The most recent advancement in the controversial Emilia Pérez campaign is a declaration of silence from Oscar-nominated lead, Karla Sofía Gascón. Gascón made a statement in an Instagram post after director Jacques Audiard’s interview with Deadline. The French director shared he has not spoken with the star of the musical crime film because she jeopardized his trust.

Not only does Emilia Pérez have the most Oscar nominations this year, Gascón is also the first transgender person to be nominated in an acting category. After a series of tweets were uncovered by journalist Sarah Hagi, her reputation has potentially suffered irreparable harm. Gascón attacked Muslims, George Floyd, and the diversity initiative at the Oscars . Many question the due diligence of her team, especially because the tweets were made as recently as 2021.

In the interview, Audiard definitively expressed his disappointment: “I’m thinking in this thing of how hurting others, of how she’s hurting the crew and all these people who worked so incredibly hard on this film. I’m thinking of myself, I’m thinking of Zoe [Saldaña] and Selena [Gomez]. I just don’t understand why she’s continuing to harm us.”

Gascón acknowledged Audiard’s comments in the post. She responded that she hopes her “silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference.”