Karla Sofía Gascón, star of Emilia Pérez, has issued a public apology following the resurfacing of controversial posts she made on X (formerly Twitter). The actress, who is nominated for Best Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, took to Instagram early Saturday to address the backlash.
In her post, Gascón shared an image of a Nichiren Buddhist symbol, writing, “THEY ALREADY WON,” and began by offering a sincere apology to those hurt by her past statements. She acknowledged her mistakes, saying, “I have many things to learn in this world, the forms [in which I learn] are my biggest defect.” Gascón also emphasized that, despite her past, she has grown through her commitment to Nichiren Buddhism and believes it has positively transformed her and those around her.
“I am not the same person I was a decade ago,” Gascón explained, adding that while she hasn’t committed any crimes, she is not perfect and continues to strive to be a better person.
The controversy stems from tweets made between 2020 and 2022 that critics have labeled racist and insensitive. Gascón refuted the accusations, stating, “Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a racist” and reiterated her commitment to fighting for a just society. She also pointed out that the posts had been taken out of context and that she was being judged unfairly, without an opportunity to explain her true intentions.
“I have always fought for a more just society and for a world of freedom, peace, and love,” Gascón wrote, adding that she would never support religious extremism or the oppression of any group.
The actress closed her response with a message from her mother, stating, “I care very little whether you win anything, I just care about you being okay and that no one will harm you.” Gascón ended by reaffirming her purpose: “This life has put me here to send a message of hope and love to this world, I will do it.”
The controversy over Gascón’s past tweets surfaced on Thursday, when journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered the posts. In response, Gascón deleted her X account, and several posts were removed. Despite the criticism, the actress remains committed to her message of love and personal growth.