Netflix Breaks Silence on Karla Sofía Gascón Controversy

Netflix Addresses Backlash Over Karla Sofía Gascón’s Past Tweets

Netflix has officially responded to the controversy surrounding actress Karla Sofía Gascón, whose past offensive tweets resurfaced, sparking widespread backlash. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, described the situation as “a disaster” for the talented cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, the film at the center of the controversy.

During an interview on The Town podcast, Bajaria emphasized the negative impact on the movie’s awards campaign, saying, “It’s a shame that the focus has shifted from the film’s incredible achievements.”

Could the Controversy Affect Emilia Pérez’s Oscar Chances?

With 13 Academy Award nominations, Emilia Pérez made history as the most-nominated non-English-language film. However, Netflix now fears the scandal could damage its chances at the March 11 Oscars.

One of the biggest concerns is the impact on Zoe Saldaña’s nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as she remains a frontrunner. Bajaria also lamented the potential overshadowing of Selena Gomez’s role in the film, stating that the situation is unfair to the entire cast.

In response to the backlash, Netflix distanced itself from Gascón, removing her from promotional campaigns. However, this is the first time a Netflix executive has publicly addressed the issue.

Netflix Rethinking Its Vetting Process?

Critics have questioned how Netflix failed to detect Gascón’s past tweets before casting her. When asked whether the company would revise its hiring process, Bajaria admitted that the controversy had sparked an internal debate.

“Should we really be checking the personal social media of tens of thousands of people worldwide, every single day?” she questioned, pointing to the scale of Netflix’s productions and the difficulty of implementing such a policy.

Gascón’s Apology and Withdrawal from Award Ceremonies

Gascón has since apologized multiple times and deactivated her social media accounts. She has also chosen to withdraw from award events, skipping both the Goya Awards and the upcoming BAFTA Awards in London despite being a nominee.

The scandal deepened when Jacques Audiard, the film’s director, publicly distanced himself from Gascón. In an interview, he stated, “I haven’t spoken to her, nor do I want to. She’s in a self-destructive phase, and I don’t understand why she continues.”

Following his remarks, Gascón announced her decision to remain silent to prevent further harm to the film’s reputation. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote:

“For the film, for Jacques, for the cast, and the incredible team who deserve it, I will let the work speak for itself. I deeply apologize to those I have hurt along the way.” With just weeks before the Oscars, the question remains: Will this controversy derail Emilia Pérez‘s historic awards run?