Zoe Saldana reacts to Emilia Perez co-star Karla Sofia Gascon’s controversial tweets: 'I don’t support it'

Zoe Saldana has addressed the controversy surrounding her Emilia Pérez co-star Karla Sofia Gascon, whose past social media comments containing 'racist' and other offensive remarks recently resurfaced online.

Speaking at a Q&A event in London on Friday, Saldana, who is nominated for an Oscar for her upcoming film, expressed her disappointment in her co-star and emphasized her commitment to inclusivity. "I'm still processing everything that has transpired in the last couple of days, and I’m sad," Saldaña said in response to a question from moderator Edith Bowman.

The actress, appearing alongside writer-director Jacques Audiard and composers Camille and Clément Ducol, made it clear that she does not condone Gascón’s remarks. "It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group," she remarked.


The actress, who is up for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, described her experience working on Emilia Pérez as one of "inclusivity, collaboration, and equity," adding, "It saddens me that we are having to face this setback right now. But I’m happy that you’re all here and that you’re all still showing up for Emilia because the message that this film has is so powerful and the change that it can bring forward to communities that are marginalized day in and day out is important."

She added, "I can attest is that all of us that came together to tell this story, we came together for love and for respect and curiosity, and we will continue to spread that message."

The controversy arises from resurfaced tweets by Gascón, in which the Oscar-nominated trans actress made derogatory comments about Islam and dismissed George Floyd—whose 2020 death sparked global protests against police brutality—as a "drug addict and hustler."


Gascón has since apologised, stating via Netflix on Thursday, "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."

By Friday, Gascón had deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account, later telling The Hollywood Reporter that she "can no longer allow this campaign of hate and misinformation to affect [her] family or [her]."


Gascón made history as the first transgender performer to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, with Emilia Perez leading as the most-nominated film at next month’s Oscars.