Key Points
Controversial 2016 tweets resurface during Oscar campaign period leading to backlash
According to Deadline, in a recent event promoting her biographical book 'Lo que queda de mi' (What's Left of Me), Gascon expressed her feelings about the backlash she faced over her historical social media posts.
Gascon, who was on track to make history as the first openly transgender actress to win an Academy Award, saw her chances dashed after journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered her questionable tweets from 2016.
The posts, which included derogatory comments about Islam, George Floyd, and the LGBTQ+ community, sparked widespread outrage and led to a backlash against Gascon.
In her recent comments, Gascon suggested that there was a concerted effort to sabotage her Oscar chances.
"It's clear that there was a campaign against me and that they kept going until they got what they were after," she said in an interview, according to Deadline.
Gascon has been inconsistent in her response to the controversy, veering between apologies and defiance.
When asked if she felt she had been forgiven for her social media posts, she replied, "No one has to forgive me for anything. If anyone feels offended by things I may have done in my life, let them come and tell me."
The actress also pushed back against accusations that she is far-right or racist. "But if there's one thing I've done all my life, it's that I've been against all this. When I was young, I used to fight with skinheads ... When someone comes up to me and I ask them: 'But what is it about me that offends you?', no one can come up with anything or tell me anything."
Netflix, which produced 'Emilia Perez,' initially distanced itself from Gascon during the backlash but later invited her to its Oscars party.
The streaming giant has never publicly disavowed her tweets, with chief content officer Bela Bajaria simply calling the situation a "bummer" for the film's campaign.
In a recent interview with Variety, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed his willingness to work with Gascon again.
"You have to have some grace when people make mistakes. And we have grace," he said.
