Karla Sofía Gascón knows how to take a joke.
During the 2025 Oscars, the Emilia Pérez star—who has been ensnared in controversy after her old social media posts resurfaced one month prior—was welcomed by host Conan O’Brien with a playful joke at her expense. (See everyone who won big at the 2025 Oscars here.)
“I loved Anora,” the comedian said during his opening monology at the March 2 ceremony. “Little fact for you, Anora uses the f-word 479 times. That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist. ‘You tweeted what?!'”
“I’m having fun,” he continued after the laughter died down. “Karla Sofía Gascón is here tonight. And, Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
One day later, Karla—the first openly trans actor to be nominated for an Oscar—issued her witty response.
“Thanks to the members of @theacademy for the nomination for best leading actress, for the invitation to the gala,” the 52-year-old captioned a March 3 Instagram post. “I really enjoyed it, very amiable and funny, especially your fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic, every day he looks more like the great Conan O’Brien.”
As for how she reacted in the moment? The actress took the joke in stride inside Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre as well. Indeed, when the camera cut to her, she let out a laugh before turning to her friend to seemingly clarify the host’s humor.
For the 97th Academy Awards, Karla was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Emilia Pérez. And while she didn’t end up winning in the category (Anora’s Mikey Madison took home the trophy), her costar Zoe Saldañadid take home an Oscar statuette for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as well as the film’s “El Mal” earning Best Original Song.
And while Karla has already expressed her regret over the controversial tweets, Zoe found herself apologizing for backlash surrounding the film’s portrayal of Mexico after her win.
“I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended,” the Oscar winner said to a reporter who called the film “really hurtful” in the press room. “That was never our intention. We spoke and we came from a place of love and I will stand by that.”
“I don’t share your opinion,” she continued. “For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We weren’t making a film about a country. We were making a film about four women, and these women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza. And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day at trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find their most authentic voices.”
For more moments you might have missed from the 97th Academy Awards, keep reading.
Adrien Brody and Halle Berry Have an Amorous Red Carpet Reunion
Twenty-two years after Adrien Brody so memorably thanked presenter Halle Berry when he won his first Best Actor statue for The Pianist, he returned as a nominee for The Brutalist and she was prepared.
Wicked‘s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Congratulate Each Other on a Job Well Done
No question, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are changed for good after starring in Wicked. The costars opened the 2025 Oscars with a medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, “Home” from The Wiz and their own film’s biggest banger, “Defying Gravity.”
Demi Moore & Whoopi Goldberg Have a Ghost Reunion
“Molly, you in danger, girl!” The Ghost co-stars reunite on the red carpet at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Host Conan O’Brien’s Gift for the Real VIPs
Stars and the ever-important attendees who served as seat fillers when the A-listers got up to go do stuff were treated to these gifts from host Conan O’Brien.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner Sneak a Kiss
Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet hasn’t been coy about who his main squeeze is like some young actors, bringing Kylie Jenner as his date to the 2025 Oscars.
Colman Domingo Keeps the Party Going
Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo starred in Sing Sing and started a dance-dance revolution during a commercial break, encouraging the audience to keep it moving.
Best Supporting Actor Winner Kieran Culkin Enjoys His Victory With Robert Downey Jr.
Noting in his Best Supporting Actor speech that the honor meant a particular lot coming from presenter Robert Downey Jr., A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin enjoyed his moment with last year’s winner backstage.
Meg Ryan and Best Actress Nominee Demi Moore Have an Emotional Moment
DemiMoore, a first-time Oscar nominee for The Substance, was relishing her moment with fellow veteran star Meg Ryan earlier in the evening.
Alas, Moore’s awards season accolades stopped short of Oscar night, Anora‘s Mikey Madison pulling off the Best Actress upset.
2025 Best Actor Nominees, Assemble!
Best Actor nominees TimothéeChalamet, Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody, Ralph Fiennes and Sebastian Stan proved it’s all love, even among competitors in the same category.
Samuel L. Jackson and Selena Gomez Snap a Selfie
Past nominee Samuel L. Jackson and Emilia Pérez star Selena Gomez, paired to present Oscars for Best Documentary Short and Documentary Feature, made sure to capture the moment for posterity.
Best Supporting Actress Winner Zoe Saldaña Tunes in Backstage
Emilia Pérez star Zoe Saldaña, waiting backstage to present the Oscar for cinematography, caught Sterling K. Brown and Ana de Armas presenting Best Live Action Short to I’m Not a Robot.
Lisa Steals a Quiet Moment Backstage
Before Lisa performed “Live and Let Die” as part of a tribute to the James Bond franchise and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the Blackpink artist and White Lotus star stopped to collect herself backstage.
Margaret Qualley, Elle Fanning Catch Up Backstage
The Substance‘s Margaret Qualley and A Complete Unknown‘s Elle Fanning weren’t among the nominees but producers found meaty roles for both: Qualley made a slinks surprise appearance in the evening’s James Bond tribute as a dancer, while Fanning helped present Best Costume Design to Wicked‘s Paul Tazewell.
What Did Kieran Culkin Just Tell Ariana Grande?
Ariana Grande, in attendance with Wicked costar and real-life love Ethan Slater, appears to have had her mind blown—but only her boyfriend and Kieran Culkin know for sure.
Halle Berry & Michelle Yeoh
The two Oscar winners and former Bond girls pose for pics together as they arrive for the ceremony.
Oprah Winfrey Celebrates Quincy Jones With Queen Latifah
Entertainment royalty Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah joined forces to help honor the late, great Quincy Jones.
Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldana & Kieran Culkin
Cheers! The newly-minted Oscar winners tap their trophies in celebration.
Past Winners Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone Meet Again
Returning to pay it forward, 2024’s Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy and Best Actress Emma Stone had a word up before heading out to present to this year’s respective winners, Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison.
Best Actress Winner Mikey Madison Can’t Stop Smiling
Anora star Mikey Madison flashed the written proof along with her Best Actress Oscar after her surprise win.
Adrien Brody Thinks Billy Crystal Looks Marvelous, Darling
Best Actor winner Brody had an affectionate greeting for revered nine-time Oscars host Billy Crystal, who reunited with When Harry Met Sally costar Meg Ryan to present Best Picture to Anora.
Chrissy Teigen, Selma Blair & Scout
The Cruel Intentions actress’ handsome service dog stole everyone’s hearts at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
