"Host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic": Karla Sofía Gascón responds to Conan O'Brien's Oscars joke

The 97th Academy Awards was a sea of memories, but one particular exchange between Conan O'Brien and Karla Sofía Gascón dominated the headlines. Conan O'Brien made fun of Karla Sofía Gascón in his opening monologue, mentioning previous scandals. He made a joke that the film "Anora" uses the F-word 479 times, three more than the publicist of Gascón's record. According to the Independent, he addressed Gascón directly and said,

"Karla, if you're going to tweet about the Oscars, my name is Jimmy Kimmel."

Gascón was in the audience and at first reacted with a bow and a gesture of clasped hands. Then, she took to Instagram and shared a post responding to Conan O'Brien. Her response was in Spanish, wherein she thanked the members of @theacademy for the nomination as best leading actress and the invitation to the gala. She then continued by saying,

"I really enjoyed it, very amiable and funny, especially your fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic, every day he looks more like the great Conan O’Brien. 😘

The punchline was received with mixed reactions, with some of the audience members groaning and others laughing. The episode sparked controversy regarding the use of humor in addressing controversy, especially in live performances. Have a look at the video.

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Karla Sofía Gascón's Response

Gascón, nominated for her work in Emilia Pérez, did not have a quick reaction on the air. Later, soon after the awards, however, she took to Instagram and responded to O'Brien's remarks. She did not specifically respond to O'Brien's quip, but her wording seemed to be a nod to the comment in a playful way.

The reaction rapidly went viral on social media, with different interpretations arising. Some considered it a sarcastic attempt at diverting attention, while others believed it was a clever method of brushing off O'Brien's joke. Regardless, it turned out to be one of the numerous viral moments during the ceremony.

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Gascón's Attendance at the Oscars

In the run-up to the event, Gascón was under fire for reviving social media statements, which had generated a great deal of public controversy. Unfazed by the criticism, she did turn up for the ceremony but surprisingly avoided the red carpet. Many interpreted this as an effort to steer clear of the media spotlight and concentrate exclusively on the awards themselves.

Her movie, Emilia Pérez, had been received well by critics, and she was nominated in a movie that was viewed as historic. The debate about her attendance, though, was in large part about the controversy, and it further created a talk about how public figures balance both their successes and failures on international platforms.

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Audience and Media Reactions

O'Brien's quip and Gascón's reaction were much debated on the internet, with opinions divided between various camps. A few believed that the humor of O'Brien was very much in character with classic Oscar monologues, which come with jibes at guests. Others felt that it would be unnecessary to mention Gascón's separate controversies at this high-profile venue.

Similarly, Gascón's response generated a varied reaction. Some praised her for keeping it lighthearted in answering the problem, and others asked whether it was a subtle way of dissing O'Brien's hosting performance. Major media news websites like Vulture and Business Insider reported on the exchange, writing about how the two personalities managed the incident.

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The Role of Humor in Live Events

The Oscars have historically been a mixture of party and satire, with hosts generally making jokes at the expense of nominees and industry trends. But with the current media landscape, in which all statements are instantaneously analyzed and discussed online, humor is a thin tightrope to walk.

O'Brien, whose witty observations are renowned for his observational humor, was different in tone at the Oscars compared to previous hosts. His Gascón joke highlighted how celebrities and public figures become objects of the entertainment industry. At the same time, Gascón's counterattack revealed that celebrities can use humor to deflect criticism without escalating tensions.

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The interaction between Karla Sofía Gascón and Conan O'Brien during the Oscars exposed the improvisation of live television and the interactive nature of comedy in public events. Finally, the moment was another instance of how the Oscars remain a platform for not just celebrating film but also for the discussions that occur outside of the awards themselves.