Oscars Controversy: Transgender Nominee and Industry Practices Under Fire
The upcoming Academy Awards, set for February 2, 2025, are facing significant controversy, with critics labeling it as the "most chaotic Oscars in recent history" (Wall Street Journal) and a "historic nightmare" (LA Times). The spotlight is particularly on the Best Actress category, ignited by the first transgender nominee, Karla Sofia Gascon, who plays a transgender drug lord in 'Emilia Perez'. Just a week after her nomination, past tweets resurfaced, revealing her controversial statements that included derogatory remarks about Muslims and comments on George Floyd, which have severely impacted the film's chances, dropping it from a top contender to sixth place in predictions.
In another controversy, Mikey Madison, nominated for the Palme d'Or for 'Anora', faced backlash for not using an intimacy coordinator during sensitive scenes. Madison stated her desire to fully immerse herself in her performance as the reason for this decision, prompting industry professionals to criticize her for undermining years of efforts to establish the role of intimacy coordinators in film.
Fernanda Torres, also a strong contender for Best Actress for 'I'm Still Here', found herself in hot water after a 17-year-old video surfaced showing her in blackface during a Brazilian comedy show. She quickly apologized, explaining that awareness of Black rights was not well established in Brazil at the time. The Wall Street Journal noted that this year's Oscars raise questions about the separation of art from the artist and the role of AI in the industry.
