Over a month ago, Jennifer Lopez was on track for a triumphant return with the release of her first album in ten years, This is Me… Now.
This project was a sequel to one of her biggest hits and was accompanied by both a documentary and a movie that celebrated her love story with Ben Affleck.
Jennifer Lopez warns women who flirt with Ben Affleck: “Don?t play with me”
A brand expert who spoke to the Daily Mail suggested that Lopez‘s diminishing appeal could be attributed to her failure to “keep up with the times.”
“The backlash against JLo has been brewing for a while,” said Emily Austen, director at the public relations agency Emerge.
“Over the last decade, despite her well-publicized love life, there was still an air of mystery around her, like a megastar.
“Her seemingly inflexible and complaining demeanor, having to share the stage with Shakira, was not well-articulated, making her appear unlikeable.”
The impact of Ben Affleck
According to expert, Ben Affleck and his famously gloomy demeanor have negatively impacted Lopez‘s public image.
They believe that the optics of their marriage have “shattered the fourth wall” that typically surrounds successful celebrities.
“Much of what we’ve seen from JLo has been mundane: car rides with Ben, arguments on the sidewalk, fast food takeaways.
“Often looking miserable. This has broken the fourth wall, one that we had all bought into. We didn’t want her to be a regular person.”
For Lopez, her connection with Affleck might have brought her personal life too much into the public eye, removing the veil of glamour that often benefits mega stars.
As 2024 unfolds, it remains to be seen how this dynamic will affect her career and public standing further.