In the whirlwind that has been Jennifer Lopez’s life over the past year, the superstar has emerged more vital than ever, determined to write her narrative and find true happiness on her terms.
From the lackluster reception of her latest creative projects to the highly publicized dissolution of her marriage to Ben Affleck, the multi-hyphenate entertainer has weathered a perfect storm of personal and professional upheaval. But rather than let it break her spirit, Lopez is embracing the freedom of singlehood and charting a bold new path forward.
“When your whole house blows up, you’re standing there in the rubble going, ‘How do I not ever let that happen again?'” Lopez candidly told comedian Nikki Glaser in a revealing interview for Interview Magazine.
The 54-year-old pop icon admitted that after the disappointing response to her album “This Is Me…Now” and its accompanying projects, her “whole f—— world exploded.” In quick succession, she pulled the plug on her planned This Is Me… Live tour and filed for divorce from Affleck just two years after their much-celebrated remarriage.
However, Lopez refuses to let these setbacks define her. Instead, she’s using this period of upheaval as an opportunity for profound personal growth and self-discovery. “I think that’s what I love about life: there’s no arrival point. There’s only getting better and growing if you want to,” she declared. “It’s either growing or dying, and I don’t want to do the dying part.”
The “Let’s Get Loud” singer has come to a powerful realization: true happiness cannot be found by depending on others to complete her. “Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself,” she stated emphatically.
In the wake of her divorce, Lopez has intentionally stepped back from romantic entanglements, embracing the freedom of flying solo. “For romantics who love being in relationships and want to grow old with somebody, we think, ‘I have to have that to be whole and happy.’ And you don’t,” she asserted.
“What can I f—— do when it’s just me flying on my own… What if I’m just free?” Lopez asked, her voice brimming with excitement at the prospect.
The multi-talented performer admitted that the journey of self-discovery hasn’t always been easy, describing it as “lonely, unfamiliar, scary,” “sad,” or even “desperate” at times. But she’s ultimately emerged with a more profound sense of self-worth and the conviction that outside relationships don’t define her value.
“You have to be complete if you want something more complete. You have to be good on your own,” Lopez said. “I thought I learned that, but I didn’t. And then, this summer, I had to be like, ‘I need to go off and be on my own. I want to prove to myself that I can do that.'”
While the public scrutiny and “social media hate” that accompanied her breakup with Affleck still sting at times, Lopez has learned to tune out the naysayers. “I know I’m a good person. I know I’m a good mom. I know who my friends are. I know my friends know who I am, my mom, my dad, all that stuff,” she asserted confidently.
“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? I can’t,” Lopez continued. “Even in hard times, I just go, ‘You know the truth.’ Head high. Like they said in Finding Nemo: Keep on swimming.”
Through it all, the superstar focuses on channeling her energy into her craft, whether acting, singing, dancing, or simply entertaining. “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 declared.
As she navigates this new chapter, Lopez embraces the freedom to reinvent herself on her terms. “What if I’m just free?” she mused, the excitement palpable in her voice. It’s a question that no doubt has the entire entertainment world waiting with bated breath to see what this unstoppable force of nature does next.