Selena Gomez has spoken out about the ongoing controversy surrounding her Emilia Pérez co-star Karla Sofia Gascón, expressing that she has “no regrets” about her involvement in the film. At the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday night, Gomez addressed the media chaos surrounding the film’s Oscar campaign and Gascón’s past racially insensitive social media posts.
Gomez, who plays Jessi in Emilia Pérez, was asked how she was handling the controversy. She responded confidently, “I’m really good. Some of the magic has disappeared, but I choose to continue to be proud of what I’ve done, and I’m just, I’m just grateful and live with no regrets.” She added with conviction, “And I would do this movie over and over again if I could,” earning applause from the audience.
Gascón, the first openly transgender performer to be nominated for an Oscar in an acting category, has faced backlash after old social media posts with racially charged remarks about Black people, immigrants, and Islam resurfaced in late January. Following the controversy, Gascón apologized and defended herself in an interview with CNN en Español.
Gomez’s co-star Zoe Saldaña, meanwhile, has distanced herself from Gascón’s comments, condemning any form of hate speech. Last week, Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard revealed he had severed ties with Gascón, leading her to step back from public discussions about the film.
In an Instagram post, Gascón reflected on the situation, apologizing to those affected and emphasizing the importance of letting the work speak for itself. “I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way,” she wrote.