Selena Gomez responds to Eugenio Derbez's criticism of her Spanish in Emilia Pérez performance

Selena Gomez has responded to actor Eugenio Derbez’s criticism of her Spanish-speaking performance in the film Emilia Pérez.

During an interview on the Spanish-language podcast Hablando de Cine, Derbez called Gomez’s use of Spanish “indefensible” and noted that her performance lacked the nuance required for the role.

Gomez stars as Jessi del Monte in Jacques Audiard’s bilingual musical crime drama, where she portrays a drug lord seeking a new identity with the help of a sentimental lawyer, played by Zoe Saldana. Derbez acknowledged the film’s experimental approach but felt that Gomez’s limited fluency hindered her delivery, saying, “Every time she had a scene, we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, what is this?’”

Podcast host Gaby Meza added that Gomez’s inability to speak Spanish fluently dampened the emotional depth of her scenes.

Responding to the viral critique on TikTok, Gomez commented, “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.”

Despite the criticism, Emilia Pérez remains a strong contender for this year’s Academy Awards, with buzz around nominations for best picture, best director, and best actress.