Jennifer Lopez admits not everyone in her camp initially supported the idea to document her romance with husband Ben Affleck in her upcoming “This Is Me… Now” album and companion film.
“As artists, we have to follow our heart and this is me following my heart and doing something that maybe everybody didn’t think was the best idea, but I had to do it,” Lopez tells me.
Lopez is set to drop “This Is Me… Now,” a new album that marks the 20th anniversary of “This Is Me…Then,” on Feb. 16. The Dave Meyers-directed companion short film will be released at the same time by Amazon MGM Studios.
Sure, Lopez has some worries about putting her and Affleck’s life in the spotlight because “we both have PTSD” caused by the media scrutiny they endured back when they first dated, she said, “but we’re older now. We’re wiser. We also know what’s important, what’s really important in life, and it’s not so much what other people think. It’s about being true to who you are.”
Asked if the film is a scripted feature or doc, Lopez explained, “You have to see it and you’ll have to experience it to understand it. That’s why I call it a ‘musical experience.’ Because there’s music, you can see it, you can hear it and then you’ll get to live it.”
A recent teaser for the film included a clip of Lopez saying, “When I was a little girl, when someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always… in love.”
It was almost a year ago when Lopez told me, at the premiere of her rom-com “Shotgun Wedding,” that she would love to act with Affleck again. They infamously co-starred in 2003’s “Gigli,” which bombed both with critics and at the box office. “We talk,” Lopez said at the time. “We love being together and working together so, yeah, you never know.”
Lopez and Affleck initially dated in the early 2000s. Bennifer, as they were often called, came to an end not long after they called off their wedding in 2003. The relationship was rekindled in 2021 before marrying in Las Vegas in 2022.
Lopez and Affleck’s most recent red carpet appearance took place on Dec. 5 in Hollywood when she was honored at Elle’s Women in Hollywood celebration.
I Brought My Son to Meet My Boyfriend’s Parents, What He Discovered in My Boyfriend’s Childhood Room Was Unbelievable
Mia, a dedicated single mom, felt a spark of hope with her new boyfriend, Jake. After four months of dating, they planned a weekend getaway to his family’s beach house. It seemed perfect, especially for her son, Luke, who was excited about the trip.
As a fourth-grade teacher, Mia loved her job and appreciated the time it allowed her to spend with Luke. His father rarely visited, so Mia was determined to create a happy home for them both.
Finally, she decided to introduce Luke to Jake. One sunny day, she nervously asked Luke if he wanted to meet someone special for lunch. He was intrigued and, after a fun lunch, the two bonded over dinosaurs and Lego. They enjoyed several weekends together, and Mia felt confident about their growing relationship.
When Jake invited them to his beach house, Mia and Luke were thrilled. Upon arriving, Jake’s parents welcomed them warmly. After exploring, Jake showed Luke his childhood toys while Mia admired the nostalgic room.
But everything changed when Luke suddenly rushed downstairs, pale and trembling. “Mom, we need to leave! I found a box with bones in Jake’s room!” Mia’s heart raced. “What do you mean, bones?”
“Real bones, Mom!” Luke insisted. Panic set in. Had she misjudged Jake? “Stay here”, she told Luke, her voice shaking. She hurried back to Jake’s room, and her heart dropped when she found the box under the bed. Inside were actual bones. Without thinking, she took Luke’s hand, and they bolted out of the house.
As they sped away, Mia’s phone buzzed with calls from Jake, but she couldn’t bear to answer. Once parked on the roadside, she called 911, fearing the worst. The police quickly called back. “Mia, the bones are fake,” the officer reassured her. “They’re replicas for teaching.”
Relief washed over her, but guilt quickly followed. How could she have jumped to such conclusions? With a deep breath, Mia called Jake. “I’m so sorry”, she said. “I was scared for Luke and overreacted.”
“Mia, it’s okay”, Jake replied. “You were just protecting him. Let’s turn this into a funny story, not a reason to break up.” Mia smiled, feeling lighter. She reassured Luke that everything was fine and they drove back to the beach house, where Jake’s parents were understandably worried.
After explaining the situation and apologizing for their abrupt departure, they spent the rest of the day relaxing by the ocean. That day became a fond memory, marking the start of an even stronger bond between Mia and Jake. Now, they often laugh about the wild escape from the beach house, grateful that it only brought them closer together. What do you think?
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