‘Emilia Pérez’ Director Breaks Silence on ‘Self-Destructive’ Star

French director Jacques Audiard and Spanish actress Karla Sofia Gascon pose for pictures at the red carpet of the media presentation of 'Emilia Perez' in Bogota on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP)
RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP via Getty Images

Emilia Perez director Jacques Audiard has condemned the resurfaced social media posts from his film’s title star, Karla Sofía Gascón, as “inexcusable.”

In his first public remarks about the growing scandal, Audiard said the posts have “affected” their relationship, telling Deadline, “I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to.”

Gascón’s racist posts have tanked the possibility of her taking home the Oscar for Best Actress (as the first openly trans performer to be nominated in that category)—but Netflix is moving full speed ahead in its campaign to win in the other 12 categories for which it was nominated—including Audiard in Best Director. Netflix has all but disinvited Gascón from further awards season activities and has reportedly begun removing her image from its For Your Consideration ads.

Audiard told the site that for him, Gascón has ruined more than just her Oscars chances, but also “the trust we shared, the exceptional atmosphere that we had on the set that was indeed based on trust.”

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“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,” he added.

Gascón’s CNN interview discussing the matter—which she did without any coordination with Netflix—did little to win her goodwill, as she refused to take responsibility for her hateful words or fully apologize.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Selena Gomez, Jacques Audiard, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Zoe Saldana, winners of the Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy award for “Emilia Pérez,” pose in the press room at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) / Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic

Audiard questioned why the star seemed to be digging herself a bigger hole and subsequently jeopardizing acclaim for the work they put into the film. “I just don’t understand why she’s continuing to harm us,” he said. “I’m thinking of myself, I’m thinking of Zoe [Saldaña] and Selena [Gomez].”

“Why is she harming herself? Why?” he asked. “I don’t understand it, and what I don’t understand about this too is why she’s harming people who were very close to her. I’m thinking in this thing of how hurting others, of how she’s hurting the crew and all these people who worked so incredibly hard on this film.”

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Audiard insisted that he wouldn’t be reaching out to Gascón anytime soon: “I’m not getting in touch with her because right now she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions.”

He added, “She’s really playing the victim. She’s talking about herself as a victim, which is surprising. It’s as if she thought that words don’t hurt.”