Welcome back to Talon Talks! It’s been a minute (our apologies) but get ready to catch up with some recent celebrity gossip. Enjoy!
‘Emilia Pérez’ star Karla Sofia Gascón sparks controversy
Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of Netflix’s musical film Emilia Pérez, has been the center of significant backlash due to the resurfacing of past offensive social media posts. These posts contained comments that were Islamaphobic, racist, homophobic, and body-shaming in nature. For example, she questioned if the Oscars had become a “Black Lives Matter demonstration.” The timing of these quotes, specifically her Oscars remark, is ironic, as Gascón is the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role at this year’s Oscars. In response, Gascón has issued multiple apologies, defending herself by stating that her comments were taken out of context. Despite her efforts to apologize, the film’s award season campaign has been impacted. Netflix removed her image from promotional materials and director Jacques Audiard, along with co-star Zoe Saldaña, condemned her actions.
With the Oscars approaching on March 2nd, many are intrigued to see how Gascón’s actions will impact Emilia Pérezes performance after being nominated for 13 Oscars.
It Ends With Us…in court
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller It Ends With Us has become a complex legal battle involving the film’s lead actors, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directed the film.) Back in December, Lively filed a complaint, alleging that Baldoni and his production company created a hostile work environment during production. Her claims included instances of unwanted physical contact, inappropriate sexual comments, and unprofessional behavior. Lively also accused Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign against her in retaliation for her complaints. In reaction to Lively, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit — a type of lawsuit that is filed for knowingly making harmful and untrue statements — against The New York Times, claiming that the publication defamed him in its coverage of the predicament. Baldoni also filed a lawsuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist. He accused them of extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy — alleging that Lively used threats of false sexual harassment complaints to damage his reputation. These actions have since gained significant media attention, with fans coming online and supporting both parties. The trial is scheduled to begin in March of next year.
Prebiotic soda brand under fire
Poppi, the healthier alternative to sugary soda, is experiencing repercussions after sending vending machines (valued at $25K a piece) to famous influencers. The brand is typically known for not only being “gut healthy”, but also their extravagant marketing tactics. Usually, however, their marketing receives praise online. This move, however, occurs amidst economic hardships for many Americans and natural disasters. Critics of Poppi’s decision say that the brand should have sent vending machines to more public locations, like college campuses or public parks, rather than the homes of rich influencers who don’t need personal vending machines. Further, many are turning to Olipop, another prebiotic soda brand, as this brand tends to send packages to avid customers. Although the brand was seeking attention leading up to their Super Bowl ad and will be taking back the vending machine, this controversy could cause a decline in sales for the company.
