KARLA MAKES THEM HOLLA

Gascon's image (far right) is about to get the
Stalin-era disappearing treatment.

 There's nothing like a good ol' fashioned scandal to upset somebody's Oscar chances at
the last minute. So let us thank Karla Sofia Gascon for running riot on social media before basking in the spotlight of history as the first openly trans actor nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Emilia Perez, the French musical about a male Mexican gangster played by a Spanish woman (Gascon) who becomes a woman, co-starring an American woman (Zoe Saldana) playing a Mexican. (I make a big deal out of that because that kind of casting was considered "cultural appropriation" until Emilia Perez was released.)

This makes less sense than Karla's
"apology".

Gascon's online targets include Muslims, blacks, Catholics, gays, Mexicans -- oh, and the Oscars being too diverse. (Good one, Karla!). Turning her line of fire closer to her profession, Gascon's also took aim at pop singer Adele, while another post referred to Selena Gomez as a "rich rat who plays the poor bastard" -- a year before they started filing Emilia Perez together. It's a little early to make predictions, but I don't think Karla and Selena will be exchanging Christmas cards this year.

Gascon's classic almost-apology -- made with that Oscar in her eyes -- hits all the cliched talking points at times like this: “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.” 

In an earlier time, a statement like that would have been written by a lawyer, but now it possesses the heart and soul of ChatGP. The sentence about fighting for a better world not only isn't true, it's straight out of Harvey Weinstein's non-apology for raping actresses. And as for light triumphing over darkness -- it sounds like she turned off that light a long time ago.

Realizing that this boilerplate press release wasn't enough, Karla finally got around to deleting her social media account -- took her only two days! -- and issued yet another "apology" in which she refers to people quoting her comments as "misinformation" (What the?...) The part that should make us question her mental state comes in the second paragraph: "I have always used my social media as a diary, reflections or notes, to later create stories or characters, not as something that would be scrutinized down to the last of its 140 characters, since sometimes I, myself, am not even aware of having written something negative."

On the other hand, what can you expect
from a trans lesbian who hates lesbians?

Karla, baby, give me some of that sangria you've been guzzling! You want to keep a diary that shouldn't be read by anybody else? Get a goddamn diary, not internet service! You're not aware of what you've written? You might want to consult a professional about that little problem -- and I don't mean PR team. 

Where to, bub?

For me, the most interesting part of Gascon's transgression (see what I did there?) is how it puts people on either end of the political spectrum in a quandary. People on the left wonder: Is it OK to criticize a trans person? Doesn't that give the other side ammunition? Those on the right are confused: I agree with him. Because, you know she's a him. But because everybody calls him "her", I can't support her. I mean him. 

As for the rest of us... 1% laugh heartily, while the other 99% say, "I've never heard of this person in my life." And at this point, Karla Sofia Gascon likely looks back to that kind of anonymity with a bittersweet nostalgia. See you on Oscar night, Karla!

                                   ***********************