Gascón made history last month as the first transgender person to be nominated in an Oscars acting category, after making the shortlist for best actress for her role in the Netflix musical Emilia Pérez. In an interview with CNN, Gascón apologised to anyone who "may have felt offended" by her posts, but said she was not racist.

"Emilia Pérez" has faced controversy and criticism for various reasons. Among the most prominent is its portrayal of Mexico. The movie’s director, Jacques Audiard, is French, and none of its three lead cast members are of Mexican descent. Only one member of the core cast, Adriana Paz, is from Mexico.

Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” is an Oscar contender unlike any other. It’s a musical, a trans parable, and a Mexico-set melodrama, all combined into one unique amalgamation by an international filmmaking team.

Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” is an Oscar contender unlike any other. It’s a musical, a trans parable, and a Mexico-set melodrama, all combined into one unique amalgamation by an international filmmaking team.

Between widespread criticism of the film itself and resurfaced tweets from its lead star, the Oscars front-runner has been marred by tons of controversy.