Psychologists explain why people lie about cultural identity as Hilaria Baldwin’s ‘fake’ accent goes viral
Hilaria Baldwin has gone viral again for forgetting how to say an English word, despite being born and raised in America.
Hilaria, 40, born Hillary Hayward-Thomas and raised in an upscale neighborhood of Boston, was exposed by DailyMail.com four years ago for her birthplace lists Mallorca, Spain, despite spending her childhood in Beacon Hill.
While her parents lived in Mallorca, she grew up in the United States and was American – despite using a Spanish accent in interviews.
On Monday, DailyMail.com was exclusively shown videos of Hilaria treating her holiday guests to ‘traditional’ Spanish tortilla, which she made while speaking in her now signature accented Spanglish.
Hilaria wore a plaid onesie for the Christmas festivities, where she was seen on a video saying: “I learned this as a child, don’t look it up online because you will learn something different.”
The yogi explained that the secret to her recipe was making sure the potatoes “weren’t cut too small,” then turned to her friend and appeared to forget the English word ‘onions’.
“My husband hates…cebollas,” Hilaria said, referring to her actor husband, Alec Baldwin, 66, before her boyfriend quickly reminded her that she was looking for the word “onions.”
After the video was shown, FEMAIL spoke to psychologists to find out the reasons that can lead someone to continually embellish their cultural identity.
Video obtained by DailyMail.com showed Hilaria Baldwin treating her holiday guests to ‘traditional’ Spanish tortilla
Hilaria seemed to forget the English word ‘onions’ and calls them by the Spanish name ‘cebollas’ while cooking
Hilaria, 40, took to Instagram to wish her followers a ‘feliz navidad’ and shared a family photo on Christmas Day
Hilaria, her husband Alec and their children attended the premiere of Spellbound in New York City last month
Neurohacking biopsychologist Dr. Mary Poffenroth told DailyMail.com: ‘Some individuals may falsify their cultural identity because of a deep-seated insecurity about their true sense of self.’
‘If a person feels that their real identity is somehow lacking or inadequate, their limbic system – the emotional processing center of the brain – may prompt them to seek out a more ‘exotic’ or interesting cultural personality , ‘Dr. Poffenroth, who wrote Brave new youexplained.
Dr. Mary Poffenroth told DailyMail.com: ‘Some individuals may distort their cultural identity because of a deep-seated insecurity about their true sense of self’
“Although it is not their own need, this need to fit in with a different cultural group can provide a sense of self-worth and belonging that they may lack in their daily lives.”
When asked why someone would continue this behavior even after being exposed or discovered, Dr. Poffenroth, based in California, that this could be because they “ignore or dismiss any evidence or criticism that conflicts with their false cultural narrative,” leading them to “Focus only on the positive feedback and validation they receive.”
“Their belief in the validity of their chosen identity can be strengthened by this selective attention, making it challenging for them to accept the truth,” said Dr. Poffenroth, who works in mental health and researches how the nervous system and brain shape mental processes and behavior.
Family and child psychologist Caitlin Slavensbased in Canada, told FEMAIL: ‘Pretending to be from a culture that we are not usually comes from a deep desire for acceptance or belonging.’
“Some feel disconnected from their identity and think that assimilation will provide them with better social and professional opportunities,” she continued, explaining that Hilaria seemingly had “a deep connection to Spanish culture, which was nurtured and highly encouraged in her childhood .’
“Once exposed, they may continue the behavior as a way to avoid shame or maintain the identity they have built — especially if they have linked their self-esteem or public persona to the behavior,” the founder said from Mama Psychologists.
Family and child psychologist Caitlin Slavens, based in Canada, told FEMAIL: ‘Pretending to be from a culture we are not usually stems from a deep desire for acceptance or belonging’
Hilaria and Alec Baldwin, 66, married in 2012. The actor confidently revealed to talk show host David Letterman that his wife was Spanish during an interview the following year
In a now infamous 2015 music video, Hilaria (left) appeared in a cooking segment for the Today Show, where she seemingly forgot the English word for “cucumber.”
This isn’t the first time the former yoga teacher has gone viral for appearing to forget a simple word in her native language while cooking.
In 2015, Hilaria appeared in a now infamous six-minute segment on the Today Show and made an “authentic” gazpacho.
The author of the Living Clear Method listed the ingredients and at one point seemed to forget the English word “cucumber.”
‘We have tomatoes, we have, um, how do you say that in English? Cucumber!’ Hilaria said at the time.
Hilaria and her 30-year-old rock star husband have also given Spanish names to all their seven children: Carmen Gabriela, 10, Rafael Thomas, 8, Leonardo Angel Charles, 7, Romeo Alejandro David, 6, Eduardo Pao Lucas, 3, Maria Lucia Victoria, 3, and Ilaria Catalina Irena, 20 months.
In a 2021 Instagram video, Hilaria defended her behavior, claiming she spent “part of” her childhood in Spain and “part” of it in Massachusetts.
“There’s been a lot of back and forth throughout my life,” she said.
‘I’m really lucky that I grew up speaking two different languages and I try to raise my children to speak two languages too. And that is something very important to me, especially because I have my family abroad.’