Madonna has faced significant backlash from her loyal fanbase following her decision to publicly support trans actress Karla Sofia Gascon, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Gascon’s allegedly ‘racist’ tweets.
Gascon, 52, who portrays Emilia Perez in the film of the same name, had distanced herself from the 2025 awards season after her offensive tweets resurfaced in January. These tweets, which included disparaging remarks about Islam, the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and her Emilia Perez co-star Selena Gomez—whom she referred to as a ‘rich rat’—resulted in widespread criticism. While Gascon issued an apology to those offended by her past statements, the scandal significantly disrupted her Oscar campaign, which had once been considered promising.
At the Oscars ceremony this past Sunday, Gascon, nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of a cartel boss who transitions from male to female, endured harsh ridicule from host Conan O’Brien but maintained composure.
In a social media post on Thursday, Gascon revealed that she had received ‘love’ and ‘strength’ from none other than Madonna during this difficult time. The post included a black-and-white photograph of the two embracing at Madonna’s star-studded post-Oscar party, with Gascon expressing gratitude for the ‘support’ from the Queen of Pop. She captioned the image: ‘Madonna, I want to thank you for all the love you have shown me, for your invitation to the party you gave after the Oscars, and for your words of strength and love.’ Gascon concluded with a message of affection for Madonna, stating, ‘I love you.’
Madonna subsequently reposted Gascon’s message to her Instagram Story, sharing it with her nearly 20 million followers.
This move surprised many, particularly given that Madonna had recently faced criticism for declaring Emilia Perez to be her ‘favorite film,’ a statement made while reflecting on her annual Oscar party. The event, attended by numerous A-list stars, was highlighted by Madonna’s interaction with Emilia Perez director Jacques Audiard. Audiard, 72, has been the subject of criticism for his portrayal of Mexico in the Oscar-winning film, as well as accusations of distancing himself from Gascon amid her ‘inexcusable’ tweet controversy.
Madonna further provoked reactions when she posted a photo of herself smiling while holding the Oscar Audiard won for Best Original Song for Emilia Perez’s track ‘El Mal.#newsafro_
