Jennifer Lopez makes first award show appearance post-Ben Affleck divorce filing: Music has ‘the power to heal’
Loving Jennifer Lopez don’t cost a thing.
The “On the Floor” singer appeared in a prerecorded segment Sunday at the American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary Special.
Lopez, 55, talked about her childhood memories of watching the awards show, and how the ceremonies inspired her to pursue a career in music.
“It’s pretty incredible, right?” she recalled. “Fifty years of the American Music Awards. I remember watching them at home when I was a little girl.”
Lopez went on to reflect on her very first appearance at the event in 2001.
“What?” she exclaimed with a laugh as footage of her performance from that year flashed across the screen. “It was so long ago — but the energy in the room was very electric.”
The “Can’t Get Enough” artist also reminisced about her win for Favorite Latin Artist in 2011. “Winning a fan-voted award is incredibly special because it’s directly from the people that you make the music for. It’s just a humbling experience,” said Lopez.
And how does the mom of two feel about being the awards show’s host in 2015? As Lopez put it, the role was “a huge honor.”
“I decided that I was gonna change for every time I came out there [onstage],” she explained about her wardrobe. “We did this dance medley to all of these amazing songs from that year, and I wanted everyone to feel that love and energy.”
Teased Lopez: “Maybe I’ll do it again one day. Who knows?”
“Music really does have the power to heal and uplift and to connect us,” she continued in the tape. “And the AMAs have been showcasing that for half a century now. And I’m excited for the next 50 years of music — and magic.”
Lopez’s speech comes on the heels of her public divorce from Ben Affleck, 52, after two years of marriage. Despite the “Jenny From the Block” singer and the Oscar winner’s separation, the pair reunited to attend their kids’ back-to-school night in mid-September.
Lopez and Affleck were spotted “making their way” to the event at the Los Angeles-area school where their kids are enrolled. Affleck shares three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Samuel, 12, Seraphina, 15, and Violet, 18, while Lopez is mom to twins Emme and Max, 16, with ex-husband Marc Anthony.
Sources revealed to TMZ that they “were totally cool with each other and very cordial.”
The insider explained that Lopez and Affleck are “a couple who still care for each other” and “wrapped up in a yearslong love affair.” They added that their children “are the real focus.”
Although the duo can come together for the children, sources told the outlet that the divorce is still moving forward.
This wasn’t the first time Lopez and Affleck were spotted out post-divorce filing. The “Atlas” actress and the “Air” director were pictured arriving for lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sept. 14 with Seraphina, Samuel, Emme and Max in tow.
Witnesses claimed that during the luncheon, they saw J.Lo and the producer kissing and holding hands.
A source told Page Six that Lopez and Affleck were spotted getting cozy in the hotel’s Polo Lounge restaurant while their kids were seated at a separate table.
Last month, the musician also attended the premiere of their film “Unstoppable” at the Toronto International Film Festival solo. She was, however, spotted holding hands and having an intimate chat with Affleck’s best friend, Matt Damon, at an after-party. Damon, 53, and Affleck produced the film via their production company, Artists Equity.
The “Jersey Girl” stars tied the knot in a July 2022 service at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas before having a second lavish star-studded wedding at his $8.1 million Georgia estate the following month.
Lopez filed for divorce on Aug. 20, which marked the second anniversary of their second wedding ceremony.
Insiders shared that Lopez allegedly tried very hard to make things work during her second act with Affleck.
A source told People that the superstar “did spend a lot of time making sure Ben was happy and had everything he needed.”
“The way she cared for him was almost childlike,” the insider added. “Friends constantly reminded her that she’s not responsible for his feelings. He’s very moody and dark at times. Jennifer appreciates life in another way. She’s very grateful for everything.”
They also claimed that Affleck had “erratic mood swings,” which contributed to their split.
“The truth is there was a great deal of love, but also, unfortunately, what became clear were Ben’s erratic mood swings that he couldn’t hide from the press, as much as he tried to,” the source confessed. “You could see the erratic behavior, the giant mood swings.”
