Just days after making history as the first openly transgender performer nominated for an acting Oscar, Karla Sofía Gascón finds herself at the center of a social media firestorm.

 

The Spanish actress, celebrated for her role in Emilia Pérez, has deactivated her X account after a series of past tweets resurfaced—posts that included insulting and inflammatory remarks about George Floyd’s murder, criticism of Muslim immigration in Spain, and calls for banning Islam. 

 

Among the now-deleted posts, one from 2020 dismissed the racial reckoning that followed Floyd's killing: "Let me get this straight, a guy tries to pass off a counterfeit bill after consuming methamphetamine, an idiot policeman arrives and goes too far in arresting him, killing him, ruining the lives of his family and his colleagues, and turning the guy with the bill into a martyr hero."

 

this is all from the star of a movie that is campaigning on its progressive values, you really gotta laugh. stuff like this doesn’t get flagged because you can say whatever you want about muslims, it’s never considered racist. again, this isn’t even all of them pic.twitter.com/Cq8rQaiSmm

 

— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) January 30, 2025

In another post, Gascón expressed concern about the growing Muslim population in Spain, writing, "Sorry, is it just my impression or are there more and more Muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Maybe next year instead of English we’ll have to teach Arabic."

 

i’m not exaggerating when i say there so many tweets. spanning years!! it’s really something else pic.twitter.com/h70hGajBxu

 

— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) January 30, 2025

Regarding Islam, she went further, suggesting a ban: "Until we ban religions that go against European values and violate human rights, such as Islam, under the protection of freedom of worship, we will not end part of the huge problem we face. Faith manipulates those who cling to faith."

 

Now, Gascón broke her silence with a statement addressing the controversy.

 

In response, Gascón issued a lengthy statement to The Hollywood Reporter, apologizing for her past remarks and attributing them to the nature of social media. "I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain," she wrote. "All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness."

 

She further suggested that the backlash was part of a targeted effort to derail her Oscar chances. "It is clear that there is something very dark behind it," she added. "But the more you try to sink me, the stronger it will make me. The greater the victory will be."