Recently, Karla Sofía Gascón, who stars in “Emilia Pérez,” became the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the Netflix film. However, today she has issued an apology for old social media posts that have sparked controversy regarding Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars.

“I want to recognize the discussions surrounding my previous social media comments that have caused hurt,” she stated in a message shared with YSL News. “As someone from a marginalized community, I am very familiar with this pain, and I sincerely apologize to those I have hurt.”

On Thursday morning, journalist Sarah Hagi posted screenshots of several of Gascón’s past comments on X, formerly known as Twitter, which quickly prompted widespread reaction and criticism from social media users. Variety was the first to cover this story.

“It’s unbelievable that Karla Sofía Gascón still has these tweets up. I’ve never seen such openly racist tweets from someone actively seeking an ACADEMY AWARD,” Hagi commented regarding Gascón’s past posts.

In one of her posts from November 23, 2020, Gascón remarked in Spanish (translated by YSL News): “Excuse me, but is it just me or are there increasingly more Muslims in Spain? Every time I pick up my daughter from school, there are more women covering their hair and wearing long skirts. Next year, instead of English, we’ll have to teach Arabic …”

In another message, Gascón shared her views on George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the nationwide protests that followed his death due to police brutality.

“Honestly, I don’t think many people genuinely cared about George Floyd, a drug addict and con artist, but his death has highlighted that there are still people who view Black individuals as… without rights and see police as killers,” she wrote. “They are all mistaken.”

Gascón also mentioned: “There is much to ponder regarding how our society reacts every time a tragedy occurs. Perhaps it’s not just about racism, but about social classes that feel threatened by each other. Maybe that’s the deeper issue.”

Additionally, she criticized the Academy’s 2021 Oscars ceremony, which was the first following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“The Oscars are increasingly resembling a platform for independent and protest films; I wasn’t sure if I was attending an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter rally, or the 8M,” Gascón reflected. “Besides that, it was an unattractive ceremony.”

YSL News has reached out to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for their perspective.

According to reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, many of these controversial posts have since been removed.

Gascón wrapped up her Thursday statement with, “Throughout my life, I’ve fought for a better world. I believe light will always win over darkness.”

Karla Sofía Gascón made history by being nominated for Best Actress for her role in the Spanish-language crime thriller “Emilia Pérez,” becoming the first openly transgender actress to achieve this honor.

Directed by Jacques Audiard, a filmmaker from France, the film is an innovative musical centered around a Mexican drug lord (Gascón) who undergoes gender affirmation surgery. Selena Gomez stars as her disgruntled spouse, while Zoe Saldaña portrays a powerful attorney who forms a friendship with the former kingpin.

Over the last fifty years, numerous cisgender actors have received Oscar nominations for playing transgender characters, including Jared Leto (“The Dallas Buyers Club”), Jaye Davidson (“The Crying Game”), John Lithgow (“The World According to Garp”), Glenn Close (“Albert Nobbs”), and Felicity Huffman (“Transamerica”). Elliot Page also received an Oscar nod for Best Actress for his role in “Juno” before coming out as transgender in 2020.

Originally from Madrid, Gascón relocated to Mexico in 2009, where she starred in various telenovelas including “Hasta el fin del mundo” and “Llena de amor.” With support from her wife and now teenage daughter, she began her transition in 2018 and was cast in “Emilia Pérez” in 2022.

The film has faced heavy criticism from both reviewers and social media users, with comparisons drawn to works like “Mrs. Doubtfire” and the Oscar-winning film “Crash,” which was met with similar disdain.

Leading the nominations for the 2025 Oscars, the movie has 13 nominations.

Critics, particularly from the Mexican community, argue that the film misrepresents the nation’s culture and the issue of the drug war. GLAAD, a non-profit LGBTQ advocacy organization, described it as a “deeply outdated portrayal of a trans woman,” claiming it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and clichés about trans people.

Throughout the awards campaign, Gascón has experienced ignorance regarding her identity.

“Recently, a woman approached me, praising my work,” she relayed to YSL News in November 2024. “Then she asked, ‘If you get nominated, will it be for Best Actress or Best Actor?’ I responded, ‘Ma’am, I am an actress! Even if I played a monster or an old dog, I would still be nominated as an actress!'”

Despite these challenges, Gascón expressed her hopes for increasing awareness about what being transgender means via her visibility during the awards season.

“All I can do is focus on planting seeds through my work and demonstrating that I am no different from anyone else,” Gascón stated. “I simply want to live my life freely — everyone deserves to be who they are.”

Contributing: Patrick Ryan,