Selena Gomez is not backing down from the backlash she received following a critical comment from Eugenio Derbez about her Spanish in Emilia Pérez. The 32-year-old singer and actress, known for her role in Only Murders in the Building, recently found herself at the center of a debate regarding her portrayal in the acclaimed musical drama.
In a clip from an upcoming episode of Gaby Meza’s podcast Hablando de Cine, the 63-year-old Mexican actor and comedian did not mince words about his reaction to Gomez’s performance in Emilia Pérez. Derbez, who is widely recognized for his comedic roles and sharp wit, called Gomez’s portrayal “indefensible,” citing that the actress’s lack of fluency in Spanish was apparent. “I, and everyone I watched it with, were in disbelief,” he remarked, suggesting that her inability to speak the language fluently was a glaring issue in the movie.
But Selena wasn’t about to let that criticism slide. Taking to the comment section of a TikTok video that featured the podcast excerpt, Gomez addressed the issue directly. “I understand where you are coming from,” she wrote, referring to Derbez’s criticism. “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.”
Her response was a calm yet firm defense of her work. Despite her personal dedication, the actress acknowledged the difficulty in capturing every nuance of the language due to her limited proficiency, but emphasized that the effort and love she put into the role were undeniable.
Emilia Pérez, which debuted on Netflix in November, has already garnered critical praise during the awards season. The film was named one of the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Films of the Year, and the ensemble cast, which includes Karla Sofía Gascón, Adriana Paz, and Zoe Saldaña, has received glowing reviews. Gomez, who portrays Emilia’s wife Jessi in the movie, even earned a best actress nomination at the Cannes Film Festival, where the film also won several awards. Yet, despite the accolades, her Spanish-language performance remained a point of contention.
During the podcast, Meza, a host and critic of the film, voiced her disappointment, explaining that since Spanish was neither Gomez’s first nor second language, she felt the actress’s lack of fluency hindered the depth of her performance. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, and if she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she can’t give her acting any nuance,” Meza observed. Derbez echoed the sentiment, asserting that the film’s reception was more favorable to non-Spanish-speaking audiences who may not notice the language barrier.
“I feel like what happens is they don’t speak Spanish,” Derbez said, noting that international audiences might give Emilia Pérez more leniency because of the language gap. He even compared the phenomenon to watching a subtitled film in Russian or German, where the audience may be more willing to overlook certain language issues because they do not speak the original tongue.
Derbez also criticized Emilia Pérez’s French director, Jacques Audiard, for not being fluent in Spanish and for not fully understanding Mexican culture. He likened the director’s experience making a bilingual film in a foreign language to making a film in Russian while not knowing the language or culture. “It’s like if I wanted to make a film in Russian without knowing the culture or Russian,” Derbez argued.
However, after the backlash, Derbez took to TikTok to apologize. In a heartfelt message, he wrote, “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. There’s no excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.” Derbez acknowledged his mistake and emphasized the importance of supporting fellow Latino artists. “Emilia Pérez deserves to be celebrated, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks,” he concluded.
Gomez had previously spoken about her struggles with the Spanish language, revealing in an interview that she spent six months taking lessons to prepare for her role. As a Mexican-American woman, Gomez lost much of her fluency after moving to California at a young age to pursue her career in entertainment. “I got my first job at 7, and most of my jobs from that point on were in English,” she explained during an interview with NPR’s Fresh Air. “I just lost [my Spanish]. That’s kind of the case for a lot of people, especially Mexican American people.”
Despite these challenges, Gomez emphasized her desire to honor her culture, stating that she was proud of her decision to pursue a role in Emilia Pérez. “I wish I just knew a lot more than I do,” she admitted. “But I think that’s why I try to honor my culture as much as possible — from releasing an album in Spanish to wanting to pursue this movie. And I don’t think it’ll be the last thing I do in Spanish.”
Emilia Pérez tells the story of high-powered lawyer Rita (Saldaña), who helps a Mexican cartel leader (Gascón) fake their death and transition into a woman, later known as Emilia. Gomez plays Emilia’s wife, a role that is central to the narrative.
The exchange between Gomez and Derbez serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with language barriers in film, but also highlights the importance of cultural understanding and mutual support within the entertainment industry.
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