Oscar-Nominated Actress Karla Sofía Gascón Faces Backlash Over Past Islamophobic and Racist Tweets

While Emilia Pérez garners critical acclaim with record-breaking Oscar nominations, its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, is facing intense scrutiny after past tweets containing Islamophobic and racially insensitive remarks resurfaced. 

The backlash has ignited a broader debate about racism, accountability, and representation in Hollywood.

Gascón, who made history as the first openly transgender actress to receive an acting nomination at the Academy Awards, deleted the controversial posts after social media users unearthed them. 

The tweets included inflammatory comments about Islam, George Floyd, and the Moroccan Spanish community, leading to widespread condemnation.

Resurfaced Tweets Spark Outrage

Among Gascón's most controversial posts was a 2016 tweet in which she reacted to an attack in France by calling for the expulsion of Muslims from Europe. She wrote:

"New attack in France, beheaded in Nice for one of these retarded followers of Allah. How many times will we have to expel these fanatics from Europe until we realize their religion is incompatible with Western values? We don't learn. Thank you, Erdogan."

In another tweet, she described Islam as "a hotspot of infection for humanity that needs to be cured urgently."

Gascón also made troubling remarks about Muslim women who wear the niqab, writing:

"Islam is wonderful, without any kind of sexism. Women need to be respected, and when she is respected a lot, they leave her with a little square on her face so that her eyes and mouth can be seen. But they dress up like this for pleasure. What a DEEP DISGUSTING HUMANITY."

Her posts extended beyond Islam, as she made derogatory comments about the Moroccan Spanish community, referring to them using the term "Moors" (Moros in Spanish), which is widely condemned as a racial slur.

She tweeted:

"How many times in history would we have to expel the Moors from Spain? We have not yet realized what this threat of civilizations means, which constantly attacks the freedom and coherence of the individual. It is not racism; it is Islam."

Additionally, she expressed discomfort with the growing Muslim presence in Spain, commenting on the increasing number of Muslims in the country and suggesting:

"Maybe next year instead of English, we'll have to teach Arabic."

Her remarks also extended to George Floyd, whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 sparked global protests. Gascón labeled him a "drug addict and hustler" and questioned the public’s concern over his death, writing:

"I truly believe that very few people ever cared about George Floyd."

Calls for Accountability Grow

Activists and audiences have condemned Gascón's remarks, calling for accountability. Anti-racism activist and writer Safia Elaaddam told The New Arab that the comments highlight entrenched biases.

"Structural racism doesn't disappear simply because one belongs to another discriminated group," Elaaddam said. "Her words are not an isolated incident but rather an example of how racism remains deeply rooted, even in discourses that claim to advocate for inclusion."

In response to the backlash, Gascón issued a statement acknowledging the harm caused by her past remarks:

"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."