Bill Maher blames 'cancel culture' for Emilia Pérez’s Oscar snub: "It was the frontrunner"

Bill Maher claims Emilia Pérez lost at the Oscars due to “cancel culture” after Karla Sofia Gascon’s controversy.

Bill Maher has claimed Emilia Pérez was the frontrunner for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards but was ultimately snubbed due to “cancel culture.”

Speaking on Real Time with Bill Maher, the host argued that backlash surrounding lead star Karla Sofia Gascon contributed to the film missing out on major wins.

“There are people who say cancel culture isn’t a real thing and I would say to them, ‘It just happened at the Oscars,’” Maher said. “You may not think it happened but the movie that was going to win it all was Emilia Pérez.”

The Netflix film received 13 nominations—the most of any movie at this year’s Oscars—but only won Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for El Mal. Maher believes its losses, including Best Picture, stem from resurfaced social media posts by Gascon.

Maher acknowledged Gascon’s performance, stating, “God bless her, she did a great job,” but suggested the online controversy surrounding her was blown out of proportion. “This movie, that was going to win it all, it was the frontrunner, and she was going to get all… suddenly was out to lunch,” he said.

Ultimately, the indie film Anora won Best Picture, with its star Mikey Madison also taking home Best Actress. While it’s uncertain whether Emilia Pérez would have won without the controversy, Maher maintains it’s proof that cancel culture still influences Hollywood.

Real Time with Bill Maher is available for streaming on Max.