Selena Gomez responds to Eugenio Derbez’s criticism of the controversial film “Emilia Pérez”

In Spanish

Mexican actor and filmmaker Eugenio Derbez may regret the moment he decided to criticize Selena Gomez’s performance in “Emilia Pérez.” His comments on the Hablando de Cine podcast this week have sparked a firestorm of backlash.

Speaking to podcast host and film critic Gaby Meza, Derbez confessed that he didn’t like Selena’s acting in French director Jacques Audiard’s film. While both agreed that Gomez is a talented actress, they lamented her decision to take the role, claiming it was “poorly directed.”

Meza prefaced the criticism by calling Gomez’s performance “indefensible.” Derbez repeated her statement and used the same word: “untenable.” The two not only condemned Gomez’s acting performance, but also criticized her musical performance in the film.

While “Emilia Pérez,” which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who flees to live as his “true self” as a transgender woman, faced some criticism, Derbez and Meza’s harsh criticism of Gomez’s performance stood out. Gomez, the most popular member of the cast – which includes Venezuelan Édgar Ramírez, Dominican Zoe Saldaña, Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón and Mexican Adriana Paz – was the main target of her criticism.

The podcast’s discussion also touched on broader topics, such as the decision to set a story ostensibly set in Mexico in France, with Mexico only minimally represented in the production.

Selena Gomez responds to the controversy

Selena Gomez’s loyal fan base, the Selenators, didn’t take the criticism lightly. Considered one of the most powerful fandoms on social media, she quickly jumped to her aid. Many pointed to previous accusations that Derbez plagiarized elements of his work, including characters from his show “La Familia P.Luche” and the plot of his film “Instructions Not Included.”

Fans also highlighted Gomez’s recent successes, noting that she and the cast of “Emilia Pérez” received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for their work on the film. They didn’t hesitate to call Derbez a “hypocrite” for attending a screening of the film at the Toronto Film Festival and posting a photo with the cast on his social media.

However, it was Gomez’s own reaction that struck the biggest nerve. Addressing the criticism, she said: “I understand where you’re coming from. I’m sorry I did my best in the time I was given. That doesn’t detract from how much work and passion I put into this film.”