Zoe Saldaña, who plays lawyer Rita Mora Castro in 'Emilia Pérez', spoke out about the controversy surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón, stating: “Taking my words out of context or manipulating them to harm me is something I am not responsible for.” Despite Gascón's apologies, Saldaña expressed sadness over the controversy. In a meeting with the press in London, the actress asserted that she does not support negative actions towards any group of people and emphasized that she has always promoted inclusion, collaboration, and racial, cultural, and gender equity in the filming of the movie.
The controversy surrounding 'Emilia Pérez' erupted due to past posts by Karla Sofía Gascón on her X account, deemed racist and offensive. These messages gained prominence after the film received 13 Oscar nominations. Gascón closed her X account after receiving criticism and negative messages, justifying that she will not tolerate the hate and misinformation she has been receiving, including death threats.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress explained that she closed her account after considering the impact of the hate campaign on her life and her family. She claimed to have received insults, mistreatment, and harassment to the point of exhaustion. Despite having apologized previously, Gascón acknowledged that she may not have chosen the right words to express her ideas and apologized if anyone felt offended. She also stated that she has always supported religious freedom, fought against racism and homophobia, and will continue to learn from her mistakes.
