December 12, 2024: Mexican actor and comedian Eugenio Derbez recently issued an apology to Selena Gomez after criticizing her performance in the film Emilia Perez. The controversy began when Derbez made comments on a podcast regarding Gomez’s Spanish-language performance in the movie, which led the actress to respond directly to his remarks.
In his apology, which he posted on his TikTok account, Derbez admitted that his previous comments were “thoughtless” and “indefensible,” stating that they went against everything he believes in. He acknowledged that as Latinos, they should support each other, and there was no excuse for his behavior. “I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart,” Derbez wrote. He also clarified that Gomez’s character in Emilia Perez should be celebrated, not diminished by his remarks, adding that he had learned an important lesson from the situation. Derbez ended his message by expressing that while he understood if Gomez couldn’t accept his apology, it came from the heart.
The controversy arose after Selena Gomez, who is not fluent in Spanish, took on the challenge of speaking the language for her role in Emilia Perez. The film, written and directed by Jacques Audiard, is a bilingual musical crime drama in which Gomez plays a character named Jessi. Her character alternates between Spanish and English throughout the film, a decision that did not sit well with Derbez.
On the podcast, Derbez criticized Gomez’s performance, suggesting that it lacked nuance because she was not fluent in Spanish. He shared that when watching the film with others, they would look at each other in disbelief during her scenes. He explained, “I watched the film with people, and every time she had a scene, we looked at each other to say, ‘Wow, what is this?'” He also compared Gomez’s situation to making a film in Russian without understanding the culture or language of the country.
In response, Selena Gomez took to Instagram to address the criticism. She wrote, “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.” Gomez’s response emphasized that despite the challenges, she had given her best effort.
The plot of Emilia Perez revolves around a cartel leader who enlists a lawyer to help her disappear and transition into a woman, and features a diverse cast, including Zoe Saldana, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Edgar Ramirez.
This public exchange between Derbez and Gomez has sparked conversations about the challenges actors face when portraying characters in languages or cultures they are not familiar with, and the responsibility of public figures to be thoughtful and supportive in their critiques.
