Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue at the Oscars quickly became a talking point after he made a joke referencing the controversy surrounding Karla Sofia Gascon. His remark drew immediate reactions from the audience, with some laughing. Now, many are eager to know exactly what he said and how Gascon responded.
Here is what Conan O’Brien said about the Karla Sofia Gascon controversy in his monologue.
What did Conan O’Brien say about Karla Sofia Gascon?
Conan O’Brien made a memorable debut as the host of the 2025 Oscars, delivering a monologue filled with sharp humor and playful jabs. During his opening monologue, he referenced the controversy surrounding Emilia Perez star Karla Sofía Gascon, who has faced backlash for resurfaced social media posts.
The host joked that Anora broke the record for the most F-words in a film, barely surpassing the number of times Gascon’s publicist had to do damage control. O’Brien said, “Anora uses the F-word 479 times. That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.” He then imitated the supposed reaction from her team, exclaiming, “You tweeted WHAT?!” O’Brien further added, “Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.” As the audience laughed, the camera panned to Gascon, who responded with a playful prayer gesture.
Gascon, nominated for her performance in Emilia Pérez, has faced criticism due to past posts that some found offensive, including remarks on Islam, diversity, and the George Floyd protests. The controversy escalated after journalist Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of these posts, leading to widespread debate. In an interview with CNN en Español, Gascon stood by her Oscar nomination and said she will not back down from her historic nomination.
Despite the backlash, Gascon’s nomination marks a historic moment as the first openly transgender actor to be recognized in the Best Actress category. While her past comments have sparked criticism, she continues to defend her position.
