Netflix Exec Addresses ‘Emilia Pérez’ Karla Sofía Gascón Scandal

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Netflix has chosen to tackle the Emilia Pérez controversy that affected its potential success at the Academy Awards. While the director and actors from the film have expressed their opinions regarding Karla Sofía Gascón‘s social media incident, Netflix remained silent during the controversy. However, Bela Bajaria, the Chief Content Officer, has now spoken out on the matter, and it appears that adjustments will be made in future casting procedures for the platform.

As a film enthusiast, I’m excited to share that “Emilia Pérez” is a captivating musical crime film graced by the presence of Gascón alongside Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez. This masterpiece is the brainchild of Jacques Audiard, who beautifully translated Boris Razon’s novel “Écoute” onto the silver screen. The movie earned the Jury Prize and Best Actress (for its female cast) awards at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival. Gascón’s exceptional performance has already set her as a strong contender for the upcoming award season.

When the nominees were revealed, the movie and Gascón made Oscar history by becoming the most-nominated non-English film ever (with a total of 13 nominations) and securing nods for prestigious categories like Best Picture and Best Director. Notably, Gascón also became the first openly transgender woman to be recognized in the Best Actress category.

In the following days, someone chose to delve into Gascón’s past on social media and unearthed some troubling posts. It was discovered that the actor has a history of making highly controversial statements that reveal a prejudiced and xenophobic perspective. As a result, Gascón faced significant backlash, which led her to deactivate her X account, issue apologies, and retreat from public view. During the awards season, Netflix and some of her co-stars have decided not to support her, leaving Gascón in silence at present.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, during an appearance on the podcast “The Town”, the Netflix executive addressed the Emilia Pérez scandal. Initially, she attempted to mitigate any negative impact by acknowledging and commending the individuals who contributed to the film’s potential success as a contender for the Academy Awards.

It’s truly disappointing for the 100 exceptionally gifted individuals who created such a remarkable film that the controversy surrounding it has overshadowed its recognition. Despite the numerous nominations and accolades it has received, it seems to have shifted the focus away from the incredible cinematic work of Jacques Audiard, a renowned director. This is particularly disheartening for the cast members like Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, as well as our awards team who worked tirelessly on its campaign.

Bajaria discussed potential strategies for Netflix to prevent similar controversies in the future, suggesting they might consider a “review of social media posts” as part of their talent selection process. Essentially, she implied that the recent incident has caused them to reconsider how deeply they delve into a celebrity’s social media history: “It’s not usual for people to scrutinize social media activity this thoroughly… Many are now rethinking this approach… I believe it is causing many to question whether this process should be reassessed.” She further added:

Don’t you find yourself wondering if, considering the volume of original movies, TV shows, and co-productions we create and distribute, it would be feasible for us to regularly scrutinize the personal social media accounts of tens of thousands of people across the globe every day?” This question brings up many concerns about how such a process might be designed.

If asked to share all I currently know about the movie today, my recommendation would remain the same: we should still go see it. This film stands out as remarkable due to its creativity, boldness, and strong connection with many viewers this year.

Does ‘Emilia Pérez’ Still Have a Shot at the Academy Awards?

Emilia Pérez has been associated with controversy since her film began circulating on the awards circuit. Before Gascón’s social media posts emerged, the movie was criticized by many for its handling of its subject matter. However, some praised it as a daring choice to turn the story into a musical and hailed it as a modern masterpiece. If you use social media, you’ll see that it has been a breeding ground for memes and has even ignited debates about the portrayal of Latino and transgender cultures.

The movie still holds promise for a significant win at the Oscars, but with 13 nominations, it might face stiff competition. It’s likely to secure some Oscars, yet it remains uncertain if it will contend in the major categories. However, Demi Moore in “The Substance” doesn’t seem to be losing her Best Actress nomination.

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2025-02-14 18:32