Selena Gomez Reacts to Criticism Over ‘Indefensible’ Spanish in Netflix’s ‘Emilia Pérez’

Selena Gomez isn’t letting the heat get to her.

The Disney Channel alum respectfully clapped back at Mexico-born actor Eugenio Derbez for his comments on her latest film, “Emilia Pérez,” which he deemed “indefensible” due to her limited Spanish.

Derbez, who plays Gomez’s father in the romantic comedy, told Univision that he felt her accent was distracting and questioned why the role couldn’t have gone to a native Spanish speaker.

“The reason is very simple. The accent was very distracting,” he said in a video interview.

“The film is romantic comedy, it’s adorable, and the fact that Selena is so popular and that she presents herself as she is, in her own strengths, is lovely. But, I found that when Selena spoke, I lost my concentration because the accent was very distracting.”

He added:

“I’m not saying Selena is trying to do a bad job, in fact, she was trying very hard, but I think that kind of role should be played by some Spanish-speaking actresses who really speak the language natively. For me, it was impossible to hear it naturally.”

Despite his criticism, Gomez seems unfazed. When asked about Derbez’s remarks in a recent interview, the singer responded with grace and humor.

“Maybe it’s because people know me better than any Spanish speaker!” she quipped, adding, “I tried my best, honey. It is what it is.”

The 31-year-old actress has been vocal about embracing her heritage in recent years and even showcased her Spanish-speaking skills on Instagram.

“Emilia Pérrez” began streaming on Netflix on December 8th, 2024.

What do you think about Selena Gomez’s performance in “Emilia Perez?” Let us know in the comments below!