Selena Gomez has publicly responded to recent criticism regarding her Spanish skills in Netflix’s latest film, “Emilia Pérez.” The comments stemmed from Eugenio Derbez, a prominent actor and comedian, who labeled Gomez’s Spanish as “indefensible” during an episode of the “Hablando de Cine” podcast, which has since been deleted.
Gomez took to the comments section of a podcast clip shared on TikTok to express her feelings, saying, “I understand where you are coming from. I’m sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given. It doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.”
The 32-year-old actress and producer, who speaks both Spanish and English in the film alongside Zoe Saldana, came under scrutiny from several parties. Derbez, discussing his viewing experience, noted, “I watched ‘Emilia Pérez’ with others, and every time she had a scene, we looked at one another thinking, ‘What is this?’” He later admitted to enjoying aspects of the film while lamenting the moments featuring Gomez, saying they were jarring due to her language skills.
Podcast host Gaby Meza also shared mixed feelings, acknowledging Gomez’s talent but remarking that Spanish is not a language in which she is proficient. “I feel like she doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Meza noted. This criticism stirred conversation as Gomez’s performance had already received praise, including a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Derbez eventually issued a public apology on TikTok, saying, “I truly apologize for my careless comments—they are indefensible and go against everything I stand for. As Latinos, we should always support one another. I was wrong and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.” He emphasized that “Emilia Pérez” deserves recognition rather than being undermined by his thoughtless remarks, reflecting on the importance of community support in the industry.
