Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 16, 2025 · Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez's Love Life: The Rejection Story Before Ben Affleck

Jennifer Lopez got surprisingly candid about her love life during her first-ever appearance on The Howard Stern Show - and even admitted that a superstar like herself has been rejected

JENNIFER LOPEZ UNLEASHES THE JUICE ON HOWARD STERN'S SHOW!

In a shocking turn of events, the Queen of Latin Pop, Jennifer Lopez, stopped by The Howard Stern Show for her first-ever appearance, and she did not hold back on sharing some juicy secrets about her love life!

The 56-year-old icon, who's no stranger to being in the spotlight, candidly discussed the challenges of dating a celebrity, especially after her highly publicized split from husband Ben Affleck in 2024 (yes, you read that right - they're reportedly divorced!).

The 56-year-old icon didn’t hold back as she opened up about the pitfalls of dating in the spotlight, especially after splitting from husband Ben Affleck in 2024 following their two-year marriage

Stern, known for his sassy humor and sharp tongue, expertly coaxed out some juicy tidbits from Lopez, leaving fans glued to their seats. And let's just say, it was a wild ride!

When Stern asked Lopez about the "massive attention" that comes with dating famous men, she replied, "It's difficult to be under that microscope." But what really got our attention was when Stern pushed her further, asking if there was ever a time she wanted someone but didn't get them. And guess what? She confessed!

"It was one guy... and I kind of threw it out there and he didn't pick it up," Lopez revealed with a sly smile, careful not to reveal the identity of her secret admirer (who we can only assume is a certain A-lister). "I won't say his name... but this was 10 years ago..."

Lopez admitted, 'There was one guy that I had my eye on… and I kind of threw it out there and he didn’t pick it up. I won’t say his name… but this was… 10 years ago…'; (pictured in 2014)

We couldn't help but wonder who could be the mystery man in question. Was it Jason Statham, Ryan Guzman, or maybe even a certain Oscar-winning actor? The suspense is killing us!

Lopez's love life has been a hot topic for decades, and we've got all the juicy details right here! From her first major public romance with Cuban actor Ojani Noa to her high-profile pairing with Sean "Diddy" Combs in the late '90s, Lopez has had her fair share of A-list beaus. But let's not forget about her marriages to dancer Cris Judd and singer Marc Anthony - that's three failed marriages for those keeping count!

During her chat with Stern, Lopez revealed some shocking insights into her past relationships, including a stunning revelation about her on-screen chemistry with Affleck. "The only costar I was ever with was Ben, who I wound up marrying eventually — and we were not together while we filmed the movie, it was after that that we got together," she shared.

Nearly a decade ago, when Lopez made her romantic move, she was busy working on multiple films, putting her in close orbit with plenty of Hollywood heavyweights... including her 2015 Oscar presenting gig alongside Jeremy Renner

It's been reported that Lopez and Affleck have put their differences aside and are on good terms, even attending a recent film premiere together. Who knows what the future holds for these two?

But what really caught our attention was when Lopez opened up about the one movie role she wishes she hadn't turned down - Adrian Lyne's Unfaithful (2002). "I passed on it because the script wasn't good... and then Lyne made it great," she explained, admitting that she regrets her decision.

As for Stern's infamous jabs at Lopez over the years, it seemed like water off a duck's back. Despite his scathing remarks about her outfits, singing voice, and acting chops, Lopez handled his tough questions with poise and humor, even complimenting him on being "a gentleman" at the end of their chat.

Lopez and George Clooney had incredible on-screen chemistry in 1998's Out of Sight and still sparked when posing together in 2006

Lopez may have been under the microscope for decades, but she's proven once again that she can handle whatever comes her way. And who knows - maybe this candid interview will give us some insight into what's next for JLo?

Stay tuned, folks!

Lopez also presented Best Costume Design alongside Chris Pine at the 2014 Oscars.

And she rubbed elbows with nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street; pictured 2014), Christian Bale (American Hustle), and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club); (Lopez and DiCaprio pictured at 2007 Oscars)

In 2012, she starred in Parker alongside Jason Statham; (Statham with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in 2014)

More recently, Lopez was linked to Kevin Costner after they were seen at the same spot in Aspen, Colorado, during the 2024 holiday season

JLo and Cris were married for just nine months in 2001 and 2002, and he was left groaning under the pressure of her stratospheric fame; pictured 2001

Jennifer enjoyed a long-term relationship with her much younger backup dancer Casper Smart from 2011 to 2016, with a brief split in 2014; pictured 2015

Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees star JLo dated from 2017 until 2021, is pictured with her attending the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party