Karla Sofía Gascón is standing firm in her Oscar race participation amid ongoing backlash.

The Emilia Pérez star, 52, made history as the first openly transgender woman nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. However, past social media posts and alleged comments have sparked calls for her withdrawal. In a February 2 interview with CNN en Español, Gascón addressed the controversy, refusing to step down.

“I cannot renounce a nomination because what I have done is a job, and what is being valued is my acting work,” she stated. “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 Spanish actress, whose breakout role in Emilia Pérez earned critical acclaim, has faced scrutiny over resurfaced X (formerly Twitter) posts. In past tweets, she reportedly referred to George Floyd as “a drug addict and a hustler” while discussing his impact on the Black Lives Matter movement. Speaking to CNN, Gascón argued her words were taken out of context and that she was attempting to highlight societal contradictions regarding Floyd’s posthumous support.

She also denied allegations of Islamophobia, claiming she was expressing opposition to radical extremism. “I had a relationship with a Muslim woman whom I adore, whom I love, and who has taught me so much about respect for people,” she explained.

Additionally, Gascón refuted claims that she insulted her Emilia Pérez co-star Selena Gomez, dismissing a tweet allegedly calling Gomez a “rich rat” during her rumored feud with Hailey Bieber. “It’s not mine, of course,” she stated. “I have never said anything about my colleague. I would never refer to her that way.”

The actress became visibly emotional while maintaining that she has never deliberately caused harm. “What have I done in my life? What have I done? I haven’t killed a single fly,” she said. “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.”

Gascón’s rise to fame has been unconventional. Born in Madrid, she built her career in Spanish television before transitioning in 2018, publicly sharing her journey of self-discovery. While Emilia Pérez has propelled her onto Hollywood’s biggest stage, she remains a divisive figure.

Despite the controversy, Emilia Pérez leads this year’s Oscar nominations with 13 nods, including Best Picture and Best Director for Jacques Audiard. Gascón competes for Best Actress alongside Cynthia Erivo, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres. As the Academy Awards approach, Gascón remains steadfast: “I cannot step down from an Oscar nomination. I have not committed any crime.”

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