Maher added that “Hollywood loved” the idea of breaking down a major cultural barrier and having “a person, who was a trans person” win the Oscar for best actress. Maher went on to praise Gascón’s performance saying, “God bless her, she did a great job.”

"There are people who say cancel culture isn't a real thing and I would say to them, ‘It just happened at the Oscars,'" the host said on HBO's 'Real Time.'

With the 2025 Oscars now in the rearview mirror, let's take a look at the controversies surrounding "Emilia Pérez." The film follows the story of Gascón's titular character, Emilia Pérez, a Mexican drug cartel leader who fakes her death with the help of a lawyer (Saldaña) and undergoes gender-affirming surgery.