Selena Gomez addresses the ‘Emilia Perez’ controversy: says ‘Magic has faded’ but has no regrets

Singer and actress Selena Gomez has spoken out about the controversy surrounding her latest film, Emilia Perez, which has received the most nominations at the 97th Academy Awards. The movie, directed by Jacques Audiard, has faced criticism after old social media posts from its lead star, Karla Sofia Gascon, resurfaced, causing backlash.


As reported by Variety, Gascon’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) included controversial opinions about diversity at the Oscars, as well as remarks related to George Floyd and Muslims. These resurfaced posts led to significant backlash, putting the film in the middle of a heated debate.


Speaking at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where she was honored with the Virtuosos Award, Gomez admitted that the controversy had taken away some of the excitement she initially felt for the movie.


“Some of the magic has disappeared,” she said. However, she emphasized that she has no regrets about being part of the film and would do it all over again if given the chance.


Despite the ongoing criticism, Gomez remains proud of her work and the experience she gained from the project.


Adding to the controversy, a resurfaced post allegedly made by Karla Sofia Gascon referred to Selena Gomez as a “rich rat.” However, Gascon has denied making such a statement.


Speaking to CNN en Español, Gascon said, “Of course, that’s not mine. I have never said anything about my partner. I would never refer to her that way.”


Despite the controversy, Gomez shared that working on Emilia Perez was a memorable and special experience for her.


She expressed gratitude towards the film’s director, Jacques Audiard, who she said trusted her abilities beyond the obvious.


“Just having someone see something in me besides the obvious was such a special experience,” Gomez stated. She hopes the role will open doors for her in more serious acting roles.


The film’s distributor, Netflix, has distanced itself from Karla Sofia Gascon following the criticism of her past social media activity.


According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix removed Gascon from promotional emails and even planned to edit the movie posters to give more attention to Zoe Saldana, one of the film’s other leading actresses.


Despite the controversy, Karla Sofia Gascon has been nominated for Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars for her performance as a transgender crime boss in Emilia Perez.


While the backlash continues, Selena Gomez remains hopeful about her future in film, stating, “I hope this is just the beginning for me in this field.”