Emilia Pérez Faces Backlash Amid Historic Oscar Run \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez is a bold, genre-blending Oscar contender, but its journey to awards glory has been marred by controversy. Despite 13 Academy Award nominations, backlash over its portrayal of trans identity, Mexican culture, and recent social media scandals threaten its status as a Best Picture front-runner. As the Oscars approach, the film’s chances remain uncertain, with upcoming guild awards set to determine its fate.
The Controversial Rise of Emilia Pérez: Quick Look
- A Unique Oscar Contender: A musical, trans parable, and crime drama rolled into one.
- Award Season Heavyweight: Winner at Golden Globes, 11 BAFTA nods, and 13 Oscar nominations.
- Critical Divide: Some praise its audacity, while others find it inauthentic and tonally jarring.
- Mexican Backlash: Criticized for its portrayal of drug violence and accent inconsistencies.
- LGBTQ+ Controversy: GLAAD called it “a step backward” for trans representation.
- Social Media Scandal: Star Karla Sofía Gascón apologized for resurfaced Islamophobic and racist tweets.
- Oscar Chances in Jeopardy: Will it overcome backlash, or will it collapse like past controversial contenders?
The Tumultuous Oscar Journey of Emilia Pérez: A Deep Look
Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez has quickly become one of the most talked-about films of the year, for reasons both celebratory and controversial. A genre-defying mix of musical, crime drama, and trans identity narrative, it has emerged as a major Oscar contender, earning 13 Academy Award nominations, a feat only three films in history have surpassed. It has also racked up 11 BAFTA nominations and triumphed at the Golden Globes, cementing its place as an awards season heavyweight.
Yet, despite its accolades, Emilia Pérez has also found itself at the center of intense scrutiny. From cultural backlash in Mexico and divisive audience reactions to accusations of inauthentic representation and a social media scandal involving its lead actor, Karla Sofía Gascón, the film’s once-promising Oscar campaign is now on shaky ground. As the March 2 Academy Awards approach, the film faces mounting challenges that could either derail its chances or solidify its status as an underdog triumph.
A Bold, Unconventional Film That Divides Critics and Audiences
When Emilia Pérez premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, the response was largely positive, though not without reservations. Audiard, known for films like A Prophet, Dheepan, and Rust and Bone, has long been drawn to themes of transformation, but Emilia Pérez takes that concept to a new level.
The film tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who transitions with the help of a lawyer, played by Zoe Saldaña, and later attempts to reconnect with the children from a past marriage. Selena Gomez co-stars as the drug lord’s ex-wife, adding another layer of Hollywood star power to the production.
At Cannes, the film won the Jury Prize, and its ensemble cast—including Gascón, Saldaña, Gomez, and Adriana Paz—jointly received the Best Actress award. Netflix quickly acquired it for $12 million, setting the stage for a major awards campaign.
While the film’s supporters have praised its boldness, unique storytelling, and trans representation, others have been less kind. Emilia Pérez has been criticized for its jarring tonal shifts, its depiction of Mexican drug violence, and its Spanish-language inconsistencies, with some calling it an inauthentic portrayal of Mexico.
The Rise of an Unlikely Oscar Juggernaut
Despite the mixed critical reception, Emilia Pérez gained momentum in the fall of 2023 as Netflix pushed aggressively to position it as an Oscar front-runner. The streaming giant has a history of spending big on awards campaigns, and this year, with Emilia Pérez in the running, it had a real chance to finally secure its first Best Picture win.
One of the factors working in its favor was the unpredictability of this year’s awards season. While Wicked was expected to dominate the musical category, its use of Broadway-adapted songs disqualified it from Best Original Song, leaving Emilia Pérez as one of the few contenders in that category. Two of its original songs, El Mal and Mi Camino, received Oscar nominations, further strengthening the film’s presence.
Additionally, the Academy’s recent expansion of international voters has helped films outside of the traditional Hollywood mold succeed. With Emilia Pérez being a Spanish-language, French production featuring Hollywood stars, it found itself in a sweet spot for appealing to the Academy’s growing global membership.
However, as its awards chances expanded, audiences began to push back. While the film holds a 76% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, its audience score sits at just 19%, indicating a sharp divide between industry praise and general viewer reception.
Cultural Backlash in Mexico and LGBTQ+ Criticism
The film’s reception in Mexico has been particularly harsh. Many Mexican viewers have criticized it for its inaccurate portrayal of the country, its depiction of cartel violence, and its use of inconsistent Spanish accents. Comedian and actor Eugenio Derbez even publicly called Selena Gomez’s accent “indefensible” before later apologizing.
The backlash led to a satirical response from Mexican filmmakers, who created a parody short film titled Johanne Sacreblu. Designed as a French-inspired film made entirely without French actors or crew, the parody mocked Emilia Pérez for its outsider perspective on Mexican culture. The short film quickly went viral, racking up over a million views on YouTube in its opening weekend, while Emilia Pérez struggled to attract audiences in Mexican theaters.
Compounding the backlash, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD declined to nominate Emilia Pérez in its annual media awards, citing concerns over its representation of trans identity. The organization labeled the film “a profoundly retrograde portrayal of a trans woman” and argued that it was a step backward for trans representation in media.
Gascón’s Social Media Scandal: A Major Setback
As if the cultural backlash wasn’t enough, Emilia Pérez’s Oscar campaign took another major hit when old social media posts from Gascón resurfaced in late January. Journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered a series of tweets in which Gascón made Islamophobic remarks, disparaged George Floyd, and posted anti-China sentiments.
Among the tweets, which date back to 2016, Gascón suggested banning Islam and referred to George Floyd as a drug addict whom “very few people ever cared for.” The backlash was immediate, forcing Gascón to issue a public apology through Netflix, stating:
“As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain.”
Shortly after the apology, Gascón deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account, but the damage had already been done.
Can Emilia Pérez Still Win Best Picture?
With so many controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez, its Oscar chances now appear uncertain. While Gascón was never the front-runner for Best Actress, the fallout from her tweets could negatively impact the film’s broader Oscar campaign.
Some believe that Emilia Pérez could follow the path of past controversial Oscar winners like Green Book (2019), which won despite heavy criticism. Others argue that the backlash has simply become too overwhelming, making a Best Picture win unlikely.
The next major test for the film will be guild awards, including those from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Producers Guild (PGA), and BAFTA. If Emilia Pérez continues to perform well in these ceremonies, it may still have a shot at victory.
However, with multiple strong competitors in the Best Picture race—including Anora, Conclave, The Brutalist, Wicked, and A Complete Unknown—the path to Oscar gold has become much more challenging for Emilia Pérez.
With Oscar voting beginning on February 11, the industry will soon decide whether Emilia Pérez can overcome controversy and triumph, or if its once-promising campaign will end in disappointment.
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