I'm a mexican-american female and now in the year 2009 it seems as if Puerto Rican and Mexican tension is rising. I don't agree with it, but its there. If a Puerto Rican played a Mexican role, hell would brake loose to some people.
Back in 1997 was this an issue? Were Mexicans upset that a Puerto Rican played Selena? My family members don't remember anything said about it..but thats just them.
I remember when they announced Jennifer Lopez getting the role. All H3LL broke loose. I told people, if they can make a black guy look like a Jewish guy (referring to Eddie Murphy playing the Jewish guy in Coming to America) they can surely have enough make up to have a Puerto Rican resemble a Mexican.
shareyes all hell broke loose when she was cast as 'selena' because hispanics can be just as protective and racist as any other ethnicity, if not more. i oppose when hispanic actors get cast only because they look hispanic, but don't speak spanish, but in selena's case, she didn't either so no harm done. the most important thing is the look and jennifer and selena are practically TWINS so that's why the movie worked so well.
shareIn San Antonio, there was a lot of controversy when J Lo was cast as a Puerto Rican. People were saying it should’ve been a Mexican or Mexican American. But isn’t that the whole point of acting?! You’re an actor - you transform yourself into the role of who you are supposed to be. And if you can pull it off, then awesome! Thousands of Hispanic girls answered the casting call to try out for the role. That was an event unto itself.
The controversy, of course, was before the film was released. Once the film came out, the consensus was pretty unanimous that J Lo hit the role out of the park. She was an excellent Selena and any future Selena adaptations have a high bar to reach.
Nobody with a properly functioning brain gives a shit.
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