Modern Family Pisses Off Peru—Yup, the Entire Nation

Slight by Sofia Vergara's outspoken Colombian character has countrymen defending their culture

By Marianne Garvey Oct 29, 2010 10:23 PMTags

Sofia Vergara's hot and spicy Modern Family character Gloria always speaks her mind, but this time she's gotten an entire nation in a tizzy.

Peruvian websites lit up with commenters defending their culture after a recent episode featured Vergara's Colombian character dissing the country while in an argument with her older husband Jay, played by Ed O'Neill.

"Now, maybe in Colombia..." Jay says, in typical fashion during their fights.

"Ah, here we go," Gloria says. "Because, in Colombia, we trip over goats and we kill people in the street. Do you know how offensive that is? Like we're Peruvians!"

Now the head of Peru's People's Defender's Office is demanding an explanation and wants to talk to the U.S. ambassador about the episode.

So how is Sofia responding to the situation?

"Get a life!!!!!!" she tweeted in Spanish in response to one critic who twittered negatively about the show. (It's not the first time Vergara's gotten hot-tempered or spoken her mind.)

Milagros Lizarraga, founder of Peru USA Southern California, says it was "no coincidence" and that Vergara had the power to control the script and not offend the nation.

"It's incredible that in a country where everything is politically correct, ABC would have a line of this sort," said Lizarraga. "Many Peruvians think this is no coincidence, that she knew what she was saying, because an actress has the power to say, 'No, I can't say this because it would hurt my image.' Unless she agrees with what she said."

In Peru, Beatriz Merino, head of the People's Defender's Office, said she will seek an explanation form the U.S. ambassador about the wording. "No country should have to be offended," Merino told broadcaster Radioprogramas.

ABC has not yet commented on the brouhaha.