Selena Gomez Expresses “No Regrets” Over ‘Emilia Pérez’ Despite Controversy: “I Would Do This Movie Over and Over Again”
Selena Gomez addressed the racism controversy that has engulfed her Oscar-nominated Emilia Pérez co-star Karla Sofia Gascón in recent weeks, revealing that she has “no regrets” about being involved in the production.
Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday night, Gomez was asked by a moderator how she was doing given the chaos surrounding Emilia Pérez‘s spluttering Academy Awards campaign. “I’m really good,” Gomez replied. “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.”
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Gomez added with emphasis, “And I would do this movie over and over again if I could.”
Her reply brought applause from the crowd.
Gascón, who plays the titular Emilia Pérez in the Netflix film, has been under the microscope after her years-old offensive social media posts, including racially charged comments about Black people, immigrants and Islam, resurfaced in late January.
After the controversy broke, Gascón, the first openly transgender performer to be nominated for an Oscar in an acting category, has repeatedly apologized and attempted to defend herself against accusations of racism and xenophobia, including in an hourlong interview with CNN en Espa?ol.
Gomez’s co-star Zoe Salda?a has pointedly distanced herself from Gascón’s comments. “It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric toward people of any group,” Salda?a said during a Q&A in London.
Last week, Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard revealed he had severed ties with Gascón. After Audiard’s admission, Gascón said she would step back from speaking about the film.
“Following Jacques’ interview that I understand, I decided, for the film, for Jacques, for the cast, for the incredible crew who deserves it, for the beautiful adventure we all had together, to let the work talk for itself, hoping my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference,” Gascón wrote on Instagram. “I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way.”
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