Selena Gomez Responds to Emilia Pérez Controversy: “I Have No Regrets”

Selena Gomez has finally broken her silence on the ongoing controversy surrounding her Emilia Pérez co-star, Karla Sofía Gascón. While attending the 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival on February 9, the actress and singer addressed the backlash surrounding Karla’s past social media posts.

Selena Gomez Stands by Emilia Pérez Amid Backlash

Despite the controversy, Selena Gomez remains proud of her work on Emilia Pérez, a film that has been making waves during the awards season. During a Q&A session at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, the Only Murders in the Building star shared her perspective on the situation, making it clear that she stands by her work.

“I’m really good,” Selena, 32, said when asked how she was handling the situation. “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 live with no regrets.”

Emphasizing her commitment to the project, she added, “I would do this movie over and over again if I could.”

The Karla Sofía Gascón Controversy Explained

The controversy erupted when offensive tweets allegedly linked to Karla Sofía Gascón resurfaced online. One of the viral screenshots showed the Spanish actress allegedly calling Selena Gomez a “rich rat”, referencing a past rumor involving Hailey Bieber, the wife of Selena’s ex, Justin Bieber.

However, Karla has denied making that specific remark. In a February 2 interview with CNN en Español, she refuted the claim, saying:

“It’s not mine, of course. I’ve never said anything about my partner, I would never refer to her like that.”

Despite this denial, Karla’s social media history has fueled further scrutiny. She deactivated her X account on January 30, but other screenshots attributed to her continued to circulate.

Karla Sofía Gascón Addresses the Backlash

As the first openly trans performer to receive an Oscar nomination, Karla has faced immense pressure regarding her past remarks. Some critics even called for her to renounce her nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Academy Awards.

However, Karla firmly rejected that idea, saying:

“I cannot renounce a nomination because what I have done is a job, and what is being valued is my acting work. I have not committed any crime nor have I harmed anyone.”

In recent days, Karla has issued multiple apologies, acknowledging past mistakes but also suggesting that some fake quotes have been attributed to her.

“They have created posts as if it were me, insulting even my colleagues,” she wrote in a February 1 Instagram post. “Things that I wrote to glorify as if they were criticism, jokes as if they were reality, words that without the background only seem like hate.”

She further expressed remorse, saying:

“I cannot repair my past actions. I can only say that today I am not the same person as 10 or 20 years ago.”

What’s Next for Selena Gomez and Emilia Pérez?

Despite the controversy, Emilia Pérez continues to be a major contender during awards season, with Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Édgar Ramírez receiving critical praise for their performances.

While neither Selena nor Karla have made further statements regarding the situation, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see how the drama unfolds ahead of the 2025 Oscars.