Madonna has enraged her devout fanbase by supporting controversial Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon despite her ‘racist’ tweets scandal.
The transgender actress, 52, stepped back from the 2025 awards season after her vile tweets about Islam, the 2020 murder of George Floyd and her Emilia Perez co-star Selena Gomez — who she called a ‘rich rat’ — resurfaced in January.
While Gascón apologized to those who’d been ‘hurt’ by her past remarks, the controversy threw a major wrench in Emilia Perez’s once promising Oscar campaign
When she appeared at the ceremony this past Sunday, where she was up for Best Actress for playing a cartel boss who transitions from male to female, Gascon smiled through a brutal roasting by host Conan O’Brien.
And on Thursday, Gascón revealed on Instagram that she received ‘love’ and ‘strength’ from none other than Madonna as she weathered the PR nightmare.
She posted a black and white photo of herself hugging the bonafide Queen Of Pop, 66, that was taken at Madonna’s star-studded Oscars after-party.The French auteur, 72, has faced harsh criticism for his depiction of Mexico in the Oscar-winning film as well being accused of throwing his lead star Gascón ‘under the bus’ amid her ‘inexcusable’ tweet scandal.
Madonna also included a photo of herself smiling while holding the Oscar that Jacques won for Best Original Song for Emilia Perez’s ‘El Mal’ just moments before.Highlight for me was sitting next to JACQUES AUDIARD the director of Emilia Perez, my favorite film this year!!! (Holding his Oscar),’ Madonna gushed in the post.
Fans quickly flocked to the comment section to slam Emilia Perez while telling Madonna that she has ‘terrible taste’ in films.
‘Love u, but the movie is full of problematic stuff…. starting for the director [thumbs down emojis] this time I don’t agree with you,’ penned on disappointed IG follower.
Many took issue with Madonna supporting a film that ‘makes a mockery of Mexico’ while others hoped she was ‘joking’ about Emilia Perez being her ‘favorite.’
One fan encouraged her to ‘watch other movies’ while another begged her to ‘delete’ the Emilia Perez praise from her caption.
Madonna’s support for Gascón and Emilia Perez comes after Gascon broke her silence on Oscar host Conan O’Brien mocking her during Sunday’s ceremony.
Gascón’s tweet controversy became the focus of one of Conan’s jokes as he opened the hours-long award show.
Conan said: ‘Anora uses the F word 479 times… That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist: “You tweeted WHAT?”‘ Gascón responded with a tight smile, as Conan continued by quipping: ‘Karla, if you are gonna tweet about the Oscars my name is Jimmy Kimmel.’Gascón finally addressed the brutal jab as she took to Instagram on Monday to commemorate her night as an Oscar nominee.
Seemingly taking Conan’s joke in stride, Gascón referred to the host as Jimmy Kimmel in her post.
‘Thanks to the members of @theacademy for the nomination for best leading actress, for the invitation to the gala; I really enjoyed it, very amiable and funny, especially your fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic, every day he looks more like the great Conan O’Brien,’ she wrote.
‘Loved hugging so many friends and colleagues on this homecoming.’
Gascón added: ‘Congratulations to all the winners, especially to @camilleofficiel @zoesaldana @clementducol.
‘Thank you #jacquesaudiard @netflix @whynotproductions_officielIt was unclear if she would show up at the event, as Netflix had pulled the plug on many of her pre-awards appearances after the scandal.
But she did show, alongside her daughter, agent, a ‘concerned’ Netflix publicist and private security, The New York Times reported.
She was photographed interacting with co-star Selena Gomez in the audience after the show started, but did not walk the red carpet or pose with anyone from her film.
Gascón did reportedly share a warm moment with Best Actor winner Adrian Brody at the bar, but was kept from speaking to any press by the Netflix publicist.
‘Gascón was jovial and interested in chatting,’ the NYT reported. ‘But before she could get out any answer, the Netflix publicist shut down any more conversation and moved the reporter away from Gascón.’
The Los Angeles Times noted that the controversy surrounding Gascón’s social media posts were ‘the most uncomfortable thing about being at the Academy Awards this year.’
The audience applauded politely every time Gascón was mentioned – but ‘without any real warmth,’ per the LA Times.
She was accompanied by a bodyguard and a