Transgender Actress Faces Death Threats Amid Oscar Buzz for Groundbreaking Role

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Karla Sofía Gascón, a Spanish actress and transgender trailblazer, has become the center of both acclaim and controversy as she potentially makes history with her role in the film Emilia Pérez. Gascón, who could become the first transgender actress nominated for an Academy Award, has faced a barrage of death threats and hate messages, particularly from Mexico and Spain.

In a recent interview, Gascón revealed the extent of the vitriol directed at her, including messages such as, “I hope you die before making another movie,” and threats of violence. Despite the hostility, she remains defiant, using the negativity as fuel to continue her advocacy for transgender rights and representation in cinema. “There is a part of society that lives on hate, that thrives on selling hate, and there is another part that wants to live with hope, with equal rights, in peace and respect,” Gascón said. “I love that. It’s my fuel to tell the people of light: ‘You have won.’ The more they hate me, the more insulting messages they send, the more I say, ‘Thank you.’”

Emilia Pérez, directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, is a musical comedy-thriller that explores themes of gender identity and redemption. The film has already garnered critical acclaim, leading the nominations at the recent Golden Globes, where it won multiple awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Gascón’s portrayal of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender transition has been hailed as groundbreaking, but it has also sparked intense backlash from conservative critics and online trolls.

Gascón, who transitioned in 2018, sees the film as a powerful statement for transgender visibility. “This movie dared to put a character we’ve never seen before in a place no one expected,” she said. “It shows that in every aspect of society, in every sphere of life, there are people who are different and want to live their sexuality freely, while another part of society tries to force them to conform.”

The actress has also criticized the role of social media influencers in perpetuating hate. “I’m tired of TikTokers, Instagrammers, influencers, and people who wake up in the morning and suddenly become football coaches, journalists, or film critics,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “You have to be very well-prepared and informed to criticize the work of 700 people from your couch, sitting next to your PlayStation. And secondly, they claim to speak for everyone. Let me tell you: being LGBTQ+ doesn’t make you any less of an idiot.”

Despite the challenges, Gascón remains optimistic about the film’s impact. She hopes it will inspire empathy and understanding, particularly in Mexico, where the movie is set to premiere on January 23. “I think people will connect with it from the first song, which is especially for Mexicans,” she said. “I know that rhythm, that sound that repeats in the streets of the city. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I said, ‘Wow, this is something we’ve never seen before.’”

As the Oscars approach, Gascón’s nomination would mark a historic moment for transgender representation in Hollywood. However, the actress remains focused on the broader message of her work. “They can put us in jail, they can beat us, but they can never take away our soul, our existence, our identity,” she said. “I am who I am, not who you want me to be.”