Selena Gomez has found herself in one of the most infamous moments of her acting career. The actress received several nominations and accolades for her work in “Emilia Perez”, where she speaks most of her lines in Spanish.
© Stephanie KeenanLast week, a video of Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez went viral when he criticized Gomez’s performance, particularly her Spanish.
“I was [watching the movie] With people,” Derbez said on the podcast “Hublando de Cine.” “And one scene at a time [with her] Appearing, we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, what is this?’
The exchange sparked a lot of controversy, with many supporting Derbez’s statement and others criticizing his comments. The viral clip prompted a response from Gomez, an apology from her, and much discussion.
In a previous interview with NPR, Gomez opened up about her history with Spanish, revealing that while she grew up speaking it in her family, she lost it by age 7.
“I got my first job at 7, and most of my jobs since then have been in English,” he said. “And I just lost [my Spanish]. That’s the case for a lot of people, especially Mexican Americans.”
Gomez’s case is incredibly common among first-generation Mexican Americans, many of whom lost the language while living in the United States and assimilating into the culture around them. This is a development that is difficult for Spanish speakers born and raised in other countries to understand.
© Eugene GolgarskyGomez’s future with the Spanish
Chat with him NPRGomez revealed that she spent six months preparing for her role. He also shared that he wants to respect his culture with his future projects. “I wish I knew more than I did,” she said.
“But I think that’s why I try to respect my culture as much as possible – from releasing an album in Spanish to wanting to follow this movie. And I don’t think this will be the last thing in Spanish.”
Although comments from the Spanish-speaking community belittled Gómez’s experience, her work in “Emilia Perez” led to a Golden Globe nomination and an appearance on Actors of Diversity’s Special. He may even get an Oscar nomination later this year.
© Nielsen Barnard