Selena Gomez she reacted, when actor Eugene Derbez called her performance in the movie “Emilia Perez” “unacceptable”.

The film follows Carla Sofia Gascon in the title role, a Mexican drug cartel leader who undergoes gender confirmation surgery. Gomez plays her partner Jessie Del Monte in the film, which was released on Netflix to mixed reviews.

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Mexican actor Derbez as a guest on the podcast “Hablando de Cine” said that he watched the film with disappointment. “Selina is unacceptable” he said. “I saw the movie with people, and every time there was a scene, we’d look at each other and say, ‘What is that?'” noted.

“I feel like they don’t speak Spanish” the actor continued. “If you watch a Russian or a German movie, with Spanish subtitles, and you see someone speaking in the original language, you say, “Oh, look. Ok! Interest”» completed.

He also criticized director Jacques Audiard for making a film in Spanish without understanding the nuances of how language could affect performance. Gomez herself has limited experience with the language, but had to play her character in Spanish.

“What a joke for a director… I liked the movie, apart from Selina’s stand out scenes, because she has things she can save herself from” continue.

Derbez characterized the film “an interesting experiment” he emphasized, however, that he cannot help but wonder why the French director presents a story rooted in a culture that is completely foreign to him.

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“I said to myself, ‘How strange that the director doesn’t speak English or Spanish and the movie is in Spanish and English and it’s set in Mexico and he doesn’t understand the culture.’ It’s like making a movie in Russian without knowing the culture or without speaking Russian and speaking French.” he reported.

A clip of the actor’s interview went viral on social media, and Selena Gomez responded by explaining why she felt her Spanish wasn’t good. “I understand where you’re coming from,” he said. “I’m sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given. It doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this film.” noted the singer, actress and producer.

After Selena Gomez’s response, the actor apologized. “My comments are unacceptable and go against everything I stand for. As Latin Americans we should always support each other. There is no excuse. I was wrong and I deeply admire your career and kind heart,” he wrote Derpez. “’Emilia Pérez’ deserves to be honored, not diminished by my thoughtless remarks. I walk away from this with an important lesson. Although I understand if you cannot accept my apology, please know that it comes from the heart” he emphasized.