Hilaria Baldwin Says Forgetting the English Word for Cucumber Is Normal

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Step back, Karla Sofía Gascón. It appears an original Spanish problem solver is speaking. In the debut episode of their new TLC reality series, “The Baldwins”, Alec Baldwin’s wife Hilaria discusses the longstanding controversy about her use of a Spanish accent and misrepresentation of her heritage in the media. In essence, before being criticized for this behavior on social media in 2020, Hilaria (originally Hillary Hayward-Thomas) had stated that she was from Spain, when in reality, she grew up and went to school in Massachusetts. At her wedding to Alec in 2012, she wore a traditional veil as a tribute to her roots; she named all seven of her children with Spanish names; and in public appearances and videos, she spoke with a thick accent, often “forgetting” the English words for items like “cucumber” and “onion”, asking instead, “How do I say … ?

She shares with the camera on The Baldwins, “I’m nurturing my children to become bilingual, as I myself was brought up that way. Currently, our immediate family resides in Spain.” She explains, “I aim to instill in my kids a sense of pride when speaking multiple languages. I believe that growing up with the ability to speak two languages is extraordinarily unique. I adore English, and I have an affinity for Spanish too. When I combine the two, it doesn’t make me inauthentic. Rather, it makes me just like many others!” This sentiment is contrasted with clips of her conversing in Spanish with her kids, who predominantly communicate with each other in English.

In reference to her highly visible experience as a person of mixed heritage in America, she expresses, “I wouldn’t be truthful if I said it didn’t bring me sorrow, pain, and lead me to dark thoughts. However, it was my family, friends, and community – who are multilingual, have roots in various places, and understand that we embody a blend of many cultures – who helped me realize this is just part of being human. This diversity affects the way we speak, express ideas, choose our words, and even our mannerisms. It’s normal. It’s simply being human.

During the entire show, Hilaria converses in English using an American accent with subtle variations, a voice that contrasts significantly with her portrayal in viral videos from 2020 and prior. At one instance, Alec requests her to slow down because she’s speaking English with a Spanish rhythm. Later on, she queries Alec about the term for “Venus flytrap,” which seems less like an intentional affectation and more like she genuinely doesn’t know the word. It’s worth noting that one of their cats is named Paolo, and one of their nannies goes by Paola, a fact that may hold some significance.

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2025-02-21 01:54