The Academy Awards isn’t just about talent – it’s also about timing. The industry’s supposed progress often coincides with external pressures, not a genuine shift in values. As the 2025 Oscars unfolded, that pattern was impossible to ignore.
With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs under attack, conservative backlash shaping industry conversations, and Hollywood’s performative wokeness at a crossroads, the Academy finds itself once again navigating the tension between its progressive facade and its deeply embedded biases. Conan O’Brien wasted no time addressing this political moment, with an assist from Adam Sandler, opening the night by referencing Trump and journalists mocking Ukrainian President Zelensky’s clothing from his highly televised and contentious meeting with Trump – an early sign that this ceremony will be entangled with the larger socio-political landscape.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s breathtaking opening number was the kind of moment that reminds you why the Oscars still hold power – the ability to captivate, transport, and make you feel. But that’s the thing about the Oscars: it’s still entertainment, and with that comes a certain sleight of hand. Starting with a heart-melting duo calms you for what’s to come, softens the edges, prepares you to accept what follows, whether it be progress or illusion.
That illusion cracked early on when Conan took a jab at Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweets, adding more fuel to the ongoing turmoil surrounding Emilia Pérez and its cast. What should have been a landmark moment for Latinx and Trans representation was instead tainted by controversy. And the Oscars – never one to shy away from public spectacle – seemed eager to capitalize on the drama rather than uplift the significance of the nomination itself.
While the Oscars continue to parade their supposed progress, Latinx representation remains sparse. Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) made history as the first Dominican actress to win an Oscar, taking home the Best Supporting Actress award. Her award marks a historic win for Afro-Latina representation, while I’m Still Here took home the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, a first for Brazil in the category.
A History of Latinx Oscar Winners: Progress or Tokenism?
Rita Moreno broke barriers in 1962, becoming the first Latina to win an acting Oscar for West Side Story, yet it took another 39 years for another Latina, María Mercedes Coroy, to earn a nomination. Spaniards Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz regularly get recognized, largely with roles that play into Hollywood’s comfortable, often stereotypical depictions of Latinidad. The rise of Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu in the directing category gave the illusion of progress, yet this visibility has yet to translate into broader recognition for Latinx actors and creatives in front of and behind the camera.
Even when Latinx performers win, their victories are often framed as the exception, not the standard. The fact that Saldaña is the first Dominican actress to win in nearly a century of Oscar history is both a triumph and an indictment of the Academy’s failure to truly uplift Latinx talent.
The Lingering Problem of Representation
For decades, Hollywood has dictated the terms of who gets to be visible and who remains in the shadows. Latinx actors, filmmakers, and industry professionals have long been fighting for recognition, only to be handed scraps when it is politically convenient. The Oscars reflect and reinforce this broader systemic issue.
We’ve seen this pattern before. Whenever diversity becomes a hot-button issue, the Academy scrambles to make symbolic gestures – nominating a handful of artists, awarding one or two, all while maintaining the status quo. In 2019, Yalitza Aparicio made history as the first Indigenous Mexican woman nominated for Best Actress for Roma, yet after the awards cycle, opportunities for her remained scarce. Saldaña’s win at the 2025 Oscars is undoubtedly historic, but will it lead to an influx of Afro-Latina actresses getting cast in leading roles? History suggests otherwise.
The problem is not just about recognition; it’s about sustained investment in Latinx storytelling. It’s about greenlighting projects that center Latinx experiences, hiring Latinx writers and directors, and ensuring that our presence in Hollywood is not merely an occasional nod, but an undeniable force.
Frustration, but Not Shock
There were not many Latinx winners at the 2025 Oscars. Am I shocked? No. Am I frustrated? Absolutely. The Oscars continue to operate within a colonial framework, where Latinx artists are honored only when it serves a broader industry narrative. This year was no different.
The Academy pats itself on the back for every perceived step forward, yet year after year, Latinx creatives remain sidelined. We are still waiting for the industry to fully embrace our stories not just as tokens of diversity, but as essential contributions to global cinema. The question is no longer about waiting – it’s about demanding, creating, and reclaiming space. Hollywood doesn’t need to see us. We’ve always been here. The real challenge is whether they can keep pretending we don’t exist.
