Oscar Contender 'Emilia Perez' Faces Backlash Over Representation and Star's Past Tweets

The Spanish-language musical has drawn criticism for its portrayal of trans identity and Mexico, while lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon's offensive social media posts have intensified scrutiny.

• Karla Sofia Gascon, the film's lead and the first openly trans actress nominated for an Oscar, has been criticized for past racist and Islamophobic tweets, leading to her removal from Netflix's promotional campaign.
• The movie, which tells the story of a transgender Mexican drug lord, has been accused of trivializing Mexico's drug war and perpetuating stereotypes, with limited involvement from Mexican creators in its production.
• GLAAD and some trans critics have described the film's depiction of trans identity as outdated, though others have defended its complexity and artistic merits.
• Despite early acclaim and a record-setting 13 Oscar nominations, audience ratings for 'Emilia Perez' have been notably low, with significant discrepancies between critical and public reception.
• Director Jacques Audiard has defended the film as an operatic work of fiction rather than a realistic depiction, but acknowledged regrets about not filming in Mexico due to funding constraints.

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