Jennifer Lopez's Most Controversial Moments Ever

Jennifer Lopez has now been in the business called show for more than 30 years having first got on the Hollywood ladder as a dancer on "In Living Color" way back in 1991. And along the way, she's amassed four Hot 100 number ones including "If You Had My Love," "I'm Real," and "All I Have," scored several box office smashes such as "The Wedding Planner," "Maid in Manhattan," and "Hustlers," and launched a number of hugely successful business endeavors.

But alongside a prolific discography, filmography, and corporate portfolio, Lopez has also remained a pop culture fixture for over three decades due to her uncanny ability to cause controversy wherever she goes. Whether it's her choice in men, musical engagements, or wedding venues, the triple threat is never too far from a tabloid front page. Here's a look at some times Jenny from the Block found herself in hot water.

Jennifer Lopez was accused of being insensitive to her husband's addiction issues in 2023 when she launched her own brand of alcoholic cocktails. The "Let's Get Loud" singer put her famous name to Delola, a range of drinks created with mixologist Lynette Marrero. But having only just walked down the aisle with Ben Affleck, a recovering alcoholic, this latest business venture left a sour taste for some.

Lopez's foray into the alcohol market was even more surprising for the fact that she'd repeatedly claimed she never touched the stuff herself. In 2016, she told Us Weekly that she avoids any type of booze to help preserve her skin, a lifestyle choice she once again confirmed to InStyle two years later.

Following the mixed response to her Bella Berry Spritz, Lopez decided to set the record straight in an Instagram video: "I know that a lot of people have been talking about, 'Oh, she doesn't even drink, what's she doing with a cocktail out?' And to tell you the truth, that was true for a long time — I didn't drink. A few years back, as you will see from several photos of me over the past 10, maybe 15 years, I have been having the occasional cocktail." "The Wedding Planner" star then clarified that she only drinks for social reasons, but failed to address the concerns surrounding her A-list beau.

According to Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan is "one of the world's most repressive countries." So it was little surprise that Jennifer Lopez was heavily criticized when she agreed to perform for its president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at his 56th birthday celebrations in 2013.

The "Love Don't Cost A Thing" singer performed several of her hits in front of the politician, viewed by many as a tyrant responsible for breaching countless human rights laws, at the luxurious southern resort Avaza. "It was our pleasure," she declared toward the end of her set (via The Guardian), adding, "And we wish you the very happiest birthday."

Lopez's representatives pleaded ignorance following the public backlash, with one claiming in a statement that the A-lister would have turned down the invitation had she been aware of Berdymukhamedov's past. But this wasn't the first time that the superstar had got into hot water for her choice of exclusive audience. She'd previously taken to the stage for an Azeri oligarch and then a Uzbek businessman's wedding for million-dollar sums. And ahead of two controversial gigs in Russia, she reportedly told fans, "I don't like to talk politics, to be quite honest."

Rumors had been circulating for years that Jennifer Lopez had more than a little vocal help on hits such as "Play," "Ain't It Funny," and "I'm Real." And in 2014, fellow R&B star Ashanti appeared to confirm that these tracks were essentially uncredited duets.

In an interview with Blogxilla, the "Foolish" singer explained, "I wrote "Ain't It Funny." I demoed the record for her before I was signed to Murder Inc, and they kept my hook, and some of the backgrounds and ad libs, and stuff like that. It was bittersweet because I was really excited that it was J. Lo, but I was so mad [at not being able to have the record for herself]."

"Jenny from the Block" is another Lopez banger whose chorus you may struggle to hear the lead artist on. In 2019, Natasha Ramos said (via Grazia Daily), "J.Lo did indeed go in the studio and lay down some background vocals over mine. So I wouldn't say she's so much "lip syncing," however the backgrounds are predominantly me, some ad libs (and laughs) as well." Luckily, Ramos doesn't hold a grudge against the Hollywood star, but does against her label for failing to give her proper credit.

Jennifer Lopez's reputation took a bit of a hit in 1999 when she and then-boyfriend Sean 'Puffy' Combs were arrested and then charged with illegal firearm possession following a New York nightclub shooting. The drama began when cops stopped the celebrity couple, alongside two other members of their party, in their car after they drove away from Manhattan's Club where three individuals had just been shot. According to reports, police discovered a gun in the vehicle and subsequently took all four in for questioning.

After taking all the evidence into consideration, officials dropped all charges against Lopez that same day. However, her boyfriend at the time had to wait until a 2001 trial to prove his innocence. Lopez didn't have to testify at the court proceedings, although she did offer to, in which the rapper was fully acquitted. 

The "Out of Sight" actress later reflected on her relationship while speaking to CBS Sunday Mornings (via Us Weekly): "The Puffy era was sort of like a crazy heightened time in my life. Puffy and I both grew up in the Bronx ... We had this kinda crazy, tumultuous relationship that ended in a bang, let's say. It was definitely a moment, but I felt like it was necessary."

In 2021, Jennifer Lopez decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her single "Love Don't Cost A Thing" by recreating one of the video's most iconic scenes. But by asking her fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, to do the same for what was supposed to be a fun promotional campaign, the Hollywood star was accused of being tone-deaf.

The scene in question sees Lopez throwing away various material possessions while walking on the beach. On this occasion, the triple threat tossed aside a pair of sunglasses, her clothes, and even her super-expensive jewelry. Unfortunately, launched at a time when many of her followers were holed up in their homes and struggling to make ends meet, Lopez's efforts went viral for all the wrong reasons.

"I'm only allowed to leave my house for an hour of exercise and you want me to throw away my possessions on a beach?" wrote one unimpressed individual (via Glamour), not unreasonably. "Please stop, just be rich in private and leave us regular people ALONE," remarked another.

In 2016, Jennifer Lopez proved her allyship by not only recording a song commemorating the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, but also performing at a benefit alongside "Hamilton" creator Lin Manuel-Miranda. Unfortunately, her choice of hashtag on an X post about the latter event took the focus away from her philanthropic efforts.

Lopez was accused of being insensitive by uploading a photo of herself on stage alongside the hashtag #AllLivesMatter. This, of course, is a phrase which has come under fire, particularly from the Black Lives Matter movement which argues that the use of it shows a misunderstanding of their aim. Even Bill Maher, the increasingly right-wing talk show host, has spoken against it (via Independent) for its implication that "all lives are equally at risk, and they're not."

Lopez quickly deleted the offending tweet, but by that point, the damaged had already been done. "I just lost respect for JLo after her tweeting/deleting all lives matter. How complicated is it to understand #blm doesn't mean others don't?," wrote one upset fan. "So if there are two houses and one is on fire do you put water in the house that's not on fire since all houses matter? They not killing everyone they're killing Blacks," commented another.

Apparently learning nothing from the backlash to Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's choice of wedding venue, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck caused controversy in 2023 when they walked down the aisle at a plantation-style estate.

The pair had first exchanged their vows at The Little White Chapel in Las Vegas before holding a more extravagant ceremony at Affleck's Hampton Island home. Although the property is an imitation plantation, the land it's built on was once used as cotton and rice plantations. The newlyweds were therefore still criticized, particularly for the fact that the "Gone Baby Gone" director had also previously tried to suppress details of his ancestors' slave-owning past.

Northwestern University's history professor Leslie Harris told USA Today, "It's clear he didn't learn his lesson. We're back at the same place with him. People still build houses that are plantation style. It's a sign of wealth. It's surprising that Affleck would choose this place for his wedding when many (historic) plantations have stopped even having weddings."