Gascón to miss BAFTAs amid controversy as guest and presenter line-up announced
The Spanish actress, who is nominated for Best Leading Actress for her turn in Emilia Pérez, does not appear on the official guest list
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Karla SofÃa Gascón is not expected to be among the attendees at this Sundayâs BAFTA Film Awards following the resurfacing of racially insensitive posts from her X/Twitter account.
The Spanish actress, who is nominated for Best Leading Actress for her turn in Emilia Pérez, does not appear on the official guest list, indicating that she may be skipping the ceremony at Londonâs Royal Festival Hall.
Gascón has already been absent from several major awards events, including the Critics Choice Awards, PGA Awards, and the Goya Awards. However, missing the BAFTAs marks her most high-profile no-show yet.
Other Emilia Pérez nominees, including Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomezâboth nominated for Supporting Actressâare expected to attend and will also present an award during the evening.
Last week, Gascón effectively withdrew from the awards season conversation, issuing a statement in which she said she wanted to let the work speak for itself. âI sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way,â she said, adding, âI hope my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is.â
Preparations are under way at Royal Festival Hall ahead of Sundayâs Bafta Film Awards
Getty Images for BAFTA
The Spanish star posted messages between 2019 and 2021 that included anti-Muslim rhetoric and comments about George Floyd. In the resurfaced tweets, Gascón complained about âmore Muslims in Spainâ and described their dress as âdeeply disgusting.â She also called Floyd, who was murdered in 2020, âa drug-addict swindler.â
The Standard has contacted Karla SofÃa Gascónâs reps for comment.
Despite Gascónâs absence, the BAFTA Film Awards will still see a star-studded turnout. Nominees expected to attend include Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, and Colman Domingo for Sing Sing.
The nightâs presenters will feature Mark Hamill, who may play a part in honouring Star Wars co-star Warwick Davis with a BAFTA Fellowship. Pamela Anderson and Lupita Nyongâo are also set to present awards, while performances will include Take That and Jeff Goldblum, who will play piano during the In Memoriam tribute.
Letitia Wright is set to present the EE Rising Star award alongside James McAvoy
BAFTA
The EE Rising Star Award celebrates its 20th anniversary, and this yearâs winner will be presented the award by EE Rising Star alumni Letitia Wright and James McAvoy, the first recipient of the award. It is the only award voted for by the British public.
The full list of presenters are as follows: Adam Pearson, Adam Scott, Anna Kendrick, Camila Cabello, Celia Imrie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colman Domingo, Gwendoline Christie, Hannah John-Kamen, Isabella Rossellini, James McAvoy, James Norton, Jessie Eisenberg, Joe Alwyn, Letitia Wright, Leo Woodall, Lupita Nyongâo, Marisa Abela, Marisa Tomei, Mark Hamill, Michelle Monaghan, Naomi Ackie, Orlando Bloom, Pamela Anderson, Ralph Fiennes, Simon Pegg, Shazad Latif, Stephen Merchant, Thomasin McKenzie, Vanessa Kirby, Vanessa Williams, Will Poulter, Will Sharpe, Tom Felton, Wunmi Mosaku.
David Tennant hosts the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, February 16, which will broadcast at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.