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Selena Gomez apologises for ‘garbled’ Spanish accent in new Netflix film-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro
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Selena Gomez has responded to Eugenio Derbez’s criticism of her Spanish in her latest film, Emilia Pérez.
Gomez stars alongside Zoe Saldana, Edgar Ramirez, and Karla Sofia Gascon in Jacques Audiard’s latest film.
It tells the story of Rita Mora Castro (Saldana), a lawyer who is given the unusual job of helping Mexican cartel boss Juan ‘Manitas’ Del Monte (Gascon) retire and transition to living life as a woman.
In a since-deleted episode of the Hablando de Cine Con podcast, the Mexican actor and comedian described Gomez’s Spanish-speaking abilities as ‘indefensible.’
‘I watched (Emilia Pérez) with people, and every time she had a scene, we looked at each other to say, “Wow, what is this?”‘ he explained.
Other viewers have made similar comments, with Sassemoji writing on X: ‘Selena gomez in the Emilia project is crazy.’
Selena Gomez stars in new Netflix film Emilia Perez (Picture: Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA)
They continued: ‘I get her character learning Spanish but damn that was terrible monotone no emotion terrible to listen to and the director??’
Monicagmermaid added: ‘I love Selena Gomez & hate to say it but Eugenio Derbez was not wrong about her performance in Emilia Pérez.
‘Her Spanish sounded garbled and as though she has no understanding of the words which made for a bad performance.’
After the clip from the podcast was shared on TikTok, Gomez responded in the comment section defending her performance.
‘I understand where you are coming from. I’m sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given,’ she wrote.
‘Doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.’
She later added: ‘Also do not ever say my fans are the problem standing up, as you say, for me.’
Comedian and actor Eugenio Derbez criticised her Spanish accent in the film (Picture: Netflix)
It tells the story of a lawyer helping a former cartel boss receive gender-affirming surgery (Picture: Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA)
Gomez speaks both Spanish and English in the film, which earned a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
Podcast host Gaby Meza echoed Derbez’s opinion, commending Gomez’s efforts and saying she is a a ‘very talented actress.’
‘Spanish is not her main language, not her secondary or fifth,’ she continued.
Meza added: ‘I feel like she doesn’t know what she’s saying.
‘If she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she can’t give her acting any nuance.’
Derbez has since apologised for his comments, expressing that he ‘deeply admires her career and kind heart.’
‘Dear Selena, I truly apologize for my careless comments,’ he wrote.
‘They are indefensible and go against everything I stand for. As Latinos, we should always support one another.
‘There’s no excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.’
Selena clapped back at criticisms of her performance (Picture: John Salangsang/Shutterstock)
Derbez has since apologised for his comments (Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
He continued: ‘Emilia Pérez deserves to be celebrated, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks. I’m walking away from this with an important lesson learned.
‘While I understand if you cannot accept my apology, please know it comes from the heart.’
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Calm Down hitmaker Gomez opened up about chasing the role when not being a native Spanish speaker, and feeling like she had something to prove when she landed the part.
‘What’s really difficult about my position is that I am really surrounded by predominantly white English-speaking people,’ she said.
‘So, to be a part of something like this was truly meaningful because I’m very proud of who I am. I may not be fluent, but that doesn’t make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes.’
‘I hope it’s not my last project I do in Spanish. It is something that I feel I’ve gotten better at. I can understand a whole conversation now, so be aware of what you say in front of me.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Selena Gomez has responded to Eugenio Derbez’s criticism of her Spanish in her latest film, Emilia Pérez.
Gomez stars alongside Zoe Saldana, Edgar Ramirez, and Karla Sofia Gascon in Jacques Audiard’s latest film.
It tells the story of Rita Mora Castro (Saldana), a lawyer who is given the unusual job of helping Mexican cartel boss Juan ‘Manitas’ Del Monte (Gascon) retire and transition to living life as a woman.
In a since-deleted episode of the Hablando de Cine Con podcast, the Mexican actor and comedian described Gomez’s Spanish-speaking abilities as ‘indefensible.’
‘I watched (Emilia Pérez) with people, and every time she had a scene, we looked at each other to say, “Wow, what is this?”‘ he explained.
Other viewers have made similar comments, with Sassemoji writing on X: ‘Selena gomez in the Emilia project is crazy.’
Selena Gomez stars in new Netflix film Emilia Perez (Picture: Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA)
They continued: ‘I get her character learning Spanish but damn that was terrible monotone no emotion terrible to listen to and the director??’
Monicagmermaid added: ‘I love Selena Gomez & hate to say it but Eugenio Derbez was not wrong about her performance in Emilia Pérez.
‘Her Spanish sounded garbled and as though she has no understanding of the words which made for a bad performance.’
After the clip from the podcast was shared on TikTok, Gomez responded in the comment section defending her performance.
‘I understand where you are coming from. I’m sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given,’ she wrote.
‘Doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.’
She later added: ‘Also do not ever say my fans are the problem standing up, as you say, for me.’
Comedian and actor Eugenio Derbez criticised her Spanish accent in the film (Picture: Netflix)
It tells the story of a lawyer helping a former cartel boss receive gender-affirming surgery (Picture: Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA)
Gomez speaks both Spanish and English in the film, which earned a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
Podcast host Gaby Meza echoed Derbez’s opinion, commending Gomez’s efforts and saying she is a a ‘very talented actress.’
‘Spanish is not her main language, not her secondary or fifth,’ she continued.
Meza added: ‘I feel like she doesn’t know what she’s saying.
‘If she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she can’t give her acting any nuance.’
Derbez has since apologised for his comments, expressing that he ‘deeply admires her career and kind heart.’
‘Dear Selena, I truly apologize for my careless comments,’ he wrote.
‘They are indefensible and go against everything I stand for. As Latinos, we should always support one another.
‘There’s no excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.’
Selena clapped back at criticisms of her performance (Picture: John Salangsang/Shutterstock)
Derbez has since apologised for his comments (Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
He continued: ‘Emilia Pérez deserves to be celebrated, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks. I’m walking away from this with an important lesson learned.
‘While I understand if you cannot accept my apology, please know it comes from the heart.’
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Calm Down hitmaker Gomez opened up about chasing the role when not being a native Spanish speaker, and feeling like she had something to prove when she landed the part.
‘What’s really difficult about my position is that I am really surrounded by predominantly white English-speaking people,’ she said.
‘So, to be a part of something like this was truly meaningful because I’m very proud of who I am. I may not be fluent, but that doesn’t make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes.’
‘I hope it’s not my last project I do in Spanish. It is something that I feel I’ve gotten better at. I can understand a whole conversation now, so be aware of what you say in front of me.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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