The film Emilia Pérez, which received 13 nominations at this year’s Oscars, ended up winning two awards. One of these awards was for Best Supporting Actress, which went to Zoe Saldaña for her remarkable performance in the film. In her acceptance speech, an emotional Saldaña expressed her gratitude to the audience, the film’s team, and the Academy. However, she also took the opportunity to apologize to Mexicans who felt offended by the film.
Emilia Pérez tells the story of four women and their struggles and friendship. However, the film has sparked controversy for several reasons. It has faced criticism from the LGBTQ+ community, and the film’s lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, has been criticized for controversial tweets about Muslims. Additionally, many Mexicans felt that the film’s portrayal of their culture was disrespectful.
After receiving her Oscar, a journalist asked Saldaña about the concerns from Mexicans, stating that the film had been “really hurtful for us Mexicans.” Saldaña responded, “I am very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We made this film out of love.”
Saldaña went on to clarify, “This film was not made to target Mexico. We were telling a story about friendship. We wanted to tell the story of four women. These women could have been Russian, Dominican, Black from Detroit, from Israel, from Gaza. It was about telling the story through the lens of these women who are struggling every day but trying to survive systemic oppression.”
She also expressed her willingness to engage in a conversation with the Mexican community, saying, “After everything, I am always open to sit down with my Mexican brothers and sisters, with love and respect, and have a great conversation on how Emilia Pérez could have been done better.”
Prior to Saldaña’s speech, the film’s director, Jacques Audiard, also apologized to the Mexican community, saying, “If there are things in Emilia Pérez that have hurt Mexicans, that was unintentional. I am sorry. Cinema doesn’t provide answers; it only asks questions. But maybe the questions in Emilia Pérez were wrong.”
During her Oscar speech, Saldaña became emotional as she paid tribute to her heritage, remembering her mother and grandmother. “I am deeply moved to receive this honor,” she said. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am the proud child of immigrant parents who came here with dreams, dignity, and a strong work ethic.”
Saldaña also took the moment to highlight her Dominican roots, adding, “I am the first American of Dominican descent to receive an Academy Award. I know I am not the last. I hope this award is important because in this role, I had the opportunity to sing and speak in Spanish. If my grandmother were alive today, she would be extremely happy.”
Her speech comes at a time when former President Donald Trump’s administration had taken a tough stance on immigration policies. Through her words, Saldaña emphasized the significance of immigrants’ contributions and their ongoing struggles, delivering a powerful message to the audience and the world.