Hollywood actress Zoe Saldaña was cut off during an emotional but expletive speech at the BAFTAs and escorted off the stage by security, after she became overcome with emotion
Zoe Saldaña was abruptly cut off mid-rant during her fiery acceptance speech at the 2025 BAFTAs, after bagging the Best Actress in a Supporting Role gong for her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro in the hotly debated musical Emilia Pérez.
The 46-year-old Hollywood icon triumphed over a star-studded lineup including Jamie Lee Curtis, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Felicity Jones, and Isabella Rossellini.
The Marvel sensation seemed gobsmacked as she hit the stage, but as she got into her speech, emotions ran high, her voice wobbled, and a few choice curse words slipped out as she expressed gratitude to her film mates and crew.
She blurted out: “I was told not to cry by my children, so I’ll try. This is so validating and a true honour, because the very few times that I went for a part with a British accent or dialect coach, I was like, ‘This is not going to happen to you.’ Even though I have a lot of British friends, I find myself repeating all their phrases, and I know that I’m a pain in the a***.”
She rambled on: “Bafta thank you, this was a creative challenge of a lifetime. How do you begin to even approach a film that not just defies categorisation, and you start by taking the leap with Jacques Audiard. I want to thank my wonderful cast… Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds and i hope i did something like this. voices need to be heard, just not my English accent.”
Zoe was overcome with emotion as she dedicated her slew of awards and the film Emilia Pérez to her nephew, Eli. “I’m dedicating all of these awards and the film Emilia Pérez to my nephew, Eli. He is the reason – they are the reason – I signed up to do this film in the first place. So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people,” she expressed.
Her speech took a heartfelt turn as she acknowledged her family, leading to tears when mentioning her mother, husband, and children. The intensity of the moment peaked with Zoe exclaiming: “Oh my god I’m getting a countdown. F*** f*** f***! ” as she faced a time limit on her speech, reports the Mirror.
Despite the raw ending, the broadcast cut before her expletive outburst, instead showing her exit from the stage, award in hand. Earlier, Emilia Pérez had clinched the Best Film Not in the English Language award, with Director Jacques Audiard honouring his team during his acceptance: “Above all, I would like to thank all the wonderful artists who brought this film to life and who are here with us tonight… My dear Zoe, my dear Selena, Giorgini, Paul, Juliet, Camille, Clement, Julia and your team, but also you, my dear Karla Sofia, that I kiss. I’m deeply proud of what we achieved together. Long live Emilia Pérez! “.
The film has been embroiled in a series of controversies since its release last year. Initially, it faced criticism from Mexican performers who accused the filmmakers of not employing Mexican talent for the roles.
The situation worsened when lead actress Karla Sofia faced severe backlash over past tweets that resurfaced. Acknowledging that her scandal could overshadow the film’s success, she withdrew from the awards circuit.
Despite being nominated for an Oscar next month, she is unlikely to grace the ceremony with her presence.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
