Selena Gomez Says ‘Some of the Magic Has Disappeared’ After ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversy

Selena Gomez has responded to the furor that has surrounded her Emilia Pérez co-star Karla Sofía Gascón in recent weeks. Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday night, the actress was asked how she is in light of the controversy.

“I’m really good,” Gomez replied (via the Hollywood Reporter). “Some of the magic has disappeared, but I choose to continue to be proud of what I’ve done, and I’m just grateful and I live with no regrets. I would do this movie over and over again if I could.”

Chaos ensued after Gascón’s offensive posts about Muslims and George Floyd went viral last month. The Spanish actress is the first out transgender woman to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, however Netflix has been distancing itself from her in the weeks since, reportedly re-focusing its awards campaign. Following the backlash, Gascón joined CNN En Español for an interview in which she claimed she had been subject to “cancel culture.”

The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, told Deadline that Gascón’s past tweets were “inexcusable” and “hateful,” and accused Gascón of “playing the victim.” “I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to,” said the director. “She is in a self-destructive approach that I can’t interfere in, and I really don’t understand why she’s continuing. Why is she harming herself? Why? I don’t understand it, and what I don’t understand about this too is why she’s harming people who were very close to her.”

Following Audiard’s statements, Gascón confirmed on Instagram that she would “let the work talk for itself, hoping my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference.”

Gomez is not the first one of Gascón’s co-stars to respond to her behavior. Zoe Saldaña told Variety that she was “disappointed” by Gascón’s actions. “I’m sad. Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,” said Saldaña.

Emilia Pérez is nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña.