Internet jokes Conan O’Brien’s jab at Karla Sofia Gascon in Oscars monologue got ‘lost in translation’

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: At the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, host Conan O’Brien took a playful jab at 'Emilia Perez' star Karla Sofia Gascon, whose past controversial tweets resurfaced ahead of the event.

O’Brien, known for his quick wit and playful humor, used the moment to make light of Gascon's recent scandal during his monologue.

Conan O’Brien jokes about Karla Sofia Gascon’s controversial tweets

“‘Anora’ uses the f-word 479 times,” Conan O’Brien quipped. “That’s three times more than the record set by the publicist of Karla Sofia Gascon," he added.

The audience erupted in laughter at the joke, but the former late-night host had a message for the actress, who was sitting in the audience.

“Karla, if you are going to tweet about the Oscars, remember my name is Jimmy Kimmel,” he jokingly added.

The moment served as a lighthearted diversion, but it also pointed to the controversy surrounding Gascon's social media history.

The actress, who made history as the first transgender woman nominated for Best Actress for her performance in 'Emilia Perez', has faced public scrutiny for her earlier tweets that were deemed offensive after they resurfaced in late January.

Karla Sofia Gascon faces backlash over offensive tweets amid historic Oscar nomination

Karla Sofia Gascon, who was nominated for her role in Netflix's Spanish-language French musical thriller, was criticized for tweets about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the 2021 Academy Awards, Page Six reported.

Journalist Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of the tweets, which span from 2016 to 2023, on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the Oscar nominations were announced. The backlash intensified after her nomination gained attention in the media.

In response to the controversy, Academy CEO Bill Kramer issued a statement urging the public to approach the evening with respect. 

“The Academy does not condone hate speech — I want to be very clear about that,” Kramer said. “Karla’s nomination is historic. That’s really important. She’s still a nominee. We honor that, but we do not condone hate speech.”

“If Karla joins us for the night, I hope there is an air of respect,” Kramer went on to say. “We have over 200 nominees. The night is about much more than one person. We are there to celebrate all of our nominees.”

Despite the outcry, Gascon’s nomination remained intact. She made history as the first transgender woman nominated for Best Actress for her role in 'Emilia Perez', a film that earned 13 nominations — the most for any film this year.

The controversy surrounding Gascon escalated when additional insensitive posts were uncovered, including one from 2022 where she referred to 'Emilia Perez' co-star Selena Gomez as a “rich rat."

These revelations sparked calls for the actress' nomination to be rescinded. After the backlash reached mainstream attention, Gascon distanced herself from the 'Emilia Perez' awards campaign and issued an apology.

“I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” she said, per Page Six.

“As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,” Gascon added. “All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness," she said.

Conan O'Brien's 'brutal' joke about Karla Sofia Gascon sparks Internet buzz

Conan O'Brien's jab at Karla Sofia Gascon during his Oscars monologue sparked a flurry of reactions online. Critics and fans alike shared their takes, highlighting Gascon’s confusion over the joke and the ongoing controversy surrounding her.

A user said, "She didn’t even get the joke. She immediately ask for help."

Another added, "The joke got lost in translation."

A third commentator shared a video of two women arguing and insulting each other, captioning it, "Karla sofia gascon to conan every time he talks about her."

"Her tweets were Islamophobic so of course we can joke about it and she’s not cancelled," said one sarcastically.

Another chimed in, "Oh damn he has that one loaded."

A comment read, "Brutal!!!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.