Zoe Saldaña has spoken out for the first time since racist tweets by her “Emilia Pérez” co-star Karla Sofía Gascón resurfaced this week.
On November 1, 2024, in Savannah, Georgia, Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón attended the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival. They were there to promote their film, Emilia Pérez. However, this week, old tweets by Gascón resurfaced, causing controversy. The tweets included negative comments about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars. Saldaña has now spoken out about the situation.
During a Q&A event in London, Saldaña shared her feelings. She said, “I’m still processing everything that has happened in the last couple of days, and I’m sad. It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.” She added that her experience working on the film was about inclusivity, collaboration, and equality. She expressed disappointment that the controversy has become a setback.
Saldaña also thanked the audience for supporting the film despite the controversy. She said, “I’m happy that you’re all here and that you’re still showing up for Emilia Pérez. The message of this film is powerful, and it can bring change to marginalized communities. We came together to tell this story with love, respect, and curiosity, and we will continue to spread that message.”
The tweets by Gascón included criticism of the 2021 Oscars’ diversity, offensive remarks about George Floyd, and negative comments about Islam. After the tweets resurfaced, Gascón apologized in a statement to Variety on Thursday evening. She wrote, “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well, and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.” Gascón has since deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Last week, Gascón made history as the first openly transgender actor to be nominated for an Oscar. She also won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, sharing the honor with her co-stars, including Saldaña. Despite the controversy, Emilia Pérez continues to draw attention for its powerful message and the performances of its cast.
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