Karla Sofía Gascón, the history-making Oscar nominee at the center of an awards season scandal, is expected to attend the 97th Academy Awards on March 2. 

The Emilia Pérez star, 52, has largely avoided public appearances at major ceremonies following backlash over resurfaced offensive social media posts. 

However, sources confirm that she plans to be present at the prestigious event, marking her first high-profile appearance since the controversy erupted.

Gascón’s Absence from Major Award Shows

Since earning her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress—the first openly transgender performer to do so—Gascón has kept a low profile. 

She skipped several major events, including the Critics Choice Awards, the BAFTA Film Awards, and the SAG Awards, 

as conversations surrounding her past remarks gained traction.

Variety reports that while Gascón is expected at the Oscars, it remains unclear whether she will walk the red carpet or be seated with her Emilia Pérez co-stars, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. Netflix, the film’s distributor, has not issued a statement regarding her attendance.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on February 24, Gascón expressed gratitude for her nomination despite the challenges she has faced. “I’m not sure how I feel, but I’m grateful to be back. I’m grateful to all those who’ve believed in me — to Netflix, the production company, and my colleagues. We can close this beautiful and difficult path that began three years ago,” she said.

The Controversy Over Resurfaced Tweets

Gascón’s road to the Oscars has been overshadowed by the backlash stemming from old tweets that contained offensive comments regarding Muslim culture, the Oscars’ diversity efforts, and the death of George Floyd. The resurfacing of these remarks sparked outrage, prompting the actress to delete her X (formerly Twitter) account in an attempt to distance herself from the controversy.

The fallout has been significant, with some of her closest collaborators addressing the situation. Zoe Saldaña, who is a frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress, commented on the controversy, stating, “It makes me really sad because I don’t support and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”

Jacques Audiard, the French director behind Emilia Pérez, also condemned the tweets. Speaking to Deadline on February 5, he described them as “absolutely hateful and worthy of being hated,” and called them “inexcusable.”

Gascón’s Response to the Backlash

Gascón has remained defiant in the wake of the controversy, insisting that she will not withdraw from her Oscar nomination. In an emotional interview with CNN, she stated, “I cannot step down from an Oscar nomination because I have not committed any crime nor have I harmed anyone.” She went on to say, “I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am.”

Despite defending herself, Gascón later issued an apology. On February 6, she took to Instagram to announce that she would remain silent for the remainder of the awards season to allow Emilia Pérez to be judged on its artistic merits rather than the controversy surrounding her. “I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way,” she wrote.

The Most Controversial Oscar Nominee of the Year

Gascón’s nomination was a landmark moment for transgender representation in Hollywood, but it has also been mired in controversy. Emilia Pérez leads this year’s Oscars as the most-nominated film, yet the backlash against its lead actress has cast a shadow over its success.

Before the scandal, Gascón attended the Golden Globe Awards on January 5, but her absence from subsequent ceremonies signaled the weight of the controversy. Now, as she prepares to attend the Academy Awards, all eyes will be on how the industry and audiences react to her presence.

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu. Whether Gascón will take the stage or remain in the audience, her attendance will undoubtedly be one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

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