Jennifer Lopez may be a global superstar, but even she isn’t immune to the ups and downs of public scrutiny. In a wide-ranging interview with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, the 55-year-old actress and singer opened up about how she navigates the harsh spotlight of social media, her high-profile divorce from Ben Affleck, and the passion that keeps her grounded through it all.
A Summer of Change
For Lopez, this past summer was marked by a whirlwind of personal upheaval. Her “whole f—ing world exploded,” as she put it, following the end of her marriage to Ben Affleck. The Unstoppable actress filed for divorce in August, revealing that they had separated months earlier in April. Unsurprisingly, her breakup became fodder for online speculation, as strangers tried to assign blame and create narratives around her life.
But Lopez, no stranger to the public eye, says she’s learned to take it all in stride.
“I know that everything that’s being written and said about me, and all the conjecture of who I am as a person, is not who I am,” she said during the interview, which took place in September. “I learned that a long time ago.”
Keeping Social Media in Perspective
With decades of experience under her belt, Lopez has witnessed the evolution of celebrity culture—especially the rise of social media. And while the online chatter can be overwhelming for many, she’s found a way to keep it in perspective. “Because [social media] came along after I had been in the public eye for a while, I don’t take it as seriously as everybody else,” Lopez admitted.
Instead of letting negativity affect her, she focuses on the constants in her life—her family, her friends, and her sense of self. “I know I’m a good person. I know I’m a good mom,” said Lopez, who shares 16-year-old twins with ex-husband Marc Anthony. “I know who my friends are. I know my friends know who I am, my mom, my dad, all that stuff.”
Passion Over Public Opinion
For J.Lo, longevity in the entertainment industry comes down to passion—and learning to tune out the noise. “Some people are going to love you and some are not going to understand you, and some people just want to hate you to hate you,” she said. “None of that really matters.”
What matters, she emphasized, is her dedication to her craft. Whether she’s acting, singing, dancing, or creating, Lopez draws joy from the act itself, not from public approval. “This is my life’s passion. I love to sing. I love to dance. I love to act. I love to entertain. I love to create,” she shared.
However, Lopez was quick to acknowledge that she’s not immune to the sting of hurtful comments. “Please don’t get me wrong,” she said. “If I see something that’s hurtful, I’m not Teflon.”
A Positive Outlook Amid the Noise
Despite the occasional jab, Lopez stays positive, noting that much of the online negativity comes from a “very small faction of people” who may be unhappy in their own lives. She chooses to focus on the bigger picture: her family, her career, and the “amazing stuff” happening around her.
“Somebody who is going to take the time to make a video just to jump on that thing—how can I pay attention to that when I have these beautiful kids and all this amazing stuff going on in my life?” Lopez said. Instead of getting bogged down in negativity, she lives by a simple mantra, borrowed from Finding Nemo: “Keep on swimming.”
In the end, Lopez’s focus remains on what truly matters: doing work she loves and living a life filled with passion and joy. And with that mindset, it’s clear she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
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