Before making it big in the U.S., Eiza González was (and still is) a huge star in Mexico. She started acting seriously when she was 15 years old, and starred in popular telenovelas (via IMDb). In 2007, she got her standout role as a fictional singer named Lola in Televisa's Lola, érase una vez, a modern retelling of Cinderella, per Cheat Sheet. Though the gig may have been a fairytale for González at the time, she was at the center of controversy years after the series ended.
In 2020, old photos of the actress wearing blackface in an episode of the show spread online, so fans called her out for the tone deaf moment. González apologized for the incident in a statement, as reported by ET. "I am deeply sorry and ashamed about having worn blackface makeup shown in the images circulating. As a 15-year-old child actor on my first job in a Mexican telenovela, I was pressured against my will, and with no negotiating power, I could not advocate for myself in the situation. I wish I had the voice and knowledge then that I have now," her statement read.
More images from Nickelodeon Latin America's Sueña Conmigo made rounds showing her dressed up as a geisha. González mentioned in the same statement that she was showing appreciation for the culture but is committed to educating herself.
