Zoe Saldana has pointedly discussed people ‘spewing hatred’ on social media amid the controversy surrounding her Emilia Peréz co-star Karla Sofia Gascon, DailyMail reports.
The American actress, Zoe Saldana, 46, has soared to awards season acclaim for her role as Rita Mora Castro in the Spanish-language musical crime film.
However, the movie has become embroiled in a scandal after some controversial tweets previously made by leading star Karla, 52, were dug up online.
The resurfaced posts criticised Islam, the Oscars and the late George Floyd and the controversy has led to fears that the film’s performance on Oscars night could suffer.
Zoe Saldana previously said she was ‘disappointed’ by the scandal and she has now pointedly commented on how people ‘spew so much hatred and intolerance’ on social media.
Though she did not directly address the Karla controversy, Zoe Saldana spoke about online dating and how social media has allowed people to ‘weaponise’ their devices.
‘I’m 46. I’ve heard from so many younger people that dating today is just difficult,’ she told Jessie and Lennie Ware on their podcast Table Manners.
‘We’re living in such an era where social media gives you the permission to be so different from yourself, so most of the time, people sort of weaponise the fact that they can hide behind these devices to just spew so much hatred and intolerance and inflexibility.
‘And sometimes you reinvent yourselves, and you can be quite superficial in the way that you’re approaching love or dating, right?
‘So back in the day, we relied on face, presence, right? And what you saw in that very moment was what was going to get you past, you know, first base.’
Zoe Saldana also revealed what it was really like to work on Emilia Peréz and said she has been thrilled by the ‘really positive’ reaction to the film, which stars controversy-struck actress Karla as the titular character.
‘A film about women in Spanish, and Opera, a tragedy like everything about it, just is aligned with me, you know, and I loved it,’ she gushed.
‘It was a wonderful experience to be a part of. It was a wonderful challenge that I took upon myself, and I feel proud of myself.
‘Usually, I’m very hard on myself, but I feel proud and then just the reception of it has been really positive.’
Zoe also excitedly looked ahead to the 2025 Academy Awards after she won Best Supporting Actress at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
She is the favourite in the same category at the Oscars and will be up against Wicked’s Ariana Grande, The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini and Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown.
Emilia Peréz is leading the Oscars run with 13 nominations, including Best Actress for leading star Karla, who is the first openly transgender person to be nominated in the category.
Zoe revealed she will be taking her husband Marco Perego-Saldana to support her at the Oscars and has also requested that her parents Asalia and Aridio can join her.
‘My husband will be my date – he’s just the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ she gushed.
‘I requested tickets for my Dad and my Mom and also for my reps. They’re the ones that are day in and day out in this every single day for me and so many like me and I want to be able to celebrate it with them.’
Emilia Peréz’s leading star Karla has become embroiled in controversy after some controversial tweets she made in the past were dug up online.
Though Karla apologised for the messages, many people in Hollywood think her past actions will hurt the film during the Oscars, where Zoe has nabbed her first ever Academy Awards nomination.
Zoe recently spoke to Variety about how she feels over the setback and admitted she is ‘disappointed’ by the scandal.
‘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,’ she shared.
‘I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.
‘I feel like I’ve spoken enough about it,’ she added. ‘It’s not just something we have to figure out immediately.’
The week before, Zoe Saldana was asked about Karla’s posts during a Q&A in London and said she doesn’t tolerate any ‘negative rhetoric towards people of any group’.
Zoe explained: ‘It makes me really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.
‘I can only attest to the experience that I had with each and every individual that was a part, that is a part, of this film, and my experience and my interactions with them was about inclusivity and collaboration and racial, cultural, and gender equity.
‘And it just saddens me.’
Karla came under fire after old tweets about the Muslim community, the late George Floyd, and diversity at the Academy Awards resurfaced.
Responding to the backlash, Karla said in a statement: ‘I want to acknowledge 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.’