The Real Reason Why Jennifer Lopez Is Being Trolled

Jennifer Lopez’s illustrious profession in music and movie has as soon as once more taken a backseat to her love life. Regardless of her blockbuster hits, platinum-selling albums, sold-out excursions, and a Las Vegas residency, the Latina megastar continues to be chastised about her romantic relationships. Entrance and middle in the present day is her marriage to Ben Affleck, with numerous opinions and rumors swirling on social media. However all of the chatter factors to at least one factor: blatant misogyny from web trolls and the media that locations the blame on Lopez for her failed relationships. From the divorce rumors to the cancellation of her tour, Lopez is being kicked whereas she’s down, and the general public appears thirsty for it.

Immediately’s headlines paint a one-sided image of Affleck navigating a tumultuous marriage to an excessively bold, workaholic diva who can not seem to get love proper. These biased narratives appear to be one motive why Lopez launched her movie “This Is Me…Now” and its accompanying album by the identical identify, in addition to the documentary that exhibits the behind-the-scenes of all of it, “The Best Love Story By no means Advised.” Nonetheless, she can not seem to break via the noise, the trolling, and the harassment bestowed upon her.

On June 5, Lopez addressed the state of affairs to followers by way of her On The JLo publication, the place she wrote: “It could look like there’s loads of negativity out on this planet proper now . . . however do not let the voices of some drown out that there’s soooo a lot love on the market. Thanks, thanks, thanks!! I like you all a lot.”

Let’s be clear: Lopez is being put via the wringer about her love life for 2 causes. First off, she’s a girl — a strong girl at that — and the second motive is as a result of she’s Latina. The machismo tradition is poisonous and exists broadly all through Latin America and right here in the USA. One 2022 examine discovered greater charges of sexism amongst Latinos within the US and concluded that the reinforcement of the machismo narrative within the media is a deceptive copy of dangerous stereotypes in opposition to Latines. In different phrases, when the Latine group jumps to bashing J Lo, it leaves the door large open for anybody else to affix the bandwagon, forgetting that behind the hate is a girl, a mom, and somebody who has by no means denied how a lot she loves love.

When gossip about her relationships prevails, it obscures Lopez’s triumphant success story. Lopez was in a position to get hold of the American dream ten-fold. Nonetheless, as an alternative of being constantly celebrated for this, all the eye is concentrated on issues going awry in her love life. The general public discourse all the time appears to harp on what she did flawed. Perhaps she did not pay sufficient consideration to her man, or her profession calls for strained their relationship. Or perhaps her international fame was overshadowing poor, poor Ben. Let’s be actual: if Lopez had been a person, Latine or not, would this nonetheless be the case?

It isn’t simply Lopez. Take legendary actress and EGOT Rita Moreno, a Puerto Rican actress who was married to Leonard Gordon for 45 years till his demise in 2010. However earlier than that, Moreno was scrutinized for her amorous affairs with Hollywood royalty like Marlon Brando and music superstars like Elvis Presley.

So, what are we telling little women, Latine and in any other case, about being bold and profitable? It is just like America Ferrera’s speech in “Barbie.” A girl may be profitable however not too profitable. She will shine just like the brightest star so long as she is not blinding him or leaving him within the shadows. She may be sturdy however not seem stronger than her man in public. She will love herself, however not an excessive amount of, as a result of it can seem like diva-ish, self-centered habits.

The best love story Lopez by no means advised is how a lot she has needed to love herself via very public relationships and the breakups everybody appears to be ready for. In spite of everything, how may a girl select her profession over love, proper?

Zayda Rivera is a POPSUGAR contributor. She has been knowledgeable author for greater than 20 years. Z is a licensed Reiki Grasp Instructor, yoga and Zumba teacher, mindfulness and meditation information, tarot reader, and non secular mentor.