Emilia PérezDirector Condemns Karla Sofía Gascón's 'Hateful' Tweets: 'I Don't Want to' Speak with Her

Mar. 15, 2025

Jacques Audiard; Karla Sofía Gascón.Photo:Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Emilia Pérezdirector Jacques Audiard is speaking out about thecontroversiessurrounding his movie’s star,Karla Sofía Gascón.

In a candid interview withDeadlinepublished Wednesday, Feb. 5, the French writer-director, 72, called herresurfaced social media postscriticizing Muslim culture,George Floyd, diversity and more “inexcusable.”

Karla Sofía Gascón on Jan. 4.Gilbert Flores/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

Gilbert Flores/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

“The exceptional atmosphere that we had on the set,” he continued, “was indeed based on trust. And when you have that kind of relationship and suddenly you read something that that person has said, things that are absolutely hateful and worthy of being hated, of course that relationship is affected. It’s as if you fall into a hole.”

On Feb. 2, Gascón appeared on CNN inan emotional interview, refuting accusations of racism and Islamophobia and addressing her alleged post on X againstEmilia PérezcostarSelena Gomez. “I cannot step downfrom an Oscar nomination because I have not committed any crime, nor have I harmed anyone,” she said, perCNN. “I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am.”

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Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña in ‘Emilia Pérez’.PAGE 114/WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS/PATHÉ FILMS/FRANCE 2 CINÉMA

PAGE 114/WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS/PATHÉ FILMS/FRANCE 2 CINÉMA

“I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to,” Audiard told Deadline when asked about contacting Gascón. “She is in a self-destructive approach that I can’t interfere in, and I really don’t understand why she’s continuing. Why is she harming herself? … She’s talking about herself as a victim, which is surprising. It’s as if she thought that words don’t hurt.”

He added that Gascón is also “harming people who were very close to her,” including theEmilia Pérezcrew and her Oscar-nominated costarZoe Saldaña. “I’m not getting in touch with her because right now she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions.”

Acknowledging that the conversation aroundEmilia Pérezhas shifted to Gascón’s ongoing controversy, Audiard said, “Very unfortunately, it is taking up all the space, and that makes me very sad.”

Emilia Pérezis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com