Hilaria Baldwin is addressing the longstanding controversy surrounding her accent, opening up about the backlash she faced and the personal journey that followed.
On the March 16 episode of The Baldwins, the 41-year-old shared her perspective on how she naturally adapted her speech patterns due to her multicultural upbringing, a process known as code-switching.
Baldwin recalled that growing up with multiple cultural influences made it difficult to “fit in” completely.
She compared code-switching to adjusting one’s speech when talking to someone elderly or in a different social setting.
“You don’t even think about it. It’s just natural,” she explained.
Also Read: Kim Soo-hyun’s Controversy Leads to His Removal from MBC’s ‘Good Day’: A Detailed Breakdown
Reflecting on the social media firestorm that erupted in 2020, when users questioned the authenticity of her Spanish roots, Baldwin admitted that the scrutiny was painful.
The controversy began when people discovered that she was born in Boston, Massachusetts, under the name Hilary, despite previously implying a stronger connection to Spain.
Baldwin addressed the criticism head-on at the time, stating that she had spent significant time in both Spain and the U.S., and that speaking Spanish does not make her inauthentic.
In The Baldwins, she reiterated this sentiment, saying,
“I love English, I also love Spanish, and when I mix the two, it doesn’t make me inauthentic. It makes me normal.”
She acknowledged that the backlash deeply affected her, pushing her into dark places, but ultimately, she leaned on her family and multilingual community for support.
Despite the lingering criticism, Baldwin has learned to detach herself from negativity.
“You never get used to people being mean,” she admitted, “but you take a deep breath, and you learn to distance yourself from it.”
The Baldwin family’s reality show, The Baldwins, continues to document their lives, including Alec Baldwin’s legal battles and their personal struggles.
Also Read: Studio MAPPA Addresses Controversy Over Animator Working Conditions
Hilaria remains committed to embracing her identity and moving forward, emphasizing that cultural fluidity is a normal part of her experience.
New episodes of The Baldwins air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC and are available to stream on Max.
