New Delhi, Feb 3 (Representative) Oscar-nominated actress Karla Sofia Gascón has been caught up in a mess as her old statements regarding racism and Islamophobia have resurfaced, though she insisted that they have been misinterpreted.In a candid and emotional interview with CNN en Español, the “Emilia Pérez” star addressed the controversy surrounding resurfaced social media posts, including one allegedly targeting her co-star Selena Gomez, in an effort to clear her name. During the interview, which aired on Sunday, Gascón appeared visibly distressed when asked whether she would consider renouncing her historic best actress nomination, which marks the first time a transgender woman has been nominated in the category, according to a report by PEOPLE. “I cannot renounce a nomination because what I have done is a job and what is being valued is my acting work,” according to a translation by The Hollywood Reporter.Gascón continued: “I cannot step down from an Oscar nomination because I have not committed any crime nor have I harmed anyone. I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am. “The controversy stems from a series of now-deleted tweets she posted in 2020 regarding the murder of George Floyd. In the posts, Gascón called Floyd “a drug addict and a hustler” and said “his death has served to highlight once again that there are those who still consider Black people to be monkeys without rights and those who consider the police to be murderers. All wrong,” the THR reported. In her defence, Gascón claimed her words were taken out of context and that she was attempting to highlight the hypocrisy of public support. “He was a person who had been in a very difficult situation in his life and no one had helped him, and suddenly he becomes a symbol of a cause and everyone loved him,” she explained.
“But for someone to think that … I have ever insulted a person because of their skin color, I do not allow that to anyone, to anyone,” the actress added.Similarly, Gascón refuted allegations of Islamophobia, which emerged after journalist Sarah Hagi unearthed old posts that appeared to be critical of Islam. In response, the actress insisted that she respects and admires Muslim communities, citing a past relationship with Muslim woman who profoundly influenced her views, “whom I adore, whom I love and who has taught me so much about respect for people.” She also claimed that she was expressing her opposition to radical Islam. Ultimately, the actress claimed she has never caused harm to anyone. “What have I done in my life? What have I done? I haven’t killed a single fly,” she said in the CNN interview, according to a translation from Deadline and THR. “When I have a spider in my house I put a little glass on it so as not to kill it and take it out to the street. “Beyond these claims, the actress also denied ever calling Selena Gomez a ‘rich rat’, a tweet that allegedly surfaced amid Gomez’s rumoured feud with Hailey Bieber. Gascón flatly rejected any connection to the post, asserting, “It’s not mine, of course, I have never said anything about my colleague I would never refer to her that way. “She further suggested that these resurfaced posts were strategically weaponised against her during the Oscar voting period, a time when even minor controversies can jeopardise an actor’s chances at winning.Despite the mounting criticisms, Gascón emphasised, “I don’t give a damn about awards. What I do care about is the people that I represent, because of what I represent in this world,” she continued to CNN. “We can all change and be better people in this world.”