Zoe Saldana said she is ‘disappointed’ with the scandal that has put a stain on her Oscar-beloved film Emilia Perez.
The star’s castmate Karla Sofia Gascon – who is nominated for a Best Actress Oscar – has shared some controversial tweets in the past that have been recently dug up.
Though Gascon has apologized for the messages, many people in Hollywood think her past actions will hurt the film during Oscar night.
And it could bring down Saldana, too, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
Zoe again talked to Variety about how she feels over the setback.
‘I’m sad. Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,’ Saldana, 46, told Variety.
Zoe Saldana said she is ‘disappointed’ with the scandal that has put a stain on her Oscar-beloved film Emilia Perez. Seen on February 2 in London
The star’s castmate Karla Sofia Gascon – who is nominated for a Best Actress Oscar – has shared some controversial tweets in the past that have been recently dug up. Seen in December in Los Angeles
‘I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.
‘I feel like I’ve spoken enough about it,’ Saldana added. ‘It’s not just something we have to figure out immediately.’
Saldana received her first Oscar nod played the role of Rita in the Spanish language film, and appears the heavy favorite to capture the prize.
Last week Zoe was asked about Karla’s posts during a Q and A in London.
Zoe explained: ‘It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.
‘I can only attest to the experience that I had with each and every individual that was a part, that is a part, of this film, and my experience and my interactions with them was about inclusivity and collaboration and racial, cultural, and gender equity. And it just saddens me.’
Zoe insisted that she wants to spread a message of ‘love’ and ‘support’.
She also said: ‘All that I can attest is that all of us that came together to tell this story, we came together for love and for respect and curiosity, and we will continue to spread that message. That’s all we can say right now.’
Emilia Perez star Karla – who recently became the first trans person to be nominated for an Oscar – came under fire after old tweets about the Muslim community, the late George Floyd, and diversity at the Academy Awards resurfaced.
Adriana Paz, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Zoe Saldana on January 5
Read More Netflix REMOVES transgender actress Karla Sofia Gascón from new Emilia Perez poster amid controversy 
Karla said in a statement: ‘I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.’
Social media was buzzing on Monday over Netflix’s purported removal of Karla from promotional materials for its Oscar-nominated film Emilia Pérez, a month ahead of the 97th Academy Awards.
A number of users across platforms such as X/Twitter and Reddit said that it was clear the streamer was looking to minimize the presence of Gascón in their Oscar campaigning for the movie.
The change in direction came amid resurfaced social media posts from the actress that garnered controversy amid allegations of racism, homophobia and body shaming, among other unpleasantries.
Promotional materials for ‘For Your Awards Consideration’ (FYC) appeared focused on Best Supporting Actress nominee Saldana as she was the centerpiece of both the poster circulating online; and an Netflix FYC page, which showcased a close up of the star’s face.
Gascón, 52, has been taken off Emilia Perez promotional materials ahead of the 97th Academy Awards. Gascón pictured in LA in October
Karla Sofía Gascón has been completely erased from the latest Oscars ‘For Your Consideration’ ad for Emilia Pérez. I wonder why!?? pic.twitter.com/4AJ2jOSsgl
— Jason (@jasonosia) February 3, 2025
In the Best Actress category, Gascon is nominated against The Substance’s Demi Moore; Anora’s Mikey Madison; I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres; and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo.
In the Best Supporting Actress category, Saldaña appears the heavy favorite to capture the honors over fellow nominees including Wicked’s Ariana Grande; The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones; Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini; and A Complete Unknown’s Monica Barbaro.
Emilia Perez, directed by Jacques Audiard, led the way with 13 nominations when this year’s Oscar nominees were announced in Beverly Hills on January 23.
Other key nominations the film received included Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Achievement in Directing for Audiard.
Oscar nominations 2025 – see who received nods for this year’s Academy Awards
Best Picture
Wicked
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Perez
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked has received multiple Oscar nods, including one for Best Picture
Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascon – Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison – Anora
Demi Moore – The Substance
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
The Substance has been nominated for numerous Oscars, including Best Actress for Demi Moore
Actor in a Supporting Role
Yura Borisov – Anora
Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Actress in a Supporting Role
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
Directing
Sean Baker – Anora
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
Music (Original Song)
El Mal – Emilia Pérez
The Journey – The Six Triple Eight
Like A Bird – Sing Sing
Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
Emilia Pérez has also earned numerous nominations
Music (Original Score)
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
Animated Feature Film
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengence Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
International Feature Film
I’m Still here
The Girl with the Needle
Emilia Pérez
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Flow
Cinematography
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Makeup and Hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance
Wicked
Dune: Part Two is competing for numerous Oscars
Costume Design
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu
Wicked
Production Design
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Wicked
Animated Short Film
Beautiful Men
In The Shadow of The Cypress
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Live Action Short Film
A Lien
Anuja
I’m Not A Robot
The Last Ranger
The An Who Could Not Remain Silent
Sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
A Complete Unknown received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, among others
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Film Editing
Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Documentary Feature Film
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to Coup D’etat
Sugarcane
Documentary Short Film
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instrumenting of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
