• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Selena Gomez fires back at actor after he criticizes her ‘indefensible’ Spanish in new film

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 16:18 8 Dec 2024 GMT

Selena Gomez fires back at actor after he criticizes her ‘indefensible’ Spanish in new film

Eugenio Derbez didn't have anything good to say about the actress' performance

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Selena Gomez has addressed a fellow actor's comments about her Emilia Perez performance.

Emilia Perez was arguably one of the most anticipated movies of the year and dropped on Netflix on November 13.

The Spanish-language movie boasts an all-star cast with Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, and Édgar Ramírez all featuring.

Advert

Gomez has Mexican heritage and can speak Spanish - although not fluently.

She's said to have grown up speaking the language but fell out of practice when she moved to California as a child.

With her not being fluent in Spanish, Gomez said that it 'meant the world to [her]' that the director of the film, Jacques Audiard, trusted her with the role.

Advert

"I had coaches and we communicated every day in Spanish," she explained to extratv.

"My dad was so proud. He was like 'you're texting me mija', and I'm like 'yeah, I'm texting you in Spanish'."

While Gomez evidently put in the work to improve her Spanish before starring in Emilia Perez, it wasn't particularly well received by some - Koda actor Eugenio Derbez in particular.

Eugenio Derbez has criticized Selena Gomez's Spanish abilities (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Eugenio Derbez has criticized Selena Gomez's Spanish abilities (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Advert

Speaking on the Hablando de Cine podcast, the Mexican actor said of Gomez: "Selena is indefensible. I [watched the movie] with people, and every time she had a scene, we looked at each other to say to each other, 'Wow, what is this?'"

Podcast host Gaby Meza went on to label the Only Murders in the Building star as a 'very talentred actress', but agreed that her Spanish wasn't great.

"Spanish is not her main language, not her secondary or fifth language," she said, as per Deadline.

"And that’s why 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."

Advert

In the wake of their remarks, Gomez has now responded.

Replying to a TikTok video of the interview, Gomez penned: "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."

Selena has responded to their comments about her performance (TikTok)
Selena has responded to their comments about her performance (TikTok)

And this isn't the only issue people have had with Gomez's acting in Emilia Perez; others said that the 32-year-old made a 'crucial mistake' in it.

Advert

Gomez seemed to have an Office-like moment in the film where she locked eyes with the camera, something some people suggested she wasn't supposed to do and that she 'broke the fourth wall'.

However, a different person defended her and said: "I am thinking this was intentional, because multiple characters do this throughout the movie."

Featured Image Credit: Pathé/@elviboreo/Tiktok

Topics: Selena Gomez, TikTok, News, Celebrity, Film and TV

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

16 hours ago
20 hours ago
a day ago
  • Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images
    16 hours ago

    Cardi B confirms she’s pregnant with her fourth child after rumors sent fans into frenzy

    The Bardi Gang have been in a frenzy for weeks

    Celebrity
  • Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images/JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
    20 hours ago

    Michael Keaton sparks outrage with controversial Charlie Kirk assassination comments

    The actor has come under fire for his comments about Charlie Kirk this week

    Celebrity
  • YouTube/Breakfast Club
    a day ago

    Nick Cannon explains why having 12 children was a response to trauma

    The TV & comedy star reflects on past struggles

    Celebrity
  • Getty Images/Gilbert Flores
    a day ago

    Jamie Lee Curtis makes honest Charlie Kirk remark after 'disagreeing with him on everything'

    The actress fought through tears to make the remarks on Marc Maron's WTF podcast

    Celebrity
  • Selena Gomez shared requirements men had to meet to date her amid Benny Blanco relationship and ‘high maintenance’ accusations
  • Selena Gomez breaks down in tears in deleted video responding to Donald Trump's new executive orders
  • Selena Gomez fans horrified after spotting one small detail as she celebrates major milestone
  • Selena Gomez post showing how she voted early has fans confused thinking she used 'random box on the street'