Jennifer Lopez is the feminist icon we all deserve. The multi-talented actor, singer and dancer has been in the entertainment business for decades, and she has most definitely seen it all.
From her early singing superstar days to her Jenny From The Block/first Ben Affleck romance era to her present-day newlywed bliss, Jennifer Lopez has seen the good, bad and ugly when it comes to the industry – and unfortunately for her, and a lot of other female stars, she has been at the centre of intense sexism.
We have watched her shoot down misogynistic questions, recall times she was asked to do inappropriate things by male directors, and has spoken proudly about growing old with grace – all without any hesitation.
Not only has she overcome sexism to become one of the most successful women in Hollywood, but she has always had the perfect response – showing that she is the role model and inspiration that we should all look up to.
So, as one of the most empowering female faces in the entertainment industry today, we thought we would pull together a list of all the times she has expertly clapped back to the sexism she has faced in her career.
When Billy Bush asked her about her butt
Probably one of the most awkward and apparent moments of JLo facing sexism was when she was asked about her body by former Access Hollywood correspondent Billy Bush. Cringe.
“People have raved about it for years… How do you feel about your butt?” Billy shamelessly asked her.
Dumfounded by his question, Jennifer replied: “Are you kidding me? You did not just ask me that!”
No desire to back down, Billy said: “I did”, promoting the star to say: “I feel like I’m insane. This is ah… I’m dreaming. Billy Bush just asked me that question.”
When he wouldn’t stop pressing her about the question, Jennifer brought in her 11-year-old Main in Manhattan co-star, Tyler Posey, and asked Billy to repeat the question. Interestingly, he didn’t ask again.
Jennifer handled that with such effortless class, and her calm demeanour only paved the way for more times she had to, unfortunately, respond to sexism.
When she spoke about sexism within ageing
Women cannot catch a break, can they? Even when it comes to ageing, men are okay and get away with wrinkles and grey hair, but for women? Forget it!
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But in an interview with W Magazine back in 2017, Jennifer explained she wasn’t one to get insecure about growing old.
Jennifer, who recently turned 53, noted: “Men in their 20s are very confident and cocky, and women are super insecure. And then it flips – men get super insecure, and women get comfortable in their own skin, in a way that makes them more beautiful.”
She added: I never appreciated my body or my looks when I was in my 20s. Now I’m like, ‘Look at me! Look at you!’ Not in a conceited or arrogant way – I just appreciate myself in a way I didn’t when I was that age. And it’s not about perfection. I like the scars that I have.” Preach.
When she hit back at “diva” accusations
Jennifer got labelled a “diva” in her early career because she quickly amassed a hugely successful career. Not because of her attitude. But self-aware Jennifer already knew that.
In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Hustlers actress spoke of the sexist term that is continuously used to bring down powerful women.
“I’ve always been a hard worker, on time, doing what I’m supposed to do,” Jennifer said. “I felt crippled to voice my opinion, especially because certain directors and the boys’ club that they form can make you feel like, ‘Oh, I can’t say anything.’ I was always fascinated by how I could see [a man] being late or being belligerent to a crew and it being totally acceptable; meanwhile, I’d show up 15 minutes late and be berated.”
She continued: “Like, we’re not allowed to have certain opinions or even be passionate about something, or they’ll be like, ‘God, she’s really difficult,'” she said. “It’s like, ‘Am I? Am I difficult because I care?'”
JLo speaking facts once again. When was the last time a man was labelled a “diva” for his behaviour?
When she shut down a director who asked her to take her top off during a costume fitting
The actress admitted that a “little bit of the Bronx came out” when she defiantly stood her ground and said no when a director told her to take her top off.
Speaking in light of the #MeToo movement in 2019, Jennifer recalled the truly disgusting moment, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “He wanted to see my boobs. And I was like, ‘We’re not on set.’
“I said no, I stood up for myself. But it was so funny because I remember being so panicked in the moment. Luckily a little bit of the Bronx came out, and I was like, ‘I don’t have to show you my… No. On the set, you see them.'”
However, Jennifer said that she felt more empowered to say something because a female costume designer was in the room with her.
She recalled that the minute the director walked out, the costume designer told her: “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry that just happened.'”
When she shut down age-gap stereotypes
When Jennifer doesn’t like being called something that is degrading to women, she will call it out – and rightly so!
While on the promotional trail for her movie The Boy Next Door, in which a 19-year-old seduces her character, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres grilled her on a potential relationship with her co-star Ryan Guzman.
Jennifer shut down the romance rumours, which quickly led to the topic of cougars.
“I hate that they have a label for a woman who would date a younger guy… If a younger guy is interested in you, what’s the big deal? What’s the word for the man who’s after younger girls? I’m not after younger guys. If younger guys like me, then that’s one thing. But there’s like guys who just go after younger woman. They have no name. No label… And you can date one person. Label.”
