Eva Longoria Is Trying To Set the Record Straight on Living Abroad Amid Backlash

When Eva Longoria announced that she was relieved to be one of the many celebrities living abroad in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, the internet at large had some big feelings on it.  While she acknowledged her privilege to be able to lix as an ex-pat, it didn’t change the fact her words left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. 

And now, just days after her interview in Marie Claire, the Desperate Housewives alum is attempting some damage control and clarifying that it isn’t just the election of Trump that has her and her family living out of the country. 

On The View co-host Ana Navarro’s Behind the Table podcast, Longoria sought to set the record straight. “Will you please let them know I didn’t move out of the United States because of Trump?” she asked. “I didn’t leave because of the political environment; I left because my work took me there.” The Over Her Dead Body actress explained she and her husband, José Bastón, and their son, Santiago, 6, relocated to Spain three years ago for her to film Land of Women. “I’ve been there for years, so I just don’t like that it’s politicized,” she noted. “I’m a proud American — I’ve always been a proud American.”

Despite her clarifications, the backlash has been swift. Critics have taken to social media, with one user commenting, “A home in the US, Spain, and Mexico? People like you are so out of touch with reality that it’s not even funny. Your opinions mean little.” Another added, “Eva Longoria left because the US was too scary for her. She’s free to live wherever she wants, but saying that she feels bad because us peasants don’t have the resources like her to escape like she did is beyond condescending.”

In her Marie Claire interview, Longoria reflected on her time in Los Angeles, stating, “I had my whole adult life here. But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s—t on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.” She acknowledged her fortune by saying, “I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

These statements have fueled discussions on privilege, with some arguing, “True privilege is being so rich and knowing that the turmoil the country is going through won’t affect you and still leaving because watching it makes you anxious and sad.”

While we can’t exactly fault Longoria for having to live outside the country for work, her attempt to clarify has inadvertently highlighted a broader issue: the massive gap between celebrity lifestyles and the everyday challenges faced by many Americans.

Before you go, click here to see which celebrities own the most homes around the world.