Believe it or not, Karla Sofia Gascón is still welcome on the Netflix lot.
Despite creating a media firestorm around her groundbreaking film “Emilia Pérez’” and its run at this year’s Academy Awards, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says the company would be open to working with the actress again.
“Yeah. You have to have some grace when people make mistakes,” said Sarandos during a cover story with Variety marking his 25 years of employment at the streaming giant. “And we have grace.”
Following a smash debut at last summer’s Cannes Film Festival, “Emilia Pérez’” was plunged into chaos in January when incendiary old social media posts from Gascón were resurfaced – the death of George Floyd, the Muslim community and even diversity at the Oscars were referenced and inspired great offense. The controversy came as Jacques Audiard’s drug cartel musical was the frontrunner for best picture, earning a top 13 nominations and eventually taking home two statues.
In his cover profile, Sarandos was asked point blank if he believed “Emilia Pérez’” would’ve received best picture if it hadn’t been for the Gascón scandal.
“I hate that question, because it creates all of these ‘What If’s,’” said Sarandos. “It was the frontrunner, but it was never a slam dunk that ‘Emilia Pérez’ — with all its innovation and thrills — would win best picture. It was a great movie, a great campaign, and I’m bummed.”
At the time, Gascón said she acknowledged “the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”
Following the statement and a lengthy interview with CNN en Espanol, Gascón disappeared. She skipped subsequent appearances at the Critics’ Choice Awards, the BAFTA Film Awards and SAG Awards despite nominations for best actress at all three shows. She would eventually attend the Academy Awards as part of the creative team behind her film, saying she was “very grateful to return and for how my colleagues and the professionals of the Hollywood industry received me.”
Variety also asked Sarandos if Netflix would update its policy on vetting the social media histories of its own talent.
“What we’re typically vetting for is mostly headlines. Did someone’s social media stuff create headlines before? Then again, I’m not on Twitter, so I’m not going to come in and look at someone else’s Twitter,” said Sarandos.
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