Zoe Saldaña Breaks Silence on Co-Star’s Controversy Amidst ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscar Buzz

Zoe Saldaña has addressed the controversy surrounding her “Emilia Pérez” co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, whose resurfaced social media posts containing offensive and Islamophobic remarks have sparked backlash. This uproar has cast a shadow over the film’s historic 13 Oscar nominations, including Saldaña’s first nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In a recent interview with the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Saldaña shared her disappointment, stating, “Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened... I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.”

Directed by Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez” is a Spanish-language musical crime drama that has become the most-nominated non-English language film in Academy Awards history. Yet, Gascón’s past statements have complicated the film’s awards season journey, leaving many in the industry debating how to separate the movie’s artistic merit from the controversy.

Saldaña, who stars alongside Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Édgar Ramírez, refrained from commenting on whether she has spoken to Gascón since the controversy erupted. She emphasized, “I feel like I’ve spoken enough about it... It’s not just something we have to figure out immediately.”

When asked about Gascón’s claim that she and Gomez “support me 200%,” Saldaña neither confirmed nor denied the statement, choosing instead to reaffirm her stance against bigotry and racism. “I do not support any negative rhetoric of racism and bigotry towards any group of people,” she stated.

Despite the ongoing controversy, Saldaña remains hopeful about the film’s lasting impact. “I will always be a hopeful person... While being that person, I can still stand by a body of work that I can be proud of,” she shared.

As she continues to promote “Emilia Pérez” through awards season, Saldaña is committed to highlighting the film’s broader message and celebrating diverse storytelling. “I think it’s important for our community of filmmakers to keep believing in what we set our hearts on... Always look to grow as artists and be a part of telling stories that may sometimes be provocative but still bring up necessary conversations.”

Saldaña also expressed appreciation for the Hollywood community’s support. According to Variety, multiple Academy voters have sympathized with Saldaña for facing the controversy head-on, especially as communication between Netflix and Gascón’s PR team has ceased.

Reflecting on the experience, Saldaña noted, “You may believe that it’s just a statement I came up with alongside my team, but... I can only speak on behalf of myself and what I witnessed... Everything in life is a learning experience for all of us.”

While Saldaña acknowledged that the Gascón she met on set differed from her online persona, she added, “I can’t attest to what people do in their private time with their private handles.”