Zoe Saldaña Responds to Karla Sofía Gascón Scandal: ‘We Are Responsible for Everything We Say’

Zoe Saldaña has made clear that she’s disappointed by her Emilia Pérez co-star Karla Sofía Gascón after her offensive social media posts have caused uproar and are overshadowing the historic moment for the Oscar-nominated film. 

“I’m sad. Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,” Saldaña told Variety. “I’m also disappointed. 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 and also starring Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez received an astounding 13 Academy Award nominations. Saldaña is nominated for best actress in a supporting role, her first time up for the prestigious award. Gascón is also up for an Oscar, for best leading actress — the first time an openly trans actress has been nominated. But in late January, Gascón hurriedly deleted her X/Twitter account after users discovered several of her posts contained offensive comments about George Floyd and Muslims. Gascón called Islam an “infection for humanity” and Floyd a “drug addict swindler.” 

Saldaña said she’s still trying to allow herself to “experience that joy” for the film making history, noting its intention was always inclusivity. But Saldaña acknowledged that “we are also individuals who are responsible for everything that we say and everything that we do.”

In wake of the unearthed posts, Netflix has begun distancing itself from Gascón, removing her from pre-scheduled events in the lead-up to the Academy Awards show on March 2. Director Audiard said on Wednesday that he hasn’t spoken to Gascón, nor does he want to. Calling her tweets “inexcusable” and “hateful,” Audiard added, “She’s really playing the victim. She’s talking about herself as a victim, which is surprising. It’s as if she thought that words don’t hurt.”

Meanwhile, Gascón has attempted to explain away her offensive posts. She organized her own hour-long interview with CNN En Español, claiming that she was the victim of “cancel culture” and said she would not be withdrawing from Oscar contention.