Jacques Audiard accepts the film not in the English language award for Emilia Pérez on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 at The Royal Festival Hall on Feb. 16, 2025 in London; Karla Sofía Gascón arrives for the European Film Awards 2024 at Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre on Dec. 7, 2024 in Lucerne, Switzerland.Photo:Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty
Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty
Emilia Pérezdirector Jacques Audiard thanked his film’s controversial star Karla Sofia Gascón after his BAFTA Film Award win.
While accepting the award for best film not in the English language at the 78th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, Feb. 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the French director mentioned Gascón, who recently came under fire forresurfaced postson her since-deleted X account, many of which criticized Muslim culture,George Floydand diversity.
Audiard, 72, said, “Above all, I would like to thank all the wonderful artists who brought this film to life and who are here with us tonight,” perVariety.
He continued, “My dear Zoe, my dear Selena, Giorgini, Paul, Juliet, Camille, Clement, Julia and your team, but also you, my dear Karla Sofia, that I kiss. I’m deeply proud of what we achieved together. Long liveEmilia Pérez!”
Jacques Audiard accepts the Film Not in the English Language Award for Emilia Pérez on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 at The Royal Festival Hall on Feb. 16, 2025 in London.Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty
Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty
Gascón, 52, was absent from the ceremony while Saldaña, 46, and Gomez, 32, were in attendance.
The Spanish actress previously skipped theCritics Choice Awardsin Los Angeles on Feb. 7 after reports noted shewould not attendupcoming awards ceremonies in the wake of controversies that erupted over her past offensive social media posts.
Karla Sofía Gascón attends Variety presents The Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors To Watch Brunch at Parker Palm Springs on Jan. 4, 2025 in Palm Springs, Calif.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Emilia Pérezentered the BAFTA Awards with 11 nominations total. Gascón is nominated for leading actress at the BAFTAs, while both Saldaña, 46, and Gomez, 32, are up for best supporting actress.
Gascón previouslyapologizedfor herresurfaced social media postson Feb. 6, vowing silence after making several statements and giving atearful interview.
Audiard said the actress was taking “a self-destructive approach” during an interview with Deadline published Feb. 5.
“Why is she harming herself? … She’s talking about herself as a victim, which is surprising,” said Audiard. “It’s as if she thought that words don’t hurt.
Gascón made history at the Oscars as thefirst openly transgender performernominated for Best Actress. She also earned nominations at this year’sGolden Globes, Critics Choice Awards andScreen Actors Guild Awards.
source: people.com
