Emilia Pérez also received additional Oscar nominations Best Film, going up against The Brutalist, Anora, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, The Substance, Nickel Boys and Wicked, for the award.

Gascón—who starred in the Netflix musical film alongside Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez—was submerged in hot water when posts on X where she commented on the murder of George Floyd, Muslims and diversity at the Oscars initially resurfaced. 

“I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” Gascón said in a Jan. 30 statement through Netflix. “As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”

However, as the scrutiny continued, Gascón pushed against “cancel culture” taking away from her opportunity to make history as the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for an Academy Award. 

“I am only looking for the freedom to exist without fear, to create art without barriers and to move forward with my new life,” Gascón wrote in a subsequent Instagram post Feb. 4, translated from Spanish. “They want to apply ‘cancel culture’ to me.”

Emilia Pérez’s director Jacques Audiard subsequently spoke out against his film’s star. 

“What Karla Sofía said is inexcusable,” Audiard told Deadline. “I don’t understand it, and what I don’t understand about this too is why she’s harming people who were very close to her.”

After Audiard’s interview was published, Gascón—who also attempted to defend herself in a lengthy CNN interview—vowed to take a step back.

“I decided, for the film, for Jacques, for the cast, for the incredible crew who deserves it, for the beautiful adventure we all had together, to let the work talk for itself,” Gascón wrote in a Feb. 6 Instagram post, “hoping my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference. I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way.”

Keep reading to see everyone who stepped out at the 2025 Oscars...