Zoe Saldana's 'Trans' Oscar Statue Sparks Controversy: Emilia Pérez Backlash Intensifies
SCANDAL ROCKS HOLLYWOOD: Zoe Saldana's Tone-Deaf Oscar Claim Exposes Deep-Seated Issues with Controversial Film Emilia Pérez!
It seemed like we'd finally put the drama surrounding 2024 film Emilia Pérez behind us, but hold up, folks! Zoe Saldana, who played Rita Mora Castro - a Mexican lawyer helping a cartel boss transition into a woman in this deeply flawed movie, has opened Pandora's box once again. In an interview with People, she gushed about her first-ever Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, revealing that the statue sits proudly in her office... and gets to go by "they/them" too!
But here's where things take a dark turn: Saldana's attempt to flex her Oscar muscles only sparked more outrage. For those who forgot (or never knew), Emilia Pérez was met with massive controversy from the get-go. The film, which co-starred trans actress Karla Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez, was slammed by LGBTQ+ community members for its "retrograde" portrayal of a trans woman. Others took issue with the movie's oversimplified take on Mexican culture, featuring inaccurate accents and dialects.
And then, things got even juicier: old tweets from Gascon resurfaced, revealing racist and discriminatory views against Muslims, China, and George Floyd - for which she later apologized. It was like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode!
But here's the kicker: despite all the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez, not one of the actors involved ever mentioned the real issues facing trans people in their communities during any award speeches or discussions about the film. Talk about tone deaf!
So, when Saldana casually dropped her Oscar claim, saying it was "trans," it sparked a rehashing of the uproar that surrounded the movie's release. Social media users were quick to sound off:
"We have Latinos/Hispanics fighting for their rights at this moment and this woman and the whole cast of Emilia Pérez have been silent about their support to the community they profited from, clear as water they only cared for the award," wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user, referencing ongoing protests against ICE.
Another user echoed the same sentiment: "Yet she could barely speak about trans rights during her acceptance speeches... She's so nasty where was this energy making the movie or during the awards campaign lol."
Some users were simply fed up with having to see anything about Emilia Pérez on their timelines again. "I thought I wouldn't have to hear about this movie again," sighed one X user.
As for Saldana's claim that her Oscar is "trans"? Well, let's just say some folks weren't having it:
"She’s calling her Oscar… trans????" questioned a user.
And then there were those who were just plain done with the whole Emilia Pérez drama. "I'm so over this movie and its cast," said one X user. "They've had their moment in the sun, and now it's time to let someone else shine."
As we wrap up this juicy tale, one thing is clear: Emilia Pérez may be quiet for now, but its cast might still have a few more tricks up their sleeves. Stay tuned!
