Selena Gomez Loves ‘Selena: The Series’
Following the premiere of Selena: The Series on Netflix, many fans of the beloved Tejano icon have taken to social media to share their disappointment with the series
Photo: Víctor Ceballos/Netflix
Following the premiere of Selena: The Series on Netflix, many fans of the beloved Tejano icon have taken to social media to share their disappointment with the series. Despite the controversy celebs including Jennifer Lopez — who portrayed Selena in the eponymous film in 1997— have voiced their support for the film and now Selena Gomez, 28, has taken to Instagram to share her love for the show.
“I have been binge-watching the Selena series on Netflix. It’s so good,” Gomez said in an IG story on the Netflix account, @contodonetflix. “She’s such an inspiration. I was named after her and it’s unbelievable.”
Selena’s approval comes after the same Netflix account shared a video of Lopez encouraging viewers to tune in ahead of the Dec. 4 premiere. “Playing Selena was kind of a landmark moment in my career and I was so excited when I saw the trailer and heard about it. It’s a great way for this generation to get to know Selena. I love Selena. She’s just a big part of my life and career and I can’t wait to see it.”
Despite the love from two of the most famous Latinas in entertainment today, Selena’s fans have been vocal about the various ways the show has failed them. E! News writer and avid Selena fan Alyssa Morin summed up the feelings many had after watching the series: “The show fails to tell a real story about its main star. What’s missing is Selena’s outlook, an obvious assumption given the show bears her name. The reality is, she is not the heart and soul of each episode. She’s a side character, one that’s not even fully developed.”
The series explores many of the themes showcased in the film like her struggles with speaking Spanish and the dual existence of being both Mexican and American. However, fans felt the Quintanilla family and her father, Abraham, in particular, were front and center more than Selena. In light of the controversy, fans have paid tribute to Selena’s legacy to make up for what they believe the series is lacking with the hashtag #SelenaNetflix filled with posts about their discontent.
“I’m just glad that enough Tejanas/Latinas/Chicanas/Selena Devotees have done the unrecognized and undervalued work of studying, understanding, and archiving the reality of Selena so this absolute fabrication cannot replace the truth of who she was and continues to be. Válgame,” tweeted Mala Muñoz, co-founder and co-host of the podcast Locatora Radio who has dedicated many posts and Instagram lives to dissecting the series and its shortcomings.
Selena: The Series is available to stream now on Netflix.
