Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard responds to backlash over Oscars speech

Jacques Audiard declined to speak on trans rights after winning Best Original Song at the Oscars.

Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard skips trans rights statement at Oscars, says he ‘didn’t have opportunity’*

Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard won the Oscar for Best Original Song but chose not to address transgender rights during his time on stage. The French filmmaker, who co-wrote “El Mal” with Clément Ducol and Camille, later explained his decision in the press room at the 2025 Oscars.

“Since I didn’t win Best Film or Best Director, I didn’t have the opportunity to speak,” Audiard said through an interpreter. “But had I had that opportunity, I would have spoken up.”

Despite losing Best Picture and Best Director to Sean Baker’s Anora, Audiard had a platform after winning for El Mal. However, during the live broadcast, he ceded the microphone to his co-writers without addressing the audience.

Emilia Pérez, which tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader (played by Karla Sofía Gascón) who undergoes gender-affirming surgery, faced backlash over its representation of both Mexican culture and the trans experience. The film was nominated for 13 Oscars, ultimately winning two—Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song.

The film’s Oscar campaign was marred by controversy after past offensive tweets from Gascón resurfaced. The actress had made inflammatory remarks about Islam, the murder of George Floyd, and a prior Academy Awards ceremony.

Oscars host Conan O’Brien even referenced the controversy in his opening monologue, joking about the record number of expletives in Anora compared to Gascón’s publicist’s reaction to her resurfaced tweets.

Audiard later admitted he was “very disappointed” that the backlash overshadowed his work, calling Gascón’s comments “inexcusable.”