Selena Gomez respectfully responded after Eugenio Derbezcriticized her Spanish in her latest film, Emilia Pérez. The controversy arose after the Mexican actor, in a now-deleted episode of the podcast Hablando de Cine, called Gomez’s Spanish “indefensible.”
Derbez, known for his roles in films like How to Be a Latin Lover, shared his opinions on Gomez’s performance in the podcast, where he explained that, while watching the film with others, they were all surprised when they heard her speak Spanish.
“I watched Emilia Pérez with people, and every time she had a scene, we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, what is this?'” said Derbez.
Despite his criticism, he also expressed that the film had “salvageable things,” but in his opinion, the moments with Selena were too evident.
Selena Gomez’s response to Derbez
In response to the criticism, Selena Gomez elegantly reacted in the comments of a podcast clip that had been shared on TikTok.
“I understand where you’re coming from… I’m sorry, I did the best I could with the time I was given,” wrote the actress.
“It doesn’t take away from the work and heart I put into this movie.”
The actress, who is bilingual, speaks both Spanish and English in Emilia Pérez, a film that also stars Zoe Saldana.
The film was well received, and Gomez and her co-stars even received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival this year, which reinforces her commitment to the project.
Additionally, in the same podcast, host Gaby Meza also shared her opinion on Gomez’s performance, mentioning that, although “Spanish is not her main language, nor her secondary or fifth,” the actress is “very talented.”
However, Meza added that she felt Gomez “doesn’t know what she’s saying” and, therefore, “can’t give her acting any nuance.”
Derbez’s apology to Selena
In the wake of the controversy, Derbez issued a public apology to Gomez through TikTok, acknowledging that his comments were careless.
“I truly apologize for my careless comments – they are indefensible and go against everything I stand for,” wrote the 63-year-old actor.
He also emphasized that, as Latinos, they should always support one another and expressed his admiration for Gomez’s career and kind heart.
“Emilia Pérez deserves to be celebrated, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks. I’m walking away from this with an important lesson learned,” concluded Derbez.