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Following reports that Vincent Gallo would star alongside Karla Sofía Gascón in director Stefania Rossella Grassi’s The Life Lift, the actor has denied his involvement in the film and initiated a he-said, she-said back-and-forth.

The Brown Bunny star recently claimed Grassi “knowingly, without my permission, leaked a false rumor” of his casting to the press after presenting the project to him “as if it was financed,” explaining he only “listened to their babble” under that impression, but Grassi has contested his claims.

“As I learned the project was not financed or in real production, I told them I would not discuss the project further until they had financing and a schedule,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “They then asked if they could use my name to help raise financing. I clearly said no. In fact, I also warned them not to use my name in any way or announce to...

For any casual follower of the Oscar race, some of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ newly announced rules might come as a shock. For instance, Academy members now have to watch all nominated films to be eligible to vote — a requirement that will be tricky to regulate in definitive terms, and might make many Oscar watchers wonder, “How was this not a mandate before?”

Other new rules — especially those around artificial intelligence — are less surprising, while still signifying a major step for the Academy towards acknowledging the rapid evolution of generative AI, and its impact on artists and cinematic art.

What exactly is the new AI rule?

As recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, the eligibility requirements for motion pictures contending in the Oscar race now include the following language:

With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film,...

Karla Sofía Gascón became tearful while discussing her possible return to the U.S., explaining that though she believes Emilia Pérez will be a cult film, she feels as though the trans community are “losing their freedom” around the world.

The Oscar-nominated star spoke to The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet of Madrid’s Platino Awards, Ibero-America’s annual film and TV awards ceremony, Sunday night.

While Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical about a drug cartel owner’s transition into womanhood was initially received warmly throughout the festival circuit — with a best actress win for Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez in Cannes — things went awry for Netflix’s top Oscar contender when Gascón’s controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter) resurfaced.

Gascón, the first trans woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, was found to have written racist posts years before her ascension to Hollywood. Statements...

La actriz coprotagonizará el thriller psicológico junto a Vincent Gallo. © Getty Images

La actriz española Karla Sofía Gascón, nominada al Óscar a la Mejor Actriz por su interpretación en Emilia Pérez –y protagonista de una agria controversia durante la temporada de premios debido a antiguos tuits ofensivos– ya ha fichado por su próximo proyecto, de acuerdo con Variety.

Gascón protagonizará junto al polémico Vincent Gallo (Buffalo ’66) –quien fue objeto de denuncias por presunto acoso sexual a tres actrices durante un rodaje– la película The Life Lift, un thriller psicológico dirigido por la debutante cineasta italiana Stefania Rossella Grassi.

The Life Lift gira en torno a Gabriel (Gallo), un personaje torturado que vive en un modesto apartamento de Nueva York y que comienza a recibir crípticos Post-its en el ascensor del edificio. Estos perturbadores mensajes le ordenan ejecutar a tres vecinos, quienes, a su vez, planean eliminar a sus parientes más cercanos.

During the “off season” of the Oscars race, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences likes to make updates to its established rules. In 2025, that’s included the announcement of a new category (Stunt Design coming in 2028!) and requiring that voters actually watch all of the nominated movies. Now, the organization behind the Academy Awards has made a new statement on how using generative AI might affect a movie’s awards chances.

The Academy’s statement on generative AI doesn’t get too deep into the ethics involved or best practices for its implementation, though. Instead, it reads:

With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart...

Karla Sofia Gascón was completely unknown in America before Emilia Perezcame along. Unfortunately, she gained notoriety in all the wrong ways.

Fans of Emilia Perez were thrilled when Gascon became the first openly trans woman nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award, but then it all came crashing down. It transpired that, in the years prior to the movie, Gascón had made racist remarks on social media. The scandal significantly dented her chances of success in Hollywood... but now she's about to star in a new movie.

Gascón will be playing a character in a new film called The Life Lift, directed by Stefania Rossella Grassi, and starring opposite Vincent Gallo. According to promotional materials obtained by Variety, the premise of the film is this: Gallo plays "a tormented character named Gabriel, who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator.

Gold Derby's top news stories for April 17, 2025.

Karla Sofía Gascón finds next movie

Controversial Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, whose Oscar campaign was derailed when offensive tweets she made came to light, has found her next role. She'll be playing a psychiatrist "who embodies both God and the devil" in psychological thriller The Life Lift, opposite actor-filmmaker-provocateur Vincent Gallo, who will play a man who finds post-it notes in his apartment building's elevator that order him to kill his neighbors. The film is being directed by Stefania Rossella Grassi and is slated to shoot later this year.

Clueless series with Alicia Silverstone in the works at Peacock

A new series take on the classic 1995 teen comedy Clueless is in development at Peacock. Alicia Silverstone, the star of the original movie, is set to return as Cher Horowitz, the witty, well-dressed protagonist. Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage...

Karla Sofia Gascon has landed her first role after her controversial social media posts resurfaced.

If you didn’t know, in January, Karla‘s tweets about the George Floyd protests, among numerous other topics, resurfaced. The backlash caused Netflix to pull back its support for her after she was nominated for Best Actress for Emilia Perez at the 2025 Oscars. She has since apologized for the posts.

Now, the 53-year-old actress will star in an upcoming psychological thriller called The Life Lift. The film will be directed by Vincent Gallo, who will also play the main character.

The Life Lift is about a man named Gabriel (Gallo) who encounters mysterious post-it notes in the elevator of his New York apartment. “These messages order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin,” the plot synopsis reads, per Variety.

Keep reading to find out more…...

Following the reveal of past social media posts that made headlines for all the wrong reasons, Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón is once again courting controversy with her new film, The Life Lift. First-timer Italian director Stefania Rossella Grassi is set to helm the project, which will also star Vincent Gallo – who's no stranger to controversy himself – and depict Gascón as a psychiatrist who "embodies both God and the devil."

Variety broke the news about The Life Lift today, which is said to be a psychological thriller that has Gallo portraying a man named Gabriel "who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator." It's giving off series The X-Files vibes already. Materials obtained by the outlet regarding the film note that the messages "order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin.

Actor to follow Oscar-nominated role in Emilia Pérez with Italian drama described as ‘perturbing, livid and hypnotic’, co-starring Vincent Gallo

Karla Sofía Gascón, the actor who made history earlier this year as the first trans performer to be nominated for an acting Oscar, has signalled her next project.

Gascón, whose hopes of securing the leading actress award (which eventually went to Anora’s Mikey Madison) were dashed after offensive social media posts were unearthed, will star as a psychiatrist who “embodies God and the devil” in Italian drama The Life Lift, reports Variety.

What’s next for Karla Sofía Gascón after her controversial awards season for “Emilia Pérez“? Variety reports that the actress will star next in the Italian psychological thriller “The Life Lift,” which, coincidentally enough, sees her co-star with another actor known for courting controversy.

Read More: Karla Sofía Gascón Can’t Stop And It’s A Problem For ‘Emilia Pérez’

So who’s Gascón starring opposite to?

Continue reading ‘The Life Lift’: Karla Sofía Gascón To Star Opposite Vincent Gallo In Upcoming Italian Thriller at The Playlist.

“Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofía Gascón has set her first project after controversy erupted in January over her past offensive tweets. The Oscar nominee revealed that she will lead “The Life Lift,” a psychological thriller co-starring Vincent Gallo and directed by Italian first-timer Stefania Rossella Grassi. According to the film’s synopsis, Gascón is set to play a psychiatrist who “embodies both God and the devil.”

Gallo, the controversial director and star of “The Brown Bunny” and “Buffalo ’66,” is set for a role in “The Life Lift” as a tormented character named Gabriel, who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator. These messages “order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin,” reads the film’s promotional materials, obtained exclusively by Variety.

Gascón first announced last week that she...

Demi Moore revealed she knew Mikey Madison from “Anora” would be the one to take home the Oscar for Best Actress and said she didn’t feel disappointed.

“I leaned over and whispered to my manager, ‘I think it’s going to be Mikey,” Moore told Time magazine Wednesday in an interview. “I don’t know why I knew, but I did.”

Aside from Madison, Moore was up against Cynthia Erivo, Karla Sofía Gascón and Fernanda Torres. For Moore, it didn’t matter who won, as she says she was cool, calm and collected about whatever the outcome may have been.

“I was so centered and calm. I didn’t feel gutted. I didn’t feel any of those kinds of things,” Moore shared. “I just trusted, and am in trust of whatever is going to unfold.”

While she admits it would have been nice to have won, she shares...

Demi Moore has been around for multiple decades, with a series of successful hits at the box office. However, 2024 gave her the critical acclaim she deserves with the horror hit The Substance, which led to her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Moore was among the favorites to take home the gold statuette, especially after Emilia Pérez's Karla Sofía Gascón's controversy. However, once the award show came, the person who was crowned winner was Anora's Mikey Madison. Over a month after the Oscars, Moore reacted to her Oscar loss in an interview with Time magazine.

Moore was named one of 2025's Most 100 Influential Artists, and received a tribute from filmmaker Ryan Murphy. The actress reacted to her Oscar loss and revealed she had a premonition she wasn't going to win during the commercial break before the Best Actress category. "I leaned over and whispered to my manager,...

Ted Sarandos, co-ceo of Netflix, met with Donald Trump in December at the then-President-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida. But according to Sarandos, the two didn’t “talk shop.”

The Netflix boss, speaking Friday at the Paley Media Council event “Beyond the Stream: A Conversation with Ted Sarandos” in New York City, said it was the first time he met Trump. “We had a nice long dinner together,” he said.

Asked by interviewer Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, whether Trump tried to sell Sarandos on the documentary featuring his third wife, Melania — the rights to which were acquired by Amazon — Sarandos said, no, Trump did not. Is Trump a fan of Netflix? “He said Melania and [son] Barron were big fans,” Sarandos said.

Meanwhile, Smith continued, did Amazon “overpay” for the Melania doc? (Amazon is reportedly shelling out $40 million for the film and docu-series about the First Lady.) Sarandos said he didn’t know.

A trio of the biggest British streaming hits have secured numerous nominations for the BAFTA TV Awards 2025, while BAFTA has recognized a stellar year for ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

Baby Reindeer leads the charts across the BAFTA TV and Craft Awards with eight nominations including Limited Drama, Leading Actor for creator Richard Gadd and two Supporting Actresses in Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau. The latter becomes the first openly transgender nominee at the BAFTA TV Awards, several weeks after Karla Sofía Gascón achieved the same in film.

Apple TV+’s Slow Horses and Disney+’s Rivals have six nominations apiece, with Gary Oldman for the former and David Tennant for the latter doing battle in a crowded Leading Actor category, which also features Lennie James (Mr Loverman), Martin Freeman (The Responder) and Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs the Post Office). Danny Dyer, who was expected to secure a nom for Rivals,...

Disney's Snow White remake has finally arrived in theaters following a troublesome production. Much of the movie's problems are related to the backlash on social media over the casting of its lead stars.

Since it was announced that Rachel Zegler would play Snow White in the new Disney film, the film has been subjected to controversy. Some fans argued that it was important for the character to be white, as that's how the fictional character was given her name in the original fairy tale. While promoting the film, Zegler also referred to the original animated Disney film as "weird" with some outdated tropes that wouldn't be included in the remake. This exacerbated the social media backlash, adding to the controversy, though Zegler has since clarified that these were jokes taken out of context.

In any case, Tarsem Singh, the director of Mirror Mirror — the 2012 film based on Snow White — feels...

For years, the Oscars have been riddled with controversy and criticism for being too intertwined with industry politics, trends, and narratives instead of being genuinely praiseworthy of ‘artworks’ that deserve the praise. Well, this year was no different. First, it was the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez and its lead star Karla Sofía Gascón that made this year’s Academy Awards one of the most contentious, lately, it has been Anora’s Oscar wins that have been guiding this discourse.

Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora | Credits: Neon

Anora was rather a surprise winner at the Oscars 2025, as it took home several wins. However, many cinephiles continue to believe that the true standout of the year was Sing Sing. Not only was it unfairly overlooked but its alleged Oscar snubs showcase what Oscar campaigns and studio politics can do to a film worthy of accolades for its profound social impact.

Another album release, another whirlwind of fan speculation, this time surrounding Selena Gomez’s latest project. Following the release of her fourth studio album, I Said I Love You First, fans have been eagerly dissecting the lyrics, searching for hints about past relationships.

Selena Gomez | Credit: Spotify via YouTube

Released in collaboration with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, the album has sparked speculation that some tracks might reference her ex, Justin Bieber. As always, fans are diving deep into the songs, trying to decode any hidden messages.

Selena Gomez’s new album sparks speculation if the lyrics are about Justin Bieber

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were once the ultimate sweetheart couple. However, while their relationship fell apart, their past continues to be a topic of discussion, both personally and professionally.

Selena Gomez | Credit: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via YouTube

However, it’s not just one song that fans believe references Bieber,...

While Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón had a lot to say during the run-up to the Oscars this year, she's finally broken her silence following the failed campaign to secure herself a Best Actress trophy. Tweets uncovered by journalist Sarah Hagi derailed Gascón's chances of taking home the coveted award, which would have seen her become the first openly transgender actress to win an Oscar. Instead, the nod went to Mikey Madison for her performance in Anora.

Per Deadline, Gascón chose violence at an event this week to promote her upcoming biography Lo que queda de mi (What's Left of Me), calling herself "less racist than Gandhi" instead of taking the high road and remaining regretful for her past actions. When it came to her bid to win an Academy Award, she said the deck was stacked against her from the start:

It's clear that there was a campaign...

Awards season might be done, but it’s clear that Karla Sofía Gascón still feels raw about her chances of Oscar glory being dashed by her historical social media rants.

The Emilia Pérez star was on course to make history as the first openly transgender actress to win an Academy Award when journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered her questionable X/Twitter missives dating back to 2016.

In posts that went unnoticed by Netflix, Gascón wrote that Islam was a “hotbed of infection for humanity,” described George Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” and said that the 2021 Oscars were an “ugly” “Afro-Korean festival” after triumphs for Minari and Judas and the Black Messiah.

She also pondered that she does not “understand so much about the world war against Hitler, he simply had his opinion about Jews,” and regularly used a Spanish word that translates as “faggot” in English.

Gascón has veered between being...

Blake Shelton is an acclaimed musician famous for his country music and as a coach on The Voice. While he remains a largely positive force and is one of the most revered personalities in the music industry, his life and career are not free of controversy. The Platinum-certified artist once got caught in the internet’s game of keeping accounts, as his old tweets resurfaced.

Blake Shelton | Credit: Instagram/@blakeshelton

Shelton had apparently made several tweets, that ranged from racist to homophobic to just being creepy. Here is a walk down memory lane to revisit one of Shelton’s lowest points of his career.

When Blake Shelton caused a scandal on social media Blake Shelton from his music video She Wouldn’t Be Gone | Credit: YouTube

Blake Shelton, throughout his decades-long career, has achieved some great feats, from nine Grammy nominations to several consecutive chart-topping hits. Yet, the celebrated...

Actor suggests she may have been intentionally smeared and says ‘no one has to forgive me’ after recent controversy

Karla Sofía Gascón has described herself as “less racist than Gandhi” and insisted “no one has to forgive me for anything” as she returns to the public eye after the emergence of offensive social media posts widely thought to have torpedoed the Oscar hopes of her film Emilia Pérez.

The Spanish performer, who became the first transgender woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, was dropped from the film’s campaigning materials by its studio, Netflix, and criticised by colleagues and prominent politicians after the series of old racist and Islamophobic tweets came to light.

Everyone knows about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber’s past relationship and history, their on-and-off romance was a staple in pop culture for years. But post their breakup, their dynamic became bitter, with the duo even engaging in a public feud.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber in 10,000 Hours (music video) | Dan+Shay / YouTube

Fast forward to 2025, and Hailey Bieber is now taking a stand against all the hate that she has faced for years. From arguments on social media to legal battles, the drama around these stars has kept us invested, so let’s dive into the details.

The 2016 Instagram exchange between Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez | Netflix

In August 2016, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez engaged in a very publicized argument on Instagram. It began with the former posting a series of photos with his then-girlfriend, Sofia Richie (via BBC). The couple looked quite cozy...

With over 300 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is the biggest name in the world of streaming, but the company is still chasing Hollywood’s top honour: the Oscar for Best Picture. Although Netflix hasn’t won Best Picture, it’s come close several times; in fact, the studio received the most Oscar nominations out of any studio at the recent Academy Awards ceremony.

While speaking with Variety, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos was asked if he’s disappointed that Netflix has yet to win an Oscar for Best Picture. “It’s hard for me to say, ‘Do they have it out for Netflix?’ when we’ve been the most-nominated studio for the past three years,” Sarandos said. “There’s something about [the Academy] — you nominate the movies that you respect and admire, and you vote for best picture for the movie that you love. We have to make a movie that people love.“

Netflix...

Armie Hammer has returned to public life of late after claims of cannibalism, sexual misconduct and rape upended his career. Although he has yet to land studio work following the controversy, one former collaborator is sharing support for the actor.

Director Tarsem Singh, who cast Hammer as the prince opposite Lily Collins’ Snow White and Julia Roberts’ evil queen in the 2012 film Mirror Mirror, tells The Hollywood Reporter that he continues to be a fan of Hammer’s work and does not feel that the headlines around the star’s personal life should impact his career.

“I love Armie Hammer,” Singh says. “I hope all this crap goes away on what adults do in their own spare time, and if everybody’s a consensual adult, I’m Ok.” (The director notes that he does not know “all the background” on the allegations against Hammer.)

Singh explains that he had not...

From Conan O’Brien’s hosting to Indie and original releases’ dominance, this year’s Oscars was received pretty well among the film community, at least for the most part. The Emilia Pérez movie, which has been at the center of controversy since nabbing four Golden Globe wins, caused a massive uproar after landing a whopping 13 nods at the Oscars.

Emilia Pérez | Credit: Netflix

Although the film did end up losing in most categories, including Best Picture and Best International Picture, some felt Karla Sofía Gascón’s resurfaced tweets might’ve contributed to the Academy voters’ final verdict. But even if this wasn’t the case, Netflix head Ted Sarandos wasn’t completely assured if the film would’ve been a slam dunk hit at the Oscars otherwise.

Ted Sarandos wasn’t completely sold on the prospect of Emilia Pérez winning

While the debate surrounding its quality is up for debate,...

With Daredevil: Born Again streaming on Disney+, fans are finally getting a chance to witness one of their most loved heroes back in action. The talks of Charlie Cox returning to play Daredevil had been making the rounds for years now.

Sadly, fans had to wait for a startling period of 7 years since its last season aired for the news to come true. And while the core of the series is in place, there is one major change – Netflix is out of the picture now. And Netflix co-ceo, Ted Sarandos, has a lot to say about how everything went down.

Ted Sarandos knows that Netflix has to keep pushing Ted Sarandos believes that Netflix just has to make movies that people love || Image by UKinUSA, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Oscars 2025 threw up some surprises indeed. One of the most mystifying ones was that the movie with...

Despite the Karla Sofía Gascón controversy that torpedoed her Oscar campaign for “Emilia Pérez,” the Spanish actress is not persona non grata at Netflix.

In fact, co-ceo Ted Sarandos said he would work with Gascón again, should the occasion arise. “You have to have some grace when people make mistakes,” he said in an interview with Variety out Wednesday. “And we have grace.”

To recap: When Gascón’s past bigoted tweets resurfaced early in the year, a firestorm erupted that pushed Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical out of the top spot for Best Picture. After issuing an apology, the actress stepped away from the campaign trail, opting out of several appearances and awards celebrations and making a teary appearance on CNN en Español in which she defended herself from the outrage. “Yes, the truth is, these have been very, very difficult days,” she said on the show, adding later: “Some...

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos discusses whether the scandal surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweets destroyed Emilia Pérez's chances of winning Best Picture. After receiving 13 nominations and seeming like it was the favorite of the awards season, Emilia Pérez only won two Oscars, and Best Picture went to Anora. This turn of events proved to be among the 2025 Oscars' biggest snubs and surprises and raises questions about whether a Netflix original movie will ever win Best Picture.

While speaking with Variety, Sarandos does not fault Gascón for being the reason Emilia Pérez didn't win Best Picture and breaks down the other factors that were in play. He clarifies that he does not think the Oscars have anything against Netflix, as they have been the most nominated studio in the past three years. Sarandos emphasizes that the Best Picture winner needs to be "a movie that people love" and that this...

Ted Sarandos is talking all things Netflix.

The CEO of the streamer spoke out in a new cover story for Variety, out now.

During the discussion, Ted spoke about Netflix’s competitors including HBO and Amazon, Emilia Pérez, Karla Sofía Gascón‘s tweets and the fact that Netflix has not yet won an Academy Award for best picture, and meeting Donald Trump.

He also spoke about the final season of Stranger Things, whether he can get Taylor Swift on a Christmas Day football game before she does the Super Bowl, the power of Meghan Markle, and much more.

Click through to find out what he had to say…...

Believe it or not, Karla Sofia Gascón is still welcome on the Netflix lot.

Despite creating a media firestorm around her groundbreaking film “Emilia Pérez’” and its run at this year’s Academy Awards, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says the company would be open to working with the actress again.

“Yeah. You have to have some grace when people make mistakes,” said Sarandos during a cover story with Variety marking his 25 years of employment at the streaming giant. “And we have grace.”

Following a smash debut at last summer’s Cannes Film Festival, “Emilia Pérez’” was plunged into chaos in January when incendiary old social media posts from Gascón were resurfaced – the death of George Floyd, the Muslim community and even diversity at the Oscars were referenced and inspired great offense. The controversy came as Jacques Audiard’s drug cartel musical was the frontrunner for best picture, earning a top...

Conan O'Brien is heading back to The Oscars. The fan-favorite comedian has been confirmed to host the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on March 15, 2026.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday that O'Brien would return to host the 2026 Oscars. In a statement about his return, the former late-night talk show took aim at this year's Best Actor winner Adrien Brody, whose speech ended up being the longest in Oscars' history, clocking in at five minutes and 40 seconds. "The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech," O'Brien joked. Also returning for next year's Oscars are executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan and producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney.

"We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars," Academy CEO Bill Kramer...

Hollywood, prepare for some more mocking: Conan O’Brien will be back as Oscars host in 2026.

The announcement comes just weeks after O’Brien hosted this year’s ceremony for the first time. (Go here to see video of his opening monologue, which poked fun at the 2025 Best Picture nominees and took jabs at Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón’s recent social media scandal.)

More from TVLine9-1-1's Angela Bassett Initially Resisted Doctor Odyssey Crossover: 'Athena Would Never Get Back on a Boat!'Casting News: Blue Bloods Vet to Dexter Spinoff and More9-1-1: Nashville Taps...

Bill Maher returned to the topic of the Best Picture Oscar winner Anora on Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher.

Last week, Maher posited that Sean Baker’s indie hit winning the big prize on Oscar night was helped by the Karla Sofía Gascón controversies that tainted her leading Oscar nominee Emilia Pérez.

This week on his HBO show, Maher held up Anora in a “New Rules” segment about “whores having a moment,” questioning when the term “sex worker community” became the norm, playing clips of both Mikey Madison and Baker thanking the group during their Oscar acceptance speeches.

Comparing the phrase to when the term “homeless” became “unhoused” and “illegal alien” became “undocumented migrant,” Maher said argued that the repositioning can be looked at as a detriment.

“You can get so caught up in the virtue signaling that you actually do harm to the cause, and using ‘sex...

Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser will be back by Pope-ular demand.

After a highly successful inaugural stint as the ceremony’s 2025 emcee, the comedian will return to host the annual awardsfest, TVLine has learned. The telecast will air in January 2026 on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in the United States.

More from TVLineOscars Audience Hits 5-Year High of 19.7 Million (Updated)Oscars 2025: Conan O'Brien Mocks Best Picture Nominees, Calls Out Karla Sofía Gascón During Monologue - Grade It!Oscars 2025: How to Watch Sunday's Academy Awards Online for Free

“Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the...

Max is bringing back a fan-favorite travel comedy series with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, continuing its run of globe-trotting hilarity.

According to Deadline, Max has officially renewed the acclaimed travel series Conan O'Brien Must Go for a third season. The series follows comedian and former The Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien as he embarks on international journeys to meet fans, immerse himself in diverse cultures, and create spontaneous comedic moments. Building on O'Brien's previous travel specials, the show combines his sharp wit with unpredictable encounters, making it a standout in Max's lineup.

A Look Back at the Show’s Success

Since its debut, Conan O'Brien Must Go on Max has been met with critical and audience acclaim, earning a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming a standout hit for Max. The series has taken O'Brien to a variety of destinations, including Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland, where he meets with...

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are currently not only the Internet’s favorite couple but also one of the most talked-about celebrity couples. The two of them confirmed their relationship in December 2023, and to say everyone was surprised is an understatement. Gomez and Blanco, who have previously been very private about their relationships, are very comfortable and open about how they feel complete with each other.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are releasing a joint album | Credits: Selena Gomez’s Ig

Proving the phrase from friends to love right, Gomez and Blanco announced their joint album I Said I Love You First, which is set to release on March 21, 2025. But fans have noticed something very interesting: Benny Blanco’s ex-girlfriend looks like someone whose name always appears with Selena Gomez.

Selena Gomez’s fiancé Benny Blanco’s ex-girlfriend looks like Hailey Bieber

Record producer Benny Blanco, who has worked with...

Some celebs weren’t always living the high life, but their celebrity glow-ups changed everything. Before the red carpets, private jets, and million-dollar mansions, they were just regular folks, some even struggling to make ends meet. But oh, how the tables turned! From flipping burgers to flipping through scripts for blockbuster movies, these stars proved that a little luck, a lot of talent, and maybe a viral moment or two can change everything.

Bella Hadid, Lindsay Lohan, and Kylie Jenner

Imagine a scrappy, wide-eyed kid working odd jobs, dreaming of fame, and then, Bam! They’re suddenly Hollywood royalty. Some of these glow-ups are so wild they feel straight out of a movie. From dramatic makeovers to total lifestyle transformations, these stars went from “Who’s that?” to “Omg, that’s them?!” faster than you can say “celebrity stylist.”

So, who traded thrift store outfits for designer fits? Who went...

Karla Sofía Gascón racked up several Best Actress nominations over the course of the awards season, including an Academy Award nod, for her portrayal of the titular character in the Oscar-nominated Emilia Pérez. However, everything unraveled after the actress’ hurtful and racial social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, came to light. The sheer amount of backlash was unforgiving, and now Gascón reveals that she responded to all the negativity and criticism by contemplating the "unthinkable." The Emilia Pérez star said in a statement, which reads as follows (below):

"Amid this unexpected, devastating storm, there have been moments when the pain has been so overwhelming that I contemplated the unthinkable. I harbored darker thoughts than those I considered in some of my previous, no less intimate and personal struggles […] Now that the storm is calming down a bit, and the worst has passed (or so I hope), I start...

The Emilia Pérez actor, whose offensive resurfaced tweets sank the film’s hopes for awards glory, says public hatred left her ‘on the edge’

Karla Sofía Gascón, the first out trans actor to be nominated for an Oscar, whose hopes of winning were dashed after offensive social media posts were surfaced a month before the ceremony, has spoken out about the “unexpected, devastating storm” of awards season.

The Spanish actor says that the final stretch of the race, was the “most exposed” period of her life. She faced widespread criticism for her tweets, and despite repeated apologies, was cold-shouldered by the cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, while studio Netflix dropped her from campaigns and cut off funds allowing her to travel to ceremonies. A contract with her Spanish publisher was cancelled, and senior politicians in her home country spoke of their disappointment in her.

The 97th Academy Awards was a glamorous night filled with golden statues, designer gowns, and enough comedy to make even the most serious film critics crack a smile. First-time host Conan O'Brien proved to be the perfect maestro for Hollywood's biggest night, masterfully tiptoeing the line between playful jabs and genuinely entertaining moments.

O'Brien's opening monologue set the tone for an evening of unexpected laughs, surprising twists, and unforgettable celebrity interactions that will live on in awards show history. While not every fan is happy with the recipients of the 2025 Academy Awards, there are plenty of hilarious moments that deserve praise.

Conan's Bizarre Body Horror Entrance Made for a Unique Opening Image via ABC

In perhaps one of the most surreal openings in Oscar history, viewers were treated to a beautiful duet between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande before the camera cut to a production assistant desperately knocking on Conan's dressing room door.

Karla Sofía Gascón recently faced backlash for comments made on Twitter, now X, where she shared opinions on topics like Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity in the entertainment industry. These posts caused a public uproar, leading Gascón to skip several important awards ceremonies, including the Critics Choice Awards, the BAFTA Film Awards, and the SAG Awards, despite being nominated for all three.

After the controversy erupted, Gascón issued an apology, acknowledging the pain her words caused and expressing regret for her actions. In her statement to Variety, she said, “As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain.” She also emphasized her lifelong commitment to fighting for a better world and her belief that “light will always triumph over darkness.”

Despite the controversy, Gascón has made history as the first openly transgender actor to be nominated for an Oscar.

The 2025 Academy Awards took an unexpected turn, and comedian Bill Maher says cancel culture is to blame. During a recent episode of his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, he told guest David Sedaris that the night’s big winner, Anora, only rose to the top because of a scandal that sank another film, Emilia Pérez. Maher insists this proves cancel culture is alive and well in Hollywood, even if it’s quieter than before.

Emilia Pérez, a Netflix musical about a trans cartel leader, started as the favorite to dominate the Oscars. It led with 13 nominations, and its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, was on track to make history as the first openly trans woman to win Best Actress.

Hollywood was excited about the milestone. “Hollywood loved the idea that they would finally have a person, who was a trans person, win Best Actress,” Maher said on his show.

Karla Sofía Gascón addressed the intense backlash surrounding her Academy Awards campaign in a statement, acknowledging past mistakes and committing to growth. The Emilia Pérez star faced criticism after resurfaced tweets drew accusations of anti-Islam and racist sentiments. The controversy led to tensions with Netflix, with Gascón skipping key pre-Oscars events, including the BAFTAs and SAG Awards. Despite the fallout, she attended the Oscars with Netflix’s backing, where host Conan O’Brien made light of the situation during the ceremony.

In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Gascón expressed remorse, stating, “With no excuse, and without any intention to justify any of my past actions, I apologize to all I have offended at any point in my life and throughout my journey. I humbly ask for their forgiveness and, to honor their kindness and understanding, I promise I will commit to continuing to learn and listen, so as not...

The Oscars shows fof the 2020s so far have had very drastic ups and downs with the first two years seeing many upsets and difficulties in performance. However, the more recent shows have seen better results and it is gratifying to say that the 97th ceremony that took place last Sunday March 2nd at the Dolby Theater can safely join the previous two shows as a easy going night to give out awards and celebrate movies, especially considering how much controversy surrounded many of the nominees leading up to the ceremony. With Conan O’Brien as the host, the ceremony last Sunday was a nice watch with many deserving wins and endearing tributes to the art of moviemaking. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision,...

In a lengthy new statement, Karla Sofía Gascón reflected on the bumpy ride that was her Academy Awards campaign, revealing that she “contemplated the unthinkable” and “will commit to continuing to learn and listen” in the aftermath.

The Emilia Pérez star was first embroiled in scandal when her tweets were resurfaced by journalist Sarah Hagi, in which the Spanish trans actress espoused anti-Islam and racist thinking. The ensuing fallout led to tensions between Gascón and film distributor/streamer Netflix, and the star skipped typical pre-Oscars events like the BAFTA, SAG and Goya Awards. In the weeks since, however, animus has seemed to cool, given that she attended the Oscars on Netflix’s dime and was lightheartedly ribbed by host Conan O’Brien. Most recently, Gascón thanked the Academy for her recognition and invitation to the ceremony.

Shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Gascón — who admitted she was “working on several projects” — reiterated,...

Karla Sofia Gascon opened up about the controversy that consumed the end of awards season for her.

The 52-year-old Emilia Perez actress was viewed as a favorite to win Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars after landing a historic nomination as the first openly trans actress to receive a nod in the category.

However, her campaign was thrown off the tracks after controversial social media posts resurfaced. She skipped multiple events after the posts went viral but was present for the Oscars where her situation was joked about during the opening monologue.

Now that awards season is over, Karla opened up about her experience in a lengthy statement, saying that there were times when she “contemplated the unthinkable.”

Keep reading to find out more…

Karla told The Hollywood Reporter that she “loved the [Oscars] ceremony” and “found it very enjoyable.”

What did she have to say about awards season?

“I would have...

“Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofía Gascón is committed to “continuing to learn and listen” she said in her newest statement after her controversial tweets were uncovered and shared the new after Oscar nominations were announced.

Gascón’s statement comes a week after Oscars. “Emilia Pérez” was nominated for 13 awards and took home two — one for best song, and Zoe Saldaña won for best supporting actress.

The uncovering of the tweets pushed the actress to delete her X account in late January.

In her newest statement, the actress writes that “sometimes, we put on a shield to protect ourselves, so that harm does not reach our hearts, our skin, or our souls” and that she has her “own armor” like everyone else. “The problem is, precisely, that shields can be cold and hard on the outside and can also hurt those around you. That is what happened to me,” she adds.

Although it's been a week since the Academy Awards ceremony ended and many declared it the best edition of the show in years, some still have some comments about the winners on Hollywood's most important night. This time it was comedian Bill Maher who shared his hot take on this year's Best Picture winner, and how the victory of Anorawas more a product of "cancel culture."

In case you're wondering how "cancel culture" can make a movie win something, Maher is referring to the debacle faced by the Netflix musical crime film Emilia Pérez, a.k.a. the favorite that fell from grace. As reported by Deadline, the host of Real Time with Bill Maher spoke about "cancel culture," and he used the recent Academy Awards as an example:

"There are people who say cancel culture isn't a real thing and I would say to them, 'It just happened at the Oscars.