Karla Sofía Gascón Attends Oscars Amid Controversy

At the 97th Academy Awards, host Conan O'Brien addressed the controversy surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly transgender actress nominated for Best Actress for her role in 'Emilia Pérez.' O'Brien made jokes about Gascón's past social media posts that contained racist and Islamophobic comments, which had resurfaced leading to public backlash and her eventual apology. Gascón, who attended the event in a subdued manner, received mixed reactions as O'Brien quipped about her controversies during his monologue. The Academy's CEO emphasized that while Gascón's nomination was historic, the organization does not condone hate speech. Despite the criticism, Gascón's film received 13 nominations, including Best Picture. The event highlighted the ongoing discussions around accountability and representation in Hollywood.