Netflix’s hopes for securing an Academy Award for best picture appear to have diminished after resurfaced social media posts from Karla Sofia Gascon, the Spanish star of “Emilia Perez.” The musical crime drama, which won the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival and secured 13 Oscar nominations, was seen as a strong contender. However, Gascon’s past comments, where she described Islam as a “hotbed of infection for humanity” and George Floyd as a “drug addict swindler,” sparked widespread backlash. Despite her apology, the damage was done, and she withdrew from the Hollywood awards circuit, though she confirmed she would attend the Oscars ceremony.
Industry experts noted that controversy has engulfed nearly every best picture nominee this year. Director Brady Corbet faced criticism for using artificial intelligence in “The Brutalist” to refine Hungarian dialogue, while Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres apologized for appearing in blackface in a decades-old television skit. This wave of scandals echoes past Oscar seasons, where frontrunners faced intense scrutiny.
Historically, the Academy Awards have been no stranger to controversy. In 2019, Peter Farrelly, director of “Green Book,” apologized after reports surfaced of him exposing himself to Cameron Diaz in what he called an attempt at humor. The film still won best picture. In 1999, Harvey Weinstein allegedly orchestrated a campaign against “Saving Private Ryan,” portraying its renowned D-Day sequence as its only strong point, while his own production, “Shakespeare in Love,” took home the top prize.
Beyond strategic takedowns, personal scandals have also derailed potential winners. “The Birth of a Nation,” a film about a slave revolt directed by Nate Parker, lost momentum after reports resurfaced about Parker’s past rape charge and the subsequent suicide of the accuser. The revelations led to an immediate backlash, crushing its Oscar chances.
With controversy surrounding this year’s nominees, the awards race remains unpredictable. While Gascon’s scandal has cast a shadow over “Emilia Perez,” history has shown that backlash does not always prevent a win. However, in an era of heightened accountability, Netflix’s best picture hopes now hang by a thread.
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