Salma Hayek has defended Hillary ‘Hilaria’ Baldwin during her Spanish heritage scandal, even admitting she was ‘honored’ to learn that the star had taken on a background similar to her own as her alter ego.
In an interview with Andy Cohen on his show Radio Andy, Cohen asked the actress her thoughts on the matter while playing her former role as Alec Baldwin’s girlfriend on 30 Rock.
“We all lie a bit,” said Hayek, 54, of Mexican and Lebanese descent. ‘She makes my girlfriend happy. She made fun of me for being such a good mother, and she has five. And you know, I don’t care.
‘We all lie a bit’: Salma Hayek defended Hillary ‘Hilaria’ Baldwin during her Spanish heritage scandal, even admitting she was ‘honored’ when she learned that the star had taken on a background similar to her own as her alter ego
‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to betray or hurt anyone’s feelings, and I don’t know if it’s right or not. I’m not going to judge someone just for that one thing. And I feel honored that someone wants to be their alter ego, it’s like something similar to my roots.
‘I feel proud that people are inspired. Because you know I’m Mexican, Lebanese, but my grandparents, my maternal ancestors are Spanish. I think she’s smart about wanting to be Spanish. We are cool, you know? ‘
‘You are cool!’ Andy said, laughing.
‘It’s a bizarre story, but don’t we all create our own character in life? … I do not care. She’s not a bad person, ‘she said, adding that Hilaria was’ a good person, a good mother and a good wife, she makes my girlfriend happy, she’s very nice to me, and that’s all I care about ‘.
Controversy: Hilaria Baldwin is under fire for her alleged Spanish background (pictured with husband Alec in March 2020)
“And Spanish people are cool,” said Andy.
‘And Spanish people are cool! I don’t blame her for choosing that, ”said Salma.
The controversy all started last year, after a viral Twitter thread made allegations about how the yoga guru and the mother of five misrepresented her background for years.
Posted by an anonymous user, the tweets began, “You have to admire Hilaria Baldwin’s dedication to her ten-year carving of posing as a Spanish person.”
Lights, camera, action: Hayek played Baldwin’s girlfriend on the hit comedy series 30 Rock
It was liked 20,000 times and led dozens of people to find examples of Baldwin with a Spanish accent, a shocking contrast to her childhood in Boston, where she was known as Hillary and considered white by her classmates.
Several videos from Hilaria’s previous TV appearances resurfaced, showing her commitment to a Spanish accent, including a Today show portion in which she seemingly forgot the English word for ‘cucumber’.
A number of Hilaria’s former classmates also came forward to confirm that she was, in fact, raised in Weston, Massachusetts, by professor parents – and had no hint of a Spanish accent during her childhood and teenage years.
In the days after the claims came to light, Hilaria shared a series of Instagram videos addressing the controversy.
She initially denied the charges, stating that it was only ‘fake Twitter accounts accusing me of a fake identity!’ but she was later forced to withdraw and reveal more about her Massachusetts background after thousands of comments.
Scandal: The controversy all started last year, after a viral Twitter thread made allegations about how the yoga guru and the mother of five misrepresented her background for years