By the point “Emilia Pérez” had garnered 13 Oscar nominations, together with for greatest image, Netflix’s Spanish-language musical a few transgender drug lord had already been mired in controversy. Critics skewered the movie’s portrayal of trans points and Mexican tradition.
Then Karla Sofía Gascón’s outdated social media posts resurfaced by which the primary out trans performer to obtain a lead actress nod maligned Muslims, George Floyd and variety and appeared to body-shame the singer Adele.
Gascón apologized, deactivated her X account after which went on the defensive, typically tearfully, in an interview with CNN en Español, on her Instagram account and in a letter to the Hollywood Reporter by which she denounced “this campaign of hate.”
After the social media storm erupted, throughout a chat on podcast “The Town,” Netflix chief content material officer Bela Bajaria referred to as the controversy “a bummer” that distracted from the movie and its accolades. Gascón has largely been sidelined from the film’s awards drive.
Sure, it’s Oscar season, the place the street to the crimson carpet is usually suffering from unforced errors, smear campaigns, opposition analysis and typically soiled tips in efforts to undermine if not outright torpedo the frontrunners’ possibilities.
The Academy Awards will not be simply a night of self-congratulation. Along with status, an Oscar is a big publicity generator that may translate into field workplace grosses, house video gross sales and streaming viewership.
Whereas in years previous such campaigns often have been fueled by awards consultants and steadily geared toward a single film or actor, this season has seen controversies served upon a number of contenders.
It’s not simply the skilled consultants and studio entrepreneurs concerned in these so-called whisper campaigns. Now small armies of beginner Web sleuths and film followers have joined the fray, turning gripes and teapot tempests into social media scandals.
“The big difference in the last 10 years is social media fanning the flames,” mentioned Jason E. Squire, host of “The Movie Business Podcast” and professor emeritus at USC‘s School of Cinematic Arts. “The real question is whether it impacts Oscar voters.”
In addition to the travails of Gascón, best picture nominee “The Brutalist” has been slammed for admittedly using an AI speech tool to aid stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’s Hungarian language expertise. Fernanda Torres, the lead actress nominee for “I’m Still Here,” got here underneath fireplace for showing in blackface on a Brazilian tv present in 2008. Torres apologized.
Then there’s “Anora,” one other greatest image nominee, which was lambasted for not hiring an intimacy coordinator on set. At a London screening, Sean Baker, the movie’s director, mentioned that he had supplied one to the lead actors.
With this yr’s Academy Awards simply weeks away, we check out notable controversies of the previous, a few of which maybe deserve their very own statuettes for spite and nastiness: placing the tin in Tinseltown. .
Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in “Shakespeare in Love.”
(Miramax Movies)
“Shakespeare in Love”
Oscar yr: 1999
Backstory: Steven Spielberg’s World Conflict II epic “Saving Private Ryan” was thought of the favourite, however Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein, recognized for turning awards campaigns right into a blood sport, had different plans.
Controversy: “Shakespeare in Love’s” greatest image win is broadly seen because the capstone to probably the most controversial award campaigns in Oscar historical past.
Mark Gill, then Miramax‘s L.A. president, instructed the Hollywood Reporter, “We used the playbook for ‘The English Patient’ — turbocharged, on steroids. It was just absolutely murderous the whole way through.”
Miramax staffers referred to as voters to verify they’d acquired a VHS copy of “Shakespeare in Love.” Weinstein enlisted First Woman Hillary Clinton to host the movie’s world premiere in New York, unleashed a blizzard of advertisements, hosted events with the movie’s stars and arrange screenings and personal dinners with Oscar voters.
Weinstein additionally was accused of badmouthing the Spielberg movie, a DreamWorks launch.
Terry Press, DreamWorks’ advertising and marketing chief on the time, later mentioned that she acquired calls from reporters telling her that Miramax publicists have been “trying to get us to write stories saying that the only thing amazing about ‘Ryan’ is the first 20 minutes, and then after that it’s just a regular genre movie.”
And the Oscar goes to: “Shakespeare in Love” gained seven Academy Awards together with greatest image and lead actress (Gwyneth Paltrow). “Saving Private Ryan” gained 5, together with director (Spielberg).
Russell Crowe performed mathematical genius John Nash in “A Beautiful Mind.”
(Common Studios)
“A Beautiful Mind”
Oscar yr: 2002
Backstory: The lifetime of mathematician John Nash, a Nobel laureate who triumphed over schizophrenia, was chronicled on this acclaimed Ron Howard-directed biopic, incomes eight Oscar nominations, together with greatest image.
Angered by the reviews, Sylvia Nasar, the creator of the e-book on which the film was primarily based, wrote an op-ed for The Instances, rebuking journalists and saying they’d “distorted” materials from her e-book and “invented ‘facts.’”
And the Oscar goes to: “A Beautiful Mind” gained 4 Oscars together with greatest image, supporting actress (Jennifer Connelly) and director (Howard).
Whoopi Goldberg in “The Color Purple.”
(Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Photographs)
“The Color Purple”
Oscar yr: 1986
Backstory: Spielberg’s adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel earned 11 nominations, together with greatest image, director and tailored screenplay, and was Oprah Winfrey’s movie debut, garnering her a supporting actress nomination.
Controversy: When the movie was launched in 1985, it instantly sparked a backlash, coming underneath fireplace for its depiction of rape and stereotypical representations of Black males, a portrayal that Spike Lee decried as “one-dimensional animals.” It additionally confronted criticism for having been directed by a white man. Throughout a particular screening in Los Angeles, the Coalition In opposition to Black Exploitation staged a protest.
And the Oscar goes to: “Out of Africa” took house one of the best image trophy. “The Color Purple” was shut out, vying with 1977’s “The Turning Point,” which additionally earned 11 nods, for essentially the most nominated movie to take house zero awards.
Jessica Chastain starred in “Zero Dark Thirty.”
(Jonathan Olley / Sony Photos Releasing)
“Zero Dark Thirty”
Oscar yr: 2013
Backstory: Kathryn Bigelow directed this thriller in regards to the decades-long manhunt for 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, and the U.S. army raid on his Pakistani compound the place he was killed. The movie acquired 5 Oscar nominations together with greatest image and unique screenplay.
Controversy: When it was launched, the movie earned loads of important huzzahs, with The Instances calling it “cinematic storytelling at its most effective.”
Nevertheless it additionally drew opprobrium, with detractors taking intention on the film’s depiction of torture and questioning its veracity. The movie grew to become a flashpoint for partisan bickering when critics of the Obama administration claimed that the movie’s deliberate October launch was timed to spice up his reelection marketing campaign — it was later moved to December.
There additionally have been claims by some conservative activists that the CIA supplied labeled data to Bigelow and her crew as they researched the movie, expenses that have been denied by the filmmakers. A Senate inquiry into the matter was later dropped, Reuters reported.
And the Oscar goes to: “Zero Dark Thirty” took house the award for sound modifying. Ben Affleck’s “Argo” gained the highest prize.
Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in “Green Book.”
(Patti Perret / Common Photos)
“Green Book”
Oscar yr: 2019
Backstory: The movie chronicles the real-life friendship between a Black classical pianist, Donald Shirley, and Tony “Lip” Vallelonga, his Italian American driver, as they journey throughout the segregated South throughout Shirley’s live performance tour within the Nineteen Sixties. Directed by Peter Farrelly, it starred Mahershala Ali as Shirley and Viggo Mortensen as Vallelonga and earned 5 Oscar nominations together with greatest image.
Controversy: A swirl of expenses surrounded the movie, with many involving racial politics. Shirley’s household castigated the filmmakers for excluding them, saying the film’s portrayal of Shirley as estranged from his household and the Black neighborhood was “hurtful.” Additionally they referred to as into query the depiction of his friendship with Vallelonga. Dr. Maurice Shirley, Donald’s brother, described the film as a “symphony of lies.”
And the Oscar goes to: “Green Book” took greatest image in addition to statuettes for unique screenplay and supporting actor (Ali).
Joan Crawford as Blanche Hudson, left, and Bette Davis as Child Jane Hudson in ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
(Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)
“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
Oscar year: 1963
Backstory: The bitter rivalry between screen legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford helped propel this film about an aging onetime child star who torments her sister, a paraplegic former actor.
Controversy: The actresses’ discord performed out offscreen as Crawford actively campaigned towards Davis, who earned a nomination for lead actress — her tenth and last nod.
Crawford, who was snubbed, ended up onstage and accepted on behalf of Anne Bancroft, who gained for “The Miracle Worker,” beating Davis. Bancroft was showing on Broadway and was unable to attend the ceremony.
And the Oscar goes to: “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” gained one Oscar, for costume design.
Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane in “Citizen Kane.”
(Warner Bros.)
“Citizen Kane”
Oscar yr: 1942
And the Oscar goes to: “Citizen Kane” gained a single Oscar, for unique screenplay. “How Green Was My Valley” gained greatest image.