Oscars 2025: Zoe Saldaña Apologizes After Win

Following the 2025 Oscars, Zoe Saldaña addressed the backlash against her film Emilia Pérez during a press conference at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. She won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in this Spanish-language musical, but her win was clouded by criticism regarding the film's portrayal of Mexico.

In the press room on March 2, after her victory, a reporter highlighted the film's criticisms, describing it as 'really hurtful.' Zoe responded, stating, "I'm very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke and we came from a place of love, and I will stand by that."

Zoe further explained her perspective on the film's narrative, saying, "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 who represent universal struggles against systemic oppression and who are on a journey to find their authentic voices."

Despite the controversy, Zoe emphasized her willingness to engage in dialogue with those who were offended, saying, "I will stand by that. But I'm also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, and with love and respect, having a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better. Have no problem. I welcome it."

In addition to the criticism directed at the film, another controversy arose concerning co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, who became the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar. Past offensive social media posts from her resurfaced, drawing negative attention for comments targeting groups such as Muslims and comments around diversity at the Oscars.

Despite these controversies, host Conan O'Brien made light of the situation during his opening monologue with a humorous jab aimed at Gascón, adding humor to the tension in the room. Gascón appeared to take the joke well, laughing along and chatting with a friend about the comment.

As the Oscars unfolded, many memorable moments occurred. Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner shared a playful kiss, while Demi Moore and Meg Ryan had an emotional moment together, reflecting on their long-standing careers in Hollywood.

Other highlights included a touching reunion between Adrien Brody and Halle Berry, a powerful performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and plenty of backstage camaraderie among stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Selena Gomez.

In sum, while the 2025 Oscars brought recognition and celebration of achievement, it also highlighted the ongoing conversations about representation and cultural sensitivity in the film industry.

Oscar, Zoe, Emilia