Marilyn Monroe's Estate Applauds Ana de Armas' Accent In Netflix's 'Blonde'

The late Marilyn Monroe's estate is speaking up amid the backlash actress Ana de Armas is facing for her accent in the highly-anticipated Netflix biopic, "Blonde."

As you might know, the biopic has been making quite some buzz with Armas channeling Monroe in a way no one has ever managed to do. However, when the trailer was dropped last week, fans didn't seem too pleased with her accent.

On July 28, Netflix dropped the trailer for the biopic. The 1-minute-55-second clip started with the Spanish actress seen in the dressing room, mirroring Monroe's iconic "mirror kiss," before we get to see how Monroe's life story plays out and the tragedies that followed her in the limelight.

Following the release of the teaser clips, the public wasted no time airing their displeasure with Armas' Cuban/Spanish accent, saying it was jarring and distracting and not in any way reminiscent of Monroe.

The "Deep Water" star who hails from Santa Cruz de la Norte, Cuba, moved to the United States when she was older. Hence, her native language is very much a part of her identity and is often observed in the several movies she has starred in.

However, it seems fans had an expectation of the actress to effortlessly channel an American accent, especially since it was reported that she underwent nine months of dialect training to perfect the part.

Some even went as far as believing she didn't put in the work since actors generally master accents change and can do crossovers seemingly effortlessly. Below are some of the comments on the internet:

One concerned fan asked, "Correct me if I’m wrong. Did Marilyn Monroe have a thick Spanish accent?"

This Twitter user addressed the accent controversy, writing, "I know the movie hasn’t come out yet but Blonde starring Ana de Armas looks stunning and the scenes give me chills but I know y’all still hear her accent.. like it’s STRONG. I am very surprised they thought she sounded like Marilyn because she literally doesn’t. looks? yes."

The fan continued, "many people of color have starred in biopics Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton .. Jennifer Lopez as Selena and more. However, they knew not to ignore the biggest factor of an accent. If other people of color who are actors can work and execute an accent why would Ana get a pass?"

Others, however, came to Armas' defense, reminding the public that the Netflix biopic is hugely fictionalized and not an actual representation of Monroe's life. Hence, a little accent adjustment can be tolerated.

"I'm GLAD we can hear her accent. The audience needs to remember that entertaining though it may be, this is a stylized, FICTIONALIZED, retelling of her life. This is not Marilyn Monroe nor her life. It's fictional entertainment," wrote one fan.

Following the uproar online, the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" star's estate showed their support for Armas, endorsing her casting choice.

Marc Rosen, the President of Entertainment at Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the owners of Marilyn Monroe Estate, in a statement to Variety said, "Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history. Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill."

Rosen continued, "Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity and vulnerability. We can’t wait to see the film in its entirety!"

Nick Woodhouse, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Authentic Brands Group, echoed a similar sentiment in a statement to TMZ.

In his words, "Ana has artfully captured the essence of Marilyn's voice. Marilyn was known for her breathiness, which was actually a tactic taught to her by a speech therapist during her childhood to help her overcome a stutter."

He then added, "Marilyn has served as a muse and inspiration to fans of all genders, all ethnicities and all walks of life, and her influence will only continue. There are no rules when it comes to how an artist can pay homage to her legacy."

This isn't the first time Monroe's Estate has defended celebrities trying to imitate her life or carry on her legacy. Such was the case in May when Kim Kardashian received heat for wearing Monroe's Happy birthday dress for the 2022 Met Gala ceremony.

The estate proudly defended the socialite, insisting that the late Monroe would have approved of Kardashian to wear her dress.