, a stance that would surely gain Elon Musk’s approval. Regarding the 2021 Oscars ceremony, she penned: “It seems like the #Oscars are becoming more and more a platform for independent and protest films. I wasn’t sure if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter rally, or International Women’s Day celebration.

Initially, those on the liberal side who were eager to celebrate her groundbreaking nomination and label it as historic find themselves taken aback. It’s undeniable that her past comments were extremely divisive or controversial, and her nomination is indeed significant. However, the likelihood of this leading to a victory grows increasingly slim with each day that passes.

A more casual rephrasing: The initial hype and overly reverent reactions to these firsts have taken a hit. While it’s okay to create a diversity-focused storyline for any film or potential nominee, the person creating this narrative should ensure that it accurately reflects the subject matter.

It appears that the question now revolves around how extensive the fallout might be. From the perspective of a scandal, previous criticisms about “Emilia Pérez” representing Mexican culture and her portrayal of a transgender woman may gain more significance. Some voters could potentially find it off-putting if the Oscars were to focus heavily on addressing one woman’s controversial social media remarks.

It’s not unexpected that folks are debating who might profit if Emilia Pérez drops out of the running, and it’s understandable yet unfortunate. Regardless of who wins among the other nominees, no one should be considered a runner-up, and it’s impossible to predict voting patterns. Lately, Americans have displayed a remarkable tolerance for inflammatory rhetoric. A great deal can transpire between now and the February 18th voting deadline.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the current Oscar race is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent years, with several strong contenders vying for the top spot. The recent developments surrounding Gascón have certainly added an unexpected twist to the mix. One thing we can all agree on after this news cycle is that just because a person might fit a certain stereotype doesn’t mean they are someone else entirely. It’s also important to remember that social media should not be used as a personal diary, and our opinions and beliefs should not be based solely on what we see online.

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2025-02-04 21:32

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