Jennifer Lopez Responds to Online Criticism Amid Ben Affleck Split: ‘I Know Who I Am’

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
Photo: AFF-USA / Shutterstock

Jennifer Lopez has learned to navigate the noise of online criticism, though she admits that some comments can still be “hurtful.” In a recent conversation with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, the 55-year-old actress and singer discussed the tumultuous summer she experienced, which included canceling her tour and ending her marriage to Ben Affleck. Lopez filed for divorce in August, citing their separation date as April 26.

Lopez characterized the internet chatter as an attempt by strangers to assign blame in her personal life. “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. I learned that a long time ago,” she said during the interview conducted on September 10.

“Social media, because it came along after I had been in the public eye for a while, I don’t take it as seriously as everybody else,” she added. “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.”

The star, who shares 16-year-old twins with ex-husband Marc Anthony, emphasized the need to develop resilience in a long career. “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, and none of that really matters,” Lopez explained. “What matters for me, as an artist, is doing work that inspires me and that I enjoy doing, whether it’s a huge commercial success or something that only touches one person that nobody ever f—ing even sees.”

Lopez reaffirmed her passion for the arts, stating, “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.”

Despite her positive outlook, the Hustlers actress acknowledged that criticism can sting. “Please don’t get me wrong, if I see something that’s hurtful, I’m not Teflon,” she said.

In the interview, Lopez remarked that survival in the entertainment industry requires understanding that negativity often comes from a small faction of unhappy individuals. “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,” she said. “Even in hard times, I just go, ‘You know the truth.’ Head high. Like they said in Finding Nemo: Keep on swimming.”

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Lopez’s candid reflections provide insight into her coping mechanisms as she navigates the pressures of fame while prioritizing her family and creative passions.

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