Emilia Pérez Director Thanks Karla Sofia Gascón After BAFTA Award Win

Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard thanked his film’s controversial star Karla Sofia Gascón after his BAFTA Film Award win.

While accepting the award for best film not in the English language at the 78th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, Feb. 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the French director mentioned Gascón, who recently came under fire for resurfaced posts on her since-deleted X account, many of which criticized Muslim culture, George Floyd and diversity. 

Audiard, 72, said, “Above all, I would like to thank all the wonderful artists who brought this film to life and who are here with us tonight,” per Variety.

He continued, “My dear Zoe, my dear Selena, Giorgini, Paul, Juliet, Camille, Clement, Julia and your team, but also you, my dear Karla Sofia, that I kiss. I’m deeply proud of what we achieved together. Long live Emilia Pérez!”

Gascón, 52, was absent from the ceremony while Saldaña, 46, and Gomez, 32, were in attendance.

Emilia Pérez, from distributor Netflix, is a musical-thriller about a Mexican drug cartel leader (played by Gascón) who transitions into a woman. Playing that titular character’s unsuspecting wife, Jessi, is Gomez, who along with Gascón, Saldaña and Adriana Paz won the 2024 Cannes Film Festival best actress prize. The four actresses are collectively nominated for the outstanding ensemble honor at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, to be held Feb. 23. 

PEOPLE previously reported on Feb. 13 that Saldaña and Gomez would be attending the BAFTAs without Gascón. The actress’ name was absent from the list of presenters and attendees expected at the upcoming ceremony, as announced by BAFTA.

The Spanish actress previously skipped the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 7 after reports noted she would not attend upcoming awards ceremonies in the wake of controversies that erupted over her past offensive social media posts.

Emilia Pérez entered the BAFTA Awards with 11 nominations total. Gascón is nominated for leading actress at the BAFTAs, while both Saldaña, 46, and Gomez, 32, are up for best supporting actress.

Gascón previously apologized for her resurfaced social media posts on Feb. 6, vowing silence after making several statements and giving a tearful interview.

Audiard said the actress was taking “a self-destructive approach” during an interview with Deadline published Feb. 5.

“Why is she harming herself? … She’s talking about herself as a victim, which is surprising,” said Audiard. “It’s as if she thought that words don’t hurt.

Gascón made history at the Oscars as the first openly transgender performer nominated for Best Actress. She also earned nominations at this year’s Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.