Three months after her 2025 Academy Award win, Zoe Saldaña is drawing heavy criticism for referring to her Oscar statuette as “trans” and using “they/them” pronouns, while continuing to remain silent on trans rights and the broader LGBTQ+ political climate.
Zoe won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, a controversial musical drama directed by Jacques Audiard. The film centers on a transgender Mexican cartel boss, Emilia Pérez (played by Karla Sofía Gascón), who seeks gender-affirming surgery while hiding her transition from her family. Saldaña plays the lawyer who helps facilitate this secret transformation.
While the film received mixed reviews, its portrayal of the trans experience came under fire from LGBTQ+ advocates. GLAAD condemned the movie as a “step backward for trans representation,” citing its reliance on outdated tropes and stereotypes. 
Despite the film’s focus on trans identity, critics note that the Emilia Pérez cast made no mention of trans rights during their Oscar acceptance speeches — a decision viewed as tone-deaf, especially in today’s politically hostile climate for trans individuals.
The controversy reignited when Zoe appeared at the LA premiere of her new movie Elio, where she reflected on her Oscar win. “We have it in my office, and my Oscar is gender fluid,” she said. “It’s trans. It goes by they/them.”
The comment quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), where users accused her of trivializing trans identity and missing a real opportunity to speak out.
“Funny how she completely omitted any mention of the trans community during her acceptance speech,” one user noted. Others echoed the sentiment, calling her Oscar remark a performative gesture. “Trans people: we need help… Zoe Saldaña: My trophy is an enby,” one user sarcastically commented.
On Reddit, similar frustrations were voiced. “She said this but said nothing about trans rights during her acceptance speech. Oof,” one commenter wrote.
Critics are urging Zoe to “read the room,” saying her comments are especially disappointing given her platform and the film’s subject matter. Many argue that meaningful support — like public advocacy or addressing trans issues in acceptance speeches — carries far more weight than symbolic statements made months after the fact.
With public attention still on her Oscar win, Zoe Saldaña’s silence on trans rights is being viewed not just as an oversight, but as a missed moment for allyship.
