Selena Gomez has responded to actor Eugenio Derbez’s recent criticism of her performance in Emilia Perez, a musical thriller film. The 32-year-old singer, actress, and producer took to social media to defend her portrayal after the 63-year-old actor and comedian expressed his concerns on the Hablando de Cine podcast.
Derbez, who watched the film with others, admitted that every time Gomez appeared on screen, they exchanged puzzled looks. He stated, “Selena is indefensible. Every time a scene came with her, we looked at each other and thought, ‘Wow, what is this?’”
Podcast host Gaby Meza added that while Selena is a talented actress and singer, she found the performance “unconvincing” and “uncomfortable,” especially in Spanish. Meza suggested that Gomez’s limited command of Spanish made it difficult for her to deliver a nuanced performance. “Spanish is neither her primary nor secondary language… she doesn’t know what she’s saying, and that’s why her acting lacks depth,” Meza explained.
Derbez agreed, saying, “I can’t believe no one is talking about it,” while still acknowledging his admiration for the film as a whole. He praised director Jacques Audiard for creating an intriguing movie, though he questioned the decision to cast someone who wasn’t fluent in Spanish, especially in a film set in Mexico. He compared it to making a film in Russian without understanding the language or culture.
The criticism quickly gained traction on social media, prompting Gomez to address it directly. The actress, who has Mexican heritage, responded on TikTok: “I understand where you’re 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 previously spoken about the challenge of performing in Spanish, expressing her excitement and pride at the opportunity. “It was really incredible to be around people who were speaking it. I found it to be a very proud moment for sure,” she said in a past interview with Sky News.
