Netflix reviewing talent vetting process after ‘Emilia Perez’ star controversy

• Netflix is reviewing its talent-vetting process after resurfaced social media posts from “Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofía Gascón caused controversy. The backlash has overshadowed the film’s awards season momentum.
• Past tweets from Gascón, including offensive statements about Islam and George Floyd, have drawn significant backlash and calls for accountability.
• Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, addressed the situation, acknowledging the industry is reconsidering vetting practices for social media posts.

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Netflix is reviewing its talent-vetting process after resurfaced social media posts from “Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofía Gascón caused controversy. The backlash has quickly overshadowed the film’s awards season momentum.

Award season success turns to controversy

Last month, Gascón celebrated a historic milestone. She became the first transgender woman nominated in a film category at the Golden Globes and was also up for Best Actress at the Oscars.

However, that success was quickly derailed. Social media users resurfaced past tweets from Gascón, exposing offensive language and controversial statements.

One post from 2016 read, “Islam is becoming a hotbed of infection for humanity that urgently needs to be cured.”

Another tweet referenced George Floyd, saying, “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 assassins.”

Many other tweets drew outrage. Critics demanded accountability as the controversy spread online.

Netflix responds to the backlash

Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, addressed the situation on “The Town” podcast.

“I think it’s really a bummer for the 100 incredibly talented people who made an amazing movie,” Bajaria said. “And if you look at the nominations and all of this awards’ love that it’s received, I think it’s such a bummer that it distracted from that.”

When asked whether Netflix would change its approach to vetting talent, Bajaria admitted that the industry is reconsidering the practice.

“It’s not really common practice for people to vet social tweets that way,” she said. “I think, which I’ve heard a lot, is that a lot of people are reevaluating that.”

She also praised the “Emilia Perez” team for their work on the film’s campaign.

A pattern of resurfaced social media posts

Old social media posts have led to scandals for many public figures.

In 2021, “The Bachelor” finalist Rachael Kirkconnell faced backlash after photos emerged of her attending an antebellum-themed party. These events celebrate the pre-Civil War South and have been widely criticized for romanticizing slavery.

Former “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell in an interview, leading to his departure from the franchise. Kirkconnell later apologized and reconciled with Bachelor Matt James, though the couple announced their split last month.

Comedians have also faced consequences for past remarks.

“Saturday Night Live” hired Shane Gillis in 2019 but he lost his job days later after old podcast clips surfaced. The recordings showed him using racial slurs and making offensive jokes about Asian communities.

Despite losing his SNL role, Gillis rebuilt his career through stand-up and eventually landed a Netflix special.

What’s next for Netflix?

Bajaria acknowledged that Netflix produces a high volume of original content, making large-scale vetting a challenge.

With thousands of actors, writers, and creators involved in its projects, the company must determine whether a new vetting process is feasible.