Hilaria Baldwin, photographed by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty, was in attendance at the Glamour Women of the Year 2023 event at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 07, 2023, in New York City. She recently addressed the criticism she faced regarding her accent on an episode of The Baldwins, which aired on March 16. Hilaria, aged 41, discussed how she had adjusted her accent long before it became a topic of controversy in 2020, with people questioning the legitimacy of her Spanish background.
Reflecting on her multicultural upbringing, Hilaria expressed, “Growing up with diverse cultural influences means you may never fully fit in. You may try to blend in, to adapt like a chameleon. People who code-switch are adept at this, almost unconsciously. It becomes second nature.”
Hilaria also attended the Guild Hall Academy Of The Arts Achievement Awards in New York City on March 03, 2020, as seen in the image by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty.
During a conversation with her daughter Carmen Gabriela’s friend’s 15-year-old sister, Hilaria likened the experience of “code-switching” to adjusting one’s speech or behavior to match social expectations, similar to speaking with an elderly person. She noted, “Code-switching is a form of communication, like adjusting your speech when talking to a hard-of-hearing elder. It happens almost instinctively.”
In a confessional, Hilaria shared her perspective on handling the controversy with resilience, stating, “Being in the public eye, you never truly get accustomed to negativity. But you learn to detach, to dial down the noise in your head, and not take it personally.”
The discussion surrounding Hilaria’s background began in December 2020, when online speculation claimed she was misrepresenting her Spanish heritage, despite being born in Boston, Massachusetts, with the birth name Hilary. Addressing these claims in a deleted video, she reaffirmed her connection to both Spain and the U.S., emphasizing her genuine story.
Hilaria further addressed the situation on The Baldwins season premiere, asserting, “Embracing both the English and Spanish languages doesn’t make me less authentic; it makes me me.” Despite the challenges, she maintained her pride in her heritage and identity.
“It didn’t hurt me, nor did it lead me to dark places. It was my family, friends, and community, who are multilingual and have experienced belonging in various places, that made me realize we are a blend of different backgrounds. This diversity influences how we speak, articulate, choose our words, and even our mannerisms,” she explained. “It’s all part of being human and completely normal.” Stay updated on the latest stories by signing up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter, offering a mix of celebrity news and engaging human interest pieces. Catch The Baldwins airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC, with episodes available for streaming on Max. (Original article source: People)
