Eugenio Derbez is taking a step back from his latest statements criticizing Selena Gomez’s performance in the acclaimed movie ‘Emilia Perez,’ which leads the Golden Globes with ten nominations in total. The Mexican actor apologized to Selena after going viral for his interview, where he agreed about her acting being “unconvincing” and “uncomfortable” to watch.
Dear Selena, I truly apologize for my careless comments,” he said in a new statement. “They are indefensible and go against everything I stand for. As Latinos, we should always support one another. There’s not excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.”
He continued, “Emilia Pérez deserves to be celebrated, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks. I’m walking away from this with an important lesson learned. While I understand if you cannot accept my apology, please know it comes from the heart.”
Following the controversy, Mexican singer Belinda showed support for Selena. “It is unfortunate to express oneself so coldly about the work and effort of such a talented and admirable woman as Selena Gómez,” Belinda wrote, adding that “words can hurt,” and calling for more “empathy” after seeing Eugenio’s commentary.
© Emma McIntyreDespite having shown his support for the cast and posing for a photo after the screening, Eugenio shared his criticism. “I was [watching the movie] with people,” Derbez said, “and every time a scene [with her] appeared, we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, what is this?'”
© Mettie Ostrowski“I feel she doesn’t know what she is saying, and if she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she can’t give her acting any nuance,” the host of “Hablando de Cine,” said, to which Eugenio agreed, expressing his surprise that “no one is talking about it.”
“I understand where you are coming from,” Selena responded after seeing his interview. “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.”