Selena Gomez receives criticism for her Spanish in ‘Emilia Pérez’

Demi Lovato - Lovato won over their Latino fans with their Spanish song 'Lo Que Soy' in 2008 (and has continued to be in Spanish-language songs since). Apparently, the song was meant to be fully in Spanish, but Lovato was unable to memorize all the words so parts of the song were re-written in English.

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Christina Aguilera -

The award-winning singer is half Ecuadorian from her father's side. Despite her Latino heritage and having recorded a Spanish album, Aguilera does not speak Spanish.

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Mariah Carey -

The diva may have sung in Spanish before, but doesn't speak the language. Carey's father was African American and of Afro-Venezuelan descent. Seems she's done just fine without the added language!

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Bella Thorne - Singer and actress Bella Thorne reportedly spoke Spanish in her childhood but can no longer speak it. Her father, who passed away in 2007, was Cuban.

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Charlie Sheen -

Martin Sheen's youngest son, Carlos Irwin Estévez (Charlie Sheen), does not speak any Spanish despite his Spanish ancestry. Sheen's grandfather, Francisco Estévez Martínez, was from Galicia, Spain.

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Emilio Estevez -

Charlie Sheen's oldest brother and fellow actor Emilio Estevez reportedly doesn't speak the language either. Allegedly Martin Sheen, their father, only speaks a limited amount himself.

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Gina Rodriguez -

Gina Rodriguez is second generation Puerto Rican but was brought up speaking mainly English. Her parents believed that if she was better in English, she would not get bullied. Rodriguez gets by with her Spanish and is a strong believer that not speaking Spanish does not make her, or anyone else, any less Latino.

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Selena -

Who would believe that Selena, a.k.a. the Queen of Tejano (Texan) music and one of the most admired singers by Latino communities around the world, did not speak Spanish fluently? Selena reportedly learned all her Spanish songs phonetically, most of which were huge hits.

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Mark Consuelos - Kelly Ripa's husband was born in Spain, though did not live there long. Despite the fact that his father is Mexican, it appears he doesn't speak any Spanish. He does speak Italian though!

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America Ferrera -

Ferrera is the youngest of six children and her parents were originally from Honduras, but emigrated to the US in the '70s. She speaks a bit of Spanish, but not fluently.

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James Roday -

His real name is James David Rodriguez and he was raised in a Mexican household. Despite all that, the Texan-born actor claims he does not speak any Spanish.

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Miguel - Despite his Mexican heritage from his father's side, Miguel grew up with his mother after his parents divorced, and does not speak Spanish.

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Carlos PenaVega -

The 'Big Time Rush' star was born to a Dominican mother and a father with Venezuelan and Spanish descent. However, PenaVega does not speak Spanish and has admitted in many interviews that he wishes to learn it.

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Alexa PenaVega -

Carlos PenaVega's wife and 'Spy Kids' actress Alexa PenaVega speaks a bit of Spanish, although not fluently. The Miami-born star's father is Colombian and her mother is American.

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Jake T. Austin -

Jake T. Austin is known for his roles in 'The Fosters' and 'The Wizards of Waverly Place.' He is not known for Spanish skills, as the actor seems to lack in that department. Austin's Puerto Rican mother is of Argentine and Spanish descent, but he has yet to learn the language.

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Vanessa Marcil - You may know her from 'General Hospital,' 'Beverly Hills 90210,' or 'The Nanny Express.' Her father is of Mexican descent and she was brought up in Indio, California. But did you know that she can't speak Spanish?

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Melissa de Sousa -

American actress Melissa de Sousa is the daughter of Panamanian parents (who were also of Portuguese descent). Despite her parent's Latino heritage, Sousa was reportedly not brought up to speak Spanish.

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Heather Hemmens -

'Hellcats' star Heather Hemmens has a black belt in martial arts, has directed and produced shows, but does not speak Spanish. Hemmens' family comes from Costa Rica.

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Lana Parrilla -

The 'Once Upon a Time' actress was born to a Sicilian mother and Puerto Rico-born father, and used to speak Spanish when she was young. Parilla reportedly does not speak Spanish anymore.

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Evelyn Lozada -

American TV personality and 'Basketball Wives' star Evelyn Lozada is of Puerto Rican descent, was born in Brooklyn, and moved to Miami in 2007. Despite growing up in states that are heavily populated by Hispanics, Lozada reportedly does not speak Spanish.

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Ryan Guzman -

Texan-born actor Ryan Guzman has Mexican heritage from his father's side. However, despite his Latino background, Guzman reportedly does not speak a word of Spanish.

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Stacey Dash -

'Clueless' actress Stacey Dash was born to a Mexican-American mother and an African-American father. Despite her maternal Latino ancestry, Dash does not speak Spanish. According to Chron, the star plans on learning the language in order to pass it down to her children.

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Julian Castro -

Julian Castro was the mayor of San Antonio, Texas from 2009 up to 2014, when he joined Barack Obama's presidential cabinet. His Mexican mother was a Chicana (civil rights movement) political activist and passed down her passion for politics to her twin sons. However, it's speaking Spanish that Castro did not take from his mother.

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Naya Rivera - Despite being half Puerto Rican, the late California native and 'Glee' star publicly admitted to not speaking any Spanish.

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Selena Gomez -

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Cameron Diaz -

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Eva Longoria -

The Texas native was not brought up to speak Spanish but reportedly picked up the language later on. Longoria is now married to Mexican businessman José Antonio Bastón, with whom she shares a son.

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Christina Aguilera -

The award-winning singer is half Ecuadorian from her father's side. Despite her Latino heritage and having recorded a Spanish album, Aguilera does not speak Spanish.

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Mariah Carey -

The diva may have sung in Spanish before, but doesn't speak the language. Carey's father was African American and of Afro-Venezuelan descent. Seems she's done just fine without the added language!

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Bella Thorne - Singer and actress Bella Thorne reportedly spoke Spanish in her childhood but can no longer speak it. Her father, who passed away in 2007, was Cuban.

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Charlie Sheen -

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Emilio Estevez -

Charlie Sheen's oldest brother and fellow actor Emilio Estevez reportedly doesn't speak the language either. Allegedly Martin Sheen, their father, only speaks a limited amount himself.

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Gina Rodriguez -

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Selena -

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America Ferrera -

Ferrera is the youngest of six children and her parents were originally from Honduras, but emigrated to the US in the '70s. She speaks a bit of Spanish, but not fluently.

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James Roday -

His real name is James David Rodriguez and he was raised in a Mexican household. Despite all that, the Texan-born actor claims he does not speak any Spanish.

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Miguel - Despite his Mexican heritage from his father's side, Miguel grew up with his mother after his parents divorced, and does not speak Spanish.

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Carlos PenaVega -

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Alexa PenaVega -

Carlos PenaVega's wife and 'Spy Kids' actress Alexa PenaVega speaks a bit of Spanish, although not fluently. The Miami-born star's father is Colombian and her mother is American.

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Jake T. Austin -

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Melissa de Sousa -

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Heather Hemmens -

'Hellcats' star Heather Hemmens has a black belt in martial arts, has directed and produced shows, but does not speak Spanish. Hemmens' family comes from Costa Rica.

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Lana Parrilla -

The 'Once Upon a Time' actress was born to a Sicilian mother and Puerto Rico-born father, and used to speak Spanish when she was young. Parilla reportedly does not speak Spanish anymore.

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Evelyn Lozada -

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Ryan Guzman -

Texan-born actor Ryan Guzman has Mexican heritage from his father's side. However, despite his Latino background, Guzman reportedly does not speak a word of Spanish.

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Stacey Dash -

Getty Images

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Julian Castro -

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Selena Gomez receives criticism for her Spanish in ‘Emilia Pérez’

She has admitted to taking Spanish lessons despite her Latino heritage

16/01/25 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Latinos

Latino star Selena Gomez has received criticism for her Spanish in the 2024 Netflix film ‘Emilia Pérez,’ after admitting that she had to take Spanish lessons for six months to prepare for the role.

Despite being Golden Globe-nominated for her role as Jessi Del Monte, Mexican comedian and actor Eugenio Derbez has called out her Spanish, whilst also criticizing that the film has a French director, Jacques Audiard. Gomez responded to his comments, saying she understood his point and he has since apologized, emphasizing the need for the Latino community to support one another.

The singer and actress was born in Texas to an American mother and a Mexican father. Despite releasing an album in Spanish and speaking Spanish in this film, Gomez admits that she lost her Spanish due to most of her jobs being in English. She has commented, however, that including Spanish in her work is a way of showing respect for her culture, and that she intends to use it more in the future.

Gomez isn’t the only Latino celebrity not to speak Spanish though. Click through this gallery to see which Latino stars join her, and their reasons why.