The film Emilia Pérez, a musical drama centered around a Mexican cartel leader’s transition, has become embroiled in controversy, primarily stemming from resurfaced social media posts by its star, Karla Sofía Gascón. Gascón, who plays the titular Emilia Pérez, faced backlash for past comments targeting religious groups and George Floyd. The posts, some dating back to 2016, ignited widespread criticism and prompted a response from her co-star, Zoe Saldaña. Saldaña expressed sadness and disapproval of Gascón’s rhetoric, emphasizing her own intolerance for negativity directed toward any group. While acknowledging the controversy, Saldaña also highlighted the positive and inclusive experience she had working on the film, underscoring its themes of inclusivity, collaboration, and equity across race, culture, and gender. She reiterated her belief in the film’s potential to bring positive change to marginalized communities.
Gascón, in the wake of the controversy, issued an apology for her past statements, acknowledging the pain she caused and deleting her X (formerly Twitter) account. She expressed regret for her words, particularly as a member of a marginalized community herself, and affirmed her lifelong commitment to fighting for a better world. This apology, issued through Netflix, was an attempt to address the hurt caused by her previous remarks and to reiterate her belief in the power of good over negativity. Despite the apology, the controversy surrounding Gascón’s past comments continues to cast a shadow over the film and its reception.
Beyond the social media controversy, Emilia Pérez has faced criticism on multiple fronts. Spanish-speaking audiences have criticized the film for its perceived unnatural dialogue and songs, as well as its portrayal of Mexico. These criticisms point to a potential disconnect between the film’s creative vision and the cultural context it attempts to represent. The awkwardness of the dialogue and music has been a particular point of contention, detracting from the film’s overall impact for some viewers.
Further complicating matters, the film was excluded from the GLAAD Media Awards nominations, a significant snub from the LGBTQ+ non-profit organization. GLAAD had previously criticized Emilia Pérez as a "step backward for trans representation," raising concerns about how the film depicts the transgender experience. This exclusion from the awards further fueled the debate surrounding the film’s representation and its potential impact on the transgender community.
The specific criticisms from trans critics highlight several key issues with the film’s portrayal of Emilia’s transition. One prominent critique revolves around the unrealistic depiction of Emilia’s gender-affirming surgery. Critics argue that the film’s portrayal lacks depth and nuance, failing to capture the complexities and realities of such a significant personal journey. This shallow representation, some argue, undermines the film’s potential to offer a meaningful and authentic portrayal of a transgender character.
Adding to the chorus of critical voices, critic Drew Burnett Gregory, writing for Autostraddle, pointed to the film’s missed opportunity. Rather than focusing on offense or censorship, Gregory highlighted the film’s lack of depth and imagination in its portrayal of Emilia. Gregory argues that the film’s treatment of its central character is surprisingly bland, given the more outlandish aspects of the narrative. This criticism suggests that the film’s shortcomings in trans representation are not merely a matter of political correctness but a failure of creative vision. The film’s potential for a more compelling and nuanced portrayal is seemingly undercut by its superficial approach to Emilia’s identity and experience. The combination of Gascón’s controversial past statements and the film’s perceived shortcomings in trans representation has created a complex and multi-layered controversy around Emilia Pérez.
