Zoe Saldaña apologizes at Oscars despite winning Best Supporting Actress

Zoe Saldaña expressed her deep regret following the backlash against Emilia Pérez, a film that she starred in and for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

During her post-Oscar interviews, Saldaña responded to a Mexican journalist who criticized the film for being “hurtful” to Mexican audiences, particularly as Mexico played a central role in the narrative.In her response, Saldaña offered an apology, saying, "I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention; we came from a place of love, and I stand by that." She acknowledged the negative reactions from Mexican viewers, many of whom felt misrepresented by the film’s portrayal of the country and its people.

Emilia Pérez, which was nominated for 13 Oscars and won two, including Saldaña’s award and Best Original Song, faced controversy following the resurfacing of problematic tweets from lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón. Despite the criticism, Saldaña defended the film, emphasizing that it was not specifically about Mexico. "For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were telling a story about four women, and those women could have been from anywhere," she said, explaining that the film’s themes of systemic oppression and self-discovery were universal.

Saldaña also expressed openness to further discussion with the Mexican community. “I’m always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters with love and respect to have a great conversation on how Emilia Pérez could have been done better,” she added.

Reflecting on her career, Saldaña shared how perseverance in the face of rejection has shaped her, noting that true appreciation for success comes only after learning to let go of the pressure to win.