Zoë Saldaña had a very pointed response to the suggestion that she in any way condones her Emilia Pérez co-star—and fellow Oscar nominee—Karla Sofía Gascón’s racist tweets, according to Variety.
Gascón claimed that Saldaña and their other co-star Selena Gomez support her “200 percent,” but confronted with that claim in a new episode of Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Saldaña made herself clear. After reportedly taking a “long blink,” she replied, “I do not support any negative rhetoric of racism and bigotry towards any group of people.”
Saldaña was the first of Gascón’s two co-stars to address the scandal of the unearthed tweets when she originally told press in London last week, “I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”
“I’m sad,” Saldaña also said on Wednesday. “Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,” she continued. “I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.”
Gomez has yet to comment on the backlash—despite being among her co-star’s targets online.
Gascón’s chances of winning Best Actress at this year’s Oscars were tanked after freelance journalist Sarah Hagi found tweets on her profile expressing racist views about Muslims, Black people and others.
Gascón is the first trans actress ever nominated in the category for her work as the title character in Emilia Pérez, which earned 12 other nominations that Netflix is currently trying to salvage—including Saldaña for Best Supporting Actress.
Gascón’s various attempts at damage control have only worsened the situation, as she has taken minimal responsibility and pointed fingers at others.
The film’s director Jacques Audiard called the posts “inexcusable” and revealed that the tweets, as well as Gascón’s actions since they were exposed, have negatively impacted their relationship. “I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to,” he told Deadline.
