Key takeaways from the controversy surrounding Gascón's campaign:

• Offensive tweets by Karla Sofía Gascón surfaced, damaging her Oscars campaign for "Emilia Pérez."
• Director Jacques Audiard publicly criticized Gascón's comments as “hateful” and “inexcusable.”
• Netflix has distanced itself from Gascón, altering promotional materials for the film.
• Gascón's co-stars, including Zoe Saldaña, express disappointment and concern over her comments.
• The Academy has reportedly moved away from the 'Fab Five' presentation format for its acting categories this year.

Amid the excitement surrounding its 13 nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards, the acclaimed film Emilia Pérez is engulfed in controversy due to discovered tweets from one of its stars, Karla Sofía Gascón. The tweets, dating back to 2018 and 2024, contain derogatory remarks aimed at various groups, including comments on Muslims, diversity, and high-profile incidents involving racial tensions. The backlash has been swift, leading Netflix to adjust its promotional strategy for the film as it looks to salvage the awards campaign without overshadowing its other nominees. In a response to the matter, Director Jacques Audiard expressed his dismay, describing Gascón’s sentiments as “hateful” and “inexcusable.” The fallout from Gascón's remarks has strained her relationship with Audiard, who stated, "It’s as if you fall into a hole" when reflecting on their past working rapport. He underscored his disappointment in Gascón's refusal to acknowledge the severity of her statements, noting that she had assumed a victim mentality rather than taking responsibility for her actions. Moreover, Audiard remarked, “She is in a self-destructive approach that I can’t interfere in,” highlighting the internal turmoil within the film's cast and crew as they navigate this unexpected turmoil. As the controversy unfolded, Gascón shared multiple responses via social media, oscillating between apologies and defensive rhetoric surrounding her previously published statements. Though she has claimed to be deeply remorseful for those affected, she maintains that her words have been taken out of context and asserts that she does not identify as racist. During an extensive interview with CNN, Gascón stated that she does not intend to withdraw her nomination, insisting, “I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am.” Her steadfastness amid the backlash has not contributed positively to the film's ongoing promotion. In light of this situation, Netflix has implemented changes to minimize Gascón's visibility in its "For Your Consideration" campaign materials, shifting the emphasis toward her co-stars, including Zoe Saldaña, who has indicated support for an inclusive environment in film. Saldaña publicly denounced Gascón's views, adding to the sentiment that the negative rhetoric contradicts the collaborative spirit they aimed to achieve within the film project. She stated, “It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it].” In addition to the damage to Gascón’s personal and professional standing, reports suggest that the controversy may affect the film's chances during the awards season, considering the Oscars are scheduled for March 2. The Academy has further opted to modify its traditional presentation format for notable acting awards, potentially sidelining the emphasis on Gascón's performance and thereby diminishing the film’s overall presence. As the fallout from Gascón's tweets persists, both public and industry reactions continue to swirl around “Emilia Pérez”, leaving many to ponder the implications this controversy may have for the film's future trajectory at the Oscars. For ongoing updates, details can be checked through comprehensive coverage on HuffPost.