Zoe Saldan?a, known for her role in ‘Emilia Perez’, demonstrated a sorrowful demeanor over recent social media posts from fellow actress Karla Sofi?a Gasco?n that have notably stirred the Oscars waters. Speaking at a London Q&A, Saldan?a expressed her ongoing struggle to comprehend the events of the past days, confessing her feelings of sadness over the issue. This topic was broached when she was asked to share any thoughts with the audience concerning Gasco?n’s controversial views on diversity at the Oscars, the tragic 2020 incident involving George Floyd, and her perspectives on the Muslim community. Saldan?a deeply regretted the situation since she harbors no sympathy for negative attitudes towards any racial, religious, or ethnic faction.
Evidently distressed, Saldan?a remarked on her disappointment over the current predicament but refused to validate or tolerate denigrating commentary towards any group. She emphasised her dealings with each person involved in the production of ‘Emilia Perez’ as based purely on principles such as inclusivity, collaboration, and equality, irrespective of race, culture or gender. However, she did express sadness over the situation. Even more disheartening for her was witnessing this regression in coexistence at a time when tolerance and understanding are needed more than ever.
Despite the upheaval, Saldan?a took a moment to appreciate the audience for continuing to support the film ‘Emilia Perez’. She underscored the influential message the film conveys and its potential to incite considerable transformation within communities persistently marginalised. As an intimate testament, she mentioned that those involved in telling this story were united by love, respect, and curiosity, promising to continue disseminating such values.
In addition to the Oscar-related controversy, Gasco?n has also made dubious tweets concerning broader societal issues such as the murder of George Floyd and the Muslim community in Spain. Notably, in a post from November 2020, she expressed worry over the growing Muslim population in Spain, suggesting that her daughter’s school may soon teach Arabic instead of English due to the rise in veiled women.
One of Gasco?n’s posts shared her perspective regarding the death of George Floyd, criticizing both the disregard shown to George Floyd’s life and the assertion that all police officers are murderers. She conjectured that this perspective was misguided, and argued that the real issue might be more rooted in class-based fears rather than racism. She went on to suggest that reactions to such incidents may reveal more about our societal behavior.
Gasco?n didn’t spare The Academy Awards either. She criticized the 2021 award ceremony, the first after the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, for seeming more like an independent protest film festival. She expressed discontent with what she perceived as a merger between the Oscars, Black Lives Matter demonstrations, and Afro-Korean cultural events.
Gasco?n offered a fresh apology on Instagram, in a post characterized by regret and introspection. She drew parallels between her own personal growth and the film ‘Emilia Perez’, emphasizing that everyone, including her, is capable of change. In her words, she wanted to apologize sincerely to those who were insulted by any of her past comments.
She confessed her inadequacies, stating she still had much to absolve about the world and her place within it. Life, she said, has revealed to her the importance of selecting the correct language to convey a message, a fact which she said she hadn’t wanted to learn. She stressed that without using the right words, the intended message can be drastically distorted.
Gasco?n also acknowledged the major leap she took from living an ordinary existence to being thrust into the limelight in Hollywood within a span of six months. This, she recognized, brought about a considerable responsibility. She realized that her voice no longer represented her alone but also those who looked up to her or saw themselves in her.
In a show of humility, Gasco?n admitted her inability to reverse her past actions, emphasizing that she is not the same person she was a decade or two ago. Though she claimed to have committed no crime, she candidly confessed to being imperfect. Her current goal is to learn from her mistakes and strive to improve.
She addressed past tweets resurfacing recently dating back to 2020, suggesting an orchestrated attempt to tarnish her reputation. The actress felt cornered, stating, ‘I recognize, with tears, that they have already won, they have achieved their objective, to sully, with lies or things taken out of context my existence.’
Gasco?n vehemently refuted claims of racism, mentioning unexpected personal relationships which would shock her critics, including her close connection with a Muslim. She stated that she had been unfairly charged without a chance to explain her true intentions or provide some context to her statements.
She concluded by reiterating her unwavering stand for a fair society and a world that promotes love, peace, and freedom. Maintaining her principles, Gasco?n declared she would never advocate for wars, religious fundamentalism, or racial oppression.