JUST IN: Emilia Perez star Zoe Saldana Snubs Tearful Transgender Co-Star Karla Sofía Gascón in Shocking Backstage Moment After Winning Big at the 2025 Oscars, Says, ‘This Night Is About the Art, Not the Drama’

Zoe Saldana’s Emotional Oscars Win Marred by Apparent Snub of Tearful Co-Star Karla Sofía Gascón

March 2, 2025 – Hollywood, CA – The 97th Academy Awards delivered a night of triumph, tears, and tension as Zoe Saldana clinched the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Emilia Pérez, only for the moment to be overshadowed by an apparent snub of her transgender co-star, Karla Sofía Gascón. The Spanish-language musical crime drama, which led the nominations with 13 nods, had been a frontrunner all season, but its victory lap took a dramatic turn as Saldana’s emotional acceptance speech conspicuously omitted any mention of Gascón—who burst into tears in the audience—fuelling speculation of lingering friction between the two actresses.

The Dolby Theatre erupted in applause as Saldana, 46, took the stage, visibly overcome with emotion after beating out stiff competition from Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown). Her portrayal of Rita Moro Castro, the lawyer who aids a cartel leader’s transition in Emilia Pérez, had been a highlight of the film’s awards campaign, especially after Netflix shifted focus to her following Gascón’s tweet controversy. Clutching her statuette, Saldana broke down in tears, delivering a heartfelt speech that celebrated her heritage and team.

“I’m so honored to stand here as the first American of Dominican origin to win this award,” Saldana said, her voice trembling. “This is for my mom, my dad, my sisters, my husband Marco, and our kids—who remind me every day what matters most. To the Emilia Pérez cast and crew, our director Jacques Audiard, thank you for this journey. I’m allowing myself to still experience that joy because we did come together as a team.” Notably absent from her list of shout-outs was Gascón, the film’s lead actress and a historic nominee as the first openly transgender woman up for Best Actress.

Cameras panned to Gascón, 52, seated a few rows back, where she was seen wiping tears from her eyes. Whether they were tears of pride for her co-star or pain from the exclusion remained unclear, but the moment reignited buzz around their strained dynamic. Gascón’s Oscar night had already been under scrutiny after a tumultuous awards season. Her resurfaced tweets from 2020 and 2021—containing offensive remarks about Islam, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars—had derailed her once-promising campaign, prompting Netflix to distance itself and director Audiard to publicly disavow her. Despite issuing apologies, Gascón attended the ceremony, a decision that surprised many after reports suggested she’d been sidelined.

The snub didn’t go unnoticed. On X, posts lit up with reactions: “Zoe Saldana just won and didn’t even glance at Karla Sofía Gascón—ICE COLD,” one user wrote, while another speculated, “Those tears from Karla weren’t happy ones. Zoe’s speech said it all.” Host Conan O’Brien had already set the tone earlier, joking in his monologue, “Anora dropped the f-bomb 479 times, but that’s nothing compared to Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist this season—Karla, you tweeted WHAT?” The quip drew uneasy laughter, underscoring the controversy that refused to fade.

Backstage, Saldana addressed the moment with reporters, offering a cryptic yet telling statement: “I’m focused on the win, not the past. Tonight is about celebrating what we built together, even if some chapters are harder to revisit.” When pressed about Gascón’s visible emotion, she added, “We all feel things differently. I wish everyone peace.” Her words did little to quell the narrative of a rift, especially given her earlier comments to Variety about the tweet scandal: “I don’t support any negative rhetoric… I can only speak to my experience.”

For Gascón, the night ended without a win—Demi Moore took Best Actress for The Substance—but her presence alone was a statement. Clad in a striking red gown, she walked the carpet and sat through the ceremony, a defiant figure amid the storm. Sources close to the Emilia Pérez team hinted that Saldana and Gascón had barely spoken since the controversy broke, with Saldana opting to let her performance speak rather than engage in the fray.

As Emilia Pérez secured additional wins—Best International Feature and Best Original Song for “El Mal”—the night cemented its legacy as a groundbreaking yet polarizing film. Saldana’s victory, though, will likely be remembered as much for what she didn’t say as for what she did, leaving the Oscars audience—and the internet—dissecting every tearful glance and unspoken name.