Jennifer Lopez’s latest foray into the public eye has sparked a cauldron of controversy and online backlash in the beginning of April. The 54-year-old singer and actor’s new album, “This is Me… Now,” and its self-financed, $20 million multimedia campaign have been met with a lukewarm response.
Accompanying the album release was an experimental film, “This is Me… Now: A Love Story,” detailing the rekindled romance with Ben Affleck, and an Amazon Prime documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” chronicling the making of the record and the film.
She’s currently touring North America with the album, which has been rebranded as a Greatest Hits show due to lackluster ticket sales. However, despite these efforts, the buzz surrounding Lopez hasn’t reached the level she may have anticipated.
Her album garnered lukewarm reviews, her film faced widespread criticism, and her documentary has been relentlessly targeted in viral takedowns across social media platforms. Much like the “Hathahate” trend of the early 2010s, where Anne Hathaway endured significant online backlash, Lopez seems to have become the internet’s newest target for criticism.
Lopez has faced online ridicule before. In 2021, she was criticized for being “tone-deaf” when she tried to initiate a viral challenge commemorating the 20th anniversary of her single “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” In an attempt to recreate a scene from the song’s music video, Lopez posted a video on Twitter where she tossed her expensive jewelry, sunglasses, and clothing onto a beach. “The #LoveDontCostAThingChallenge STARTS NOW!!!!,” Lopez wrote in the caption. “Can’t wait to see your renditions.”
The attempt to spark the #LoveDontCostAThingChallenge quickly backfired, drawing sharp criticism from followers struggling amid the global pandemic. As one fan succinctly pointed out, “Can’t nobody afford to be throwing their stuff on the beach.” This misstep was just one in a series of recent controversies surrounding Lopez, echoing the backlash she’s faced since the release of her latest album in February.
The flood of biographical content has sparked accusations of “creative narcissism” against the star. Entertainment journalist Hunter Harris, in her widely-read newsletter, Hung Up, remarked, “The [documentary] is 90 minutes of J.Lo speaking candidly and emotionally about the gargantuan effort it takes to, at every single moment, choose to be J.Lo.”
In a widely circulated moment from the documentary, Lopez nostalgically tousles her hair in the mirror while reflecting on her upbringing in the Bronx, reminiscing about her wild teenage years. However, the authenticity of her recollection was called into question when a TikToker claimed they attended the same Catholic high school and accused Lopez of “lying” about her Bronx experience to appear more relatable. This incident fueled debate about Lopez’s portrayal of her roots and authenticity in her biographical content.
Relevant articles:
– Jenny getting mocked: How the internet turned on J-Lo, The Independent, Apr 7, 2024
– Jenny getting mocked: How the internet turned on J-Lo, Yahoo News Singapore, Apr 5, 2024
– The Cringiest Moments From J. Lo’s Documentary, Betches, Mar 20, 2024
– TikTok’s Jennifer Lopez ‘The Bronx’ Controversy, Explained, Forbes, Mar 31, 2024