Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father of late Tejano superstar Selena, has never been one to mince words. During an interview with The AC Cruz Podcast, the record producer and owner of Q Productions addressed the accusation that he is profiting off the death of his daughter. Selena was tragically murdered by her fan club president Yolanda Saldivar in March 1995.
“I say so what, let them talk,” Quintanilla said during the podcast. “Dogs get old from barking. Let them bark all they want to. I know that in my heart and my mind and my family, we said from day one that when Selena passed away, we were going to keep her memory alive through her music and that’s what we have done for 26 years. Selena right now is known worldwide.”
Many Selena fans have accused Quintanilla for years of exploiting his daughter after her death. The claims recently returned full force when he executive produced the new Netflix show Selena: The Series. People wondered why another portrayal of Selena on the big or small screen was even necessary. The debate was underscored when the series was met with mixed reviews, particularly because at times Abraham’s character seemed like he overshadowed other characters and took control of the show.
It also doesn’t help matters when the Quintanilla patriarch always finds himself in legal battles over money issues. Just recently, the Quintanilla family finally came to a resolution with Selena’s widow Chris Pérez over Selena’s estate. In the past, Quintanilla has also threatened to sue Selena tribute artists for using Selena’s name and image.
The accusations that Quintanilla is profiting off Selena won’t end anytime soon. During the podcast, he also revealed that a new Selena album will debut soon featuring previously unreleased songs from her teenage years. The album will be produced by Selena’s brother A.B. Quintanilla III.