Megyn Kelly blasts trans actor Karla Sofia Gascon after Oscar nomination: 'Tailor-made for awards'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Megyn Kelly has once again made waves with her sharp commentary, this time targeting 'Emilia Perez' star Karla Sofia Gascon, who recently made history as the first openly transgender performer nominated for the Best Actress Oscar.
On her podcast, Kelly delivered an impassioned critique, accusing Hollywood of being "out of touch with the American people" and calling Gascon’s nomination “an insult” to the award category, Daily Mail reported.
Megyn Kelly says 'a man took a best actress spot' after Karla Sofia Gascon bags nomination
“Among the people nominated for Best Actress is a man—a man, I tell you,” Megyn Kelly said on her 'Megyn Kelly Show', referring to Karla Sofia Gascon’s life before transitioning in 2016.
“He used to be known until he was like in his late 40s as Carlos Gascon. He goes by Karla Sofia Gascon; he is 52 years old and transitioned in 2016—so-called transitioned,” she stated.
Kelly criticized both Gascon’s nomination and the film’s premise, calling it “tailor-made for awards in Hollywood.”
She also condemned Gascon’s Golden Globes acceptance speech, during which the actress urged trans people to “stand up to bigotry.”
Kelly repeated her disdain for the nomination: “He has taken one of the five coveted spots for Best Actress—Best Actress,” she emphasized, with notable frustration.
“My basic take is all the Hollywood women deserve this, and I don’t feel sorry for them,” she said.
'Emilia Perez' gets praise and criticism
'Emilia Perez' tells the story of a brutal cartel leader who fakes her death to live as a woman.
The film, starring Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, has garnered critical acclaim and racked up nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress for Saldana, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
It has also been praised for its bravery in tackling underrepresented characters and controversial themes through the lens of a musical.
The film dominated the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, winning the Jury Prize and making history with the first-ever Best Actress Award for an ensemble.
Gascon herself picked up the Best Actress Golden Globe and delivered a fiery acceptance speech in which she said: “I chose these colors tonight because I have a message. The light always wins over darkness. You can maybe put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you can never take away our soul, our existence, our identity. Raise your voice and say, ‘I am who I am'.”
Critics have lauded the film’s “provocative” subject matter and daring approach, but not everyone has been won over.
Harron Walker of 'The Cut' praised the campy nature of the film but critiqued its portrayal of transitioning, writing: “I don’t demand total realism from every film, but I expect a filmmaker so taken by the concept of transitioning to at least display an informed understanding of what that concept actually looks like in practice.”
Megyn Kelly’s blistering criticism of Hollywood
On her show, Megyn Kelly ridiculed the film’s plot and Hollywood’s celebration of it.
She mocked a scene from the movie where Saldana’s character asks about sex change operations and called the Oscars’ recognition of 'Emilia Perez' part of a broader agenda.
“This is the night to stand up and celebrate how much [Hollywood] hates Catholics, how much they believe men can become women, and how much they hate Donald Trump—whether they say it explicitly or not,” Kelly asserted.
Guests on her show echoed her sentiments, with one joking, “I do love the idea of a transitioning cartel boss. I would love to know how that went down in the meeting: ‘By the way, I want to be a woman'.”
Kelly also took aim at the broader entertainment industry, arguing that both Democrats and Republicans have sent “a clear message” that they feel efforts to “accommodate the transgender stuff” have gone too far.
Controversy surrounds Oscars as Karla Sofia Gascon competes for Best Actress
The film’s supporters include heavyweights like Meryl Streep, who praised Selena Gomez’s “beautiful, smudged, sensual” performance, and a wave of critics who’ve called it groundbreaking.
Yet Kelly insists Hollywood’s celebration of 'Emilia Perez' reflects a disconnect with everyday Americans, dubbing the entertainment industry “Hollyweird.”
Gascon faces stiff competition in the Best Actress category from Cynthia Erivo ('Wicked'), Mikey Madison ('Anora'), Demi Moore ('The Substance'), and Fernanda Torres ('I’m Still Here').
Meanwhile, 'Emilia Perez' is poised to make history, with nominations spanning major categories like Best Picture and Best Director.
As the Oscars approach on March 2, one thing is clear: the night will be marked by both celebration and controversy, with 'Emilia Perez' at the center of the storm.
Whether the Academy awards Gascon the coveted statue or not, her nomination has already ignited a fiery cultural debate that shows no signs of cooling.
