Jacques Audiard condemns Karla Sofía Gascón's offensive tweets

In early February 2025, significant controversy arose related to the film "Emilia Pérez," directed by Jacques Audiard, which gained traction in the entertainment industry due to offensive social media posts made by lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón over the past five years. The resurfacing of these posts, which included comments about George Floyd, Islam, and diversity at the Oscars, prompted backlash against Gascón. As a result, Audiard publicly distanced himself from her, claiming that her actions were self-destructive and harmful to the film's cast and crew, emphasizing that he lacked an understanding of her motivations and continued behavior. Meanwhile, Gascón expressed her intention to step back from the spotlight during the awards season and issued a public apology to those affected by her posts. She remained adamant about her character, rejecting the label of being racist and emphasizing her commitment to the film's integrity. Amidst the backlash, Netflix reportedly altered promotional materials for "Emilia Pérez" to downplay Gascón's involvement while highlighting co-star Zoe Saldaña, further demonstrating the growing rift surrounding the film and its promotional strategy. The situation reflects broader conversations within Hollywood about social media conduct and accountability, especially concerning actors' public personas and past behavior. Audiard defended the thematic content of "Emilia Pérez," indicating that both the representation within the film and his artistic choices were misconstrued. The director, although facing criticism for his language comments regarding Spanish and cultural representation, expressed a desire to continue advocating for the film's message and the hard work of his cast and crew despite the controversy.