'Emilia Pérez' and its lead star are facing a backlash. Here's the controversy explained.
Oscar frontrunner "Emilia Pérez" has been criticized for its quality and authenticity, and its lead star has faced accusations of racism. Here's what to know.
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- Netflix's "Emilia Pérez" has received the most nominations from major award bodies this season.
- But in recent weeks, the film and its cast have faced multiple controversies on social media.
- In the latest crisis, fans are attacking the film's lead, Karla Sofía Gascón, for her old social media posts.
"Emilia Pérez" is a frontrunner for the 2025 Oscars after bagging 13 nominations, but a growing number of fans and critics are turning against it.
The Netflix film, starring Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón, is a cross-genre crime musical about a Mexican cartel boss who fakes her death so she can transition.
Variety reported that Netflix bought the film for approximately $12 million after it premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. While it wasn't a hit on the platform, its award success is a boost to Netflix's reputation.
Some film fans have questioned why the film is drawing so many accolades, arguing its competition is better, and have criticized old social media posts by its lead actor, Gascón.
On Rotten Tomatoes, it had a critic score of 76% and an audience score of 34%, indicating a divide between industry experts and the general public.
Here are the controversies surrounding the film explained.
I still can’t believe Emilia Perez won Best Musical over this masterpiece… pic.twitter.com/WWHuU28khE— D.