Bill Maher believes that cancel culture played a significant role in the Academy Awards snubbing Karla Sofía Gascón, who was nominated for best actress despite being part of the Oscar-winning film “Emilia Pérez”. Maher stated that Gascón’s tweets, which were posted between 2020 and 2021, were highly problematic, expressing opinions on George Floyd, Muslims, and diversity.
Maher compared Gascón’s tweets to those of Kanye West, describing them as “a little childlike” and “Kanye-esque”. He claimed that the film “Emilia Pérez”, which was considered a front-runner, was suddenly dropped from contention after the controversy surrounding Gascón’s tweets resurfaced.
Maher praised Gascón’s performance in “Anora”, which ultimately won five awards, including best picture, director, and actress. However, he noted that being nominated for an Oscar is not the same as being “cancelled”. The Oscars snub highlights the influence of cancel culture on the award show, Maher said.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/bill-maher-emilia-perez-oscars-cancel-culture-anora-1236332013