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Conan O’Brien did not hold back during his opening monologue at the 2025 Academy Awards roasting a variety of celebrities –– including actress Karla Sofía Gascón.
The 61-year-old comedian served as the host for the highly anticipated award show, which took place on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. After controversial X posts by Gascón — who plays the leading role in the 13-time Oscar-nominated movie musical Emilia Pérez — resurfaced, fans wondered how the Oscars would handle the drama.
Host Conan O’Brien speaks onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Host Conan O’Brien speaks onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The former late-night show host poked fun at Gascón, who was sitting in the audience during his opening monologue.
“I loved Anora. I really did. Anora uses the f word 479 times,” O’Brien remarked. “That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist: ‘You tweeted WHAT!?'”
The former Saturday Night Live writer continued, “Karla if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
Gascón — the first openly transgender person nominated for an Oscar — seemed to take the joke well as she smiled and laughed.
Spanish actress Karla Sofia Gascon poses before the 50th edition of the Cesar Film Awards ceremony at the Olympia venue in Paris on February 28, 2025. Spanish actress Karla Sofia Gascon poses before the 50th edition of the Cesar Film Awards ceremony at the Olympia venue in Paris on February 28, 2025. Thomas SAMSON/Getty Images
In January, journalist Sarah Hagi unearthed Gascón’s old X posts, which critiqued many minority groups. The posts were translated from Spanish to English and Hagi shared multiple screenshots.
In one post from 2021, Gascón critiqued the Oscars, writing, “More and more the #Oscars are looking like a ceremony for independent and protest films, I didn’t know if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration or the 8M.” She continued, “Apart from that, an ugly, ugly gala.”
Gascón shortly apologized for her posts after they resurfaced.
“I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,” Gascón said in a statement. “All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”
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