Transgender actor deletes X account over backlash from resurfaced posts critical of Islam, George Floyd

Oscar-nominated transgender actor Karla Sofia Gascon has come under fire after old social media posts referring to George Floyd as a "drug addict and a hustler" and criticizing Islam resurfaced. Gascon has since deleted the actor’s social media account.

Gascon said in a statement through Netflix, "As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness," the Associated Press reported.

Gascon, who was the first openly transgender performer to receive an Oscar nomination for the actor’s role in Emilia Perez, told the Hollywood Reporter, "I’m sorry, but I can no longer allow this campaign of hate and misinformation to affect me and my family, so at their request I am closing my account on X. I have been threatened with death, insulted, abused and harassed to the point of exhaustion. I have a wonderful daughter to protect, whom I love madly and who supports me in everything."

One post, dated November 22, 2020 stated, "I’m Sorry, Is it just my impression or is there more muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Next year instead of English we’ll have to teach Arabic." The posts were resurfaced by journalist Sarah Hagi, and many of which had been deleted on Thursday, according to Variety.

Another post, dated August 16, 2021, stated, "I am so sick of so much of this sh*t, of islam, of christianity, of catholicism and of all the fucking beliefs of morons that violate human rights.”

In regards to George Floyd, Gascon wrote, "I really think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who still consider black people to be monkeys Without rights and consider policemen to be assassin. They’re all wrong."

Gascon continued in the actor’s statement following the backlash, "Perhaps my words are not correct, many times due to ignorance or pure mistake. I apologize again if anyone has ever felt offended or in the future. I am a human being who also made, makes and will make mistakes from which I will learn. I am not perfect. Taking my words out of context or manipulating them to hurt me is something I am not responsible for."

Gascon received an Oscar nomination for the actor’s roles in Emilia Perez, playing both a cartel kingpin and a woman who surfaces after the kingpin fakes his death.