Zoë Saldaña Forced to Apologize Immediately After Oscar Win

Zoë Saldaña is not done answering for Emilia Pérez’s many controversies, this time apologizing for the film’s Mexico representation mere moments after winning Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for the film.

Saldaña’s win—though expected as long as her co-star Karla Sofía Gascón’s Twitter controversy didn’t eclipse her own Oscar chances—came as a disappointment to those who decried the film’s representation of Mexico. 

The newly-minted Best Supporting Actress winner was confronted with that disappointment almost immediately after descending from the Oscars stage. “Less has been said about Mexico, which is the heart of [the film],” a Mexican reporter asked Saldaña, “So what would you say about the heart of this movie, but also about the topic, [which] is really hurtful for us Mexicans?”

“First of all, I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended,” Saldaña replied. “That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love, and I will stand by that. I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico.” Social media users took issue with that response as the film takes place in Mexico and is the story’s central character is a Mexican cartel leader (Gascón).

Still, Saldaña continued, “We weren’t making a film about a country. We were making a film about four women. And these women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza.” She added that the film for her is about “surviving systemic oppression,” so she “stands by that” message. 

Even before Gascón was essentially blacklisted for her racist and offensive social media posts were uncovered on the awards trail, Emilia Pérez was plagued by criticism of its representation of trans people and of Mexico. French director Jacques Audiard only intensified that criticism when he admitted he “didn’t study much” about Mexico before he made the Spanish-language film. Mexican people spoke out across social media after Audiard’s comment, with one writing that the film portrays “a Mexico full of stereotypes, ignorance (and) lack of respect.”Saldaña stoked those flames on Sunday night, drawing the same ire, anew. One user wrote of her response, “Mexico was not ‘the heart of the film,’ yet they chose the topic to be the gangs, kidnapping, and violence against women issues happening in Mexico, and chose to mimic Mexican culture, and chose to set the film in MEXICO.” Added another, “For a non-Mexican woman to get up here and t

ell an actual Mexican citizen that they don’t agree with how Mexico feels about this film is a pretty disrespectful and disgusting response.”

The actress concluded that she would “welcome” criticism, despite not “sharing” those opinions. “I’m also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, and with love and respect, [to have] a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better. I welcome it.”