Much to her dismay, Selena Gomez Spanish has come under sharp criticism. But the Mexican-American actress and singer isn’t going to let it slide. She pushed back on comments from a fellow actor who described her Spanish-speaking attempt in a recent movie as “indefensible.” Read on to find out what she had to say.
During an appearance in a podcast, Mexican-born actor Eugenio Derbez called out Gomez for not speaking the language well enough. The 63-year-old was on the podcast Hablando de Cine with host Gaby Meza when he made the comments. He was speaking about Gomez’s Spanish in the movie “Emilia Pérez,” where she played a major Spanish-speaking role.
Derbez disclosed that she did not meet acceptable standards in portraying her role in the movie, as her Spanish language skills were below acceptable. He also stated that his friends who watched the movie with him were also shocked that she was selected for the role.
Commenting under the TikTok post, Gomez wrote, “I understand where you are coming from. I’m sorry. I did the best I could with the time I was given. Doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.” Gomez had mentioned in November that she had to take Spanish classes for six months before shooting the movie.
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What Did Eugenio Derbez and Meza Say About Selena Gomez’s Spanish?
Interestingly, host Gaby Meza took the first shots at Gomez’s performance in the podcast. In a clip of the upcoming episode that was shared on TikTok, Meza stated that the language barrier was a major obstacle to Gomez’s brilliant performance. She also added that she wasn’t impressed by the 31-year-old even though she admitted that Gomez is “very talented.”
“Spanish is neither her primary nor secondary language nor fifth,” Meza stated. “And that’s why I feel she doesn’t know what she is saying, and if she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she can’t give her acting any nuance,” the host commented further. Derbez responded by expressing his support for the opinion.
“I’m glad you’re saying that because I was saying, ‘I can’t believe no one is talking about it,’” he stated. Also, he said that the movie didn’t deserve the popularity and recognition it had garnered since its release. Derbez also noted that the movie got so many accolades because most of its audience isn’t skilled in Spanish.
“I feel like what happens is they don’t speak Spanish,” he explained. “If you watch a Russian film or a German film that is subtitled in Spanish and you see someone [communicating in the original language], you say, ‘Oh, look. Okay. How interesting,’” he added.
Derbez also bashed the movie’s choice of a French director, Jacques Audiard, who couldn’t speak the language. He also believed that the cultural gap between the director and the movie negatively affected the project’s outcome. “It’s like if I wanted to make a film in Russian without knowing the culture or Russian and speaking in French.”
Does Selena Gomez Speak Spanish?
Although partly Mexican, actress Selena Gomez has lost her grip on Spanish. She admitted this herself in November. The “Only Murders in the Building” star stated that the language left her after she relocated from Texas to California at a young age to chase her Hollywood dreams.
Speaking during an interview, the Texas-born entrepreneur said, “I got my first job at seven, and most of my jobs from that point on were English. And I just lost [my fluency in Spanish]. That’s kind of the case for a lot of people,” she added. Gomez began as a child actress and participated in the 2002 children’s favorite “Barney and Friends.”
What Is Emilia Pérez About?
“Emilia Pérez” is a 2024 Netflix movie detailing the lives of four determined women. First, Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldana) is a super-competent lawyer who knows her worth but is unappreciated by the firm where she works. Finally, she gets a call from a cartel boss, Del Monte, seeking her assistance.
Castro helped Del Monte fulfill his wish and transition into Emilia. Castro achieved this through a process that involved faking her client’s death. But things didn’t end as smoothly as planned. A series of unexpected twists and turns led to Del Monte’s cover being blown. In turn, this set off catastrophic events.
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Who Is Selena Gomez Playing in Emilia Pérez?
If you are wondering, “Who does Selena Gomez play in Emilia Pérez?” your answer is here. Selena Gomez, in Emilia Pérez, took the role of Del Monte’s wife, Jessi. She appeared for a significant duration of the movie.
Aside from Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana, other Emilia Pérez cast include Karla Sofia Gascón, who played Del Monte, and Edgar Ramirez, who played Gustavo Brun. Others are Mark Ivanir, Eduardo Aladro, and Adriana Paz.
Selena Gomez is one of the few celebrities who have made a mark in the movie and music industry. She has earned high-profile recognition in both industries and “Emilia Pérez” has been another giant step in the Hollywood ladder.
Alongside a blossoming entertainment career, Gomez has also found happiness in the arms of boyfriend, Benny Blanco. Blanco is a music producer and songwriter. The 36-year-old, whose actual name is Benjamin Joseph Levin, has been dating Gomez for at least a little over a year. They went public with their relationship on December 7, 2023, and are now engaged.
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