Jennifer Lopez Admits It Was 'Scary' to Be on Her Own This Summer but Learned She's 'Capable of Joy All by Myself'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Lopez, wearing Gucci, attends the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala, Presented By Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Presley Ann/Getty Images for LACMA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Jennifer Lopez, wearing Gucci, attends the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala, Presented By Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for LACMA)

Presley Ann/Getty Images for LACMA

Jennifer Lopezis reflecting onthis past summer.

In a new interview conducted with comedianNikki GlaserforInterviewmagazineon Sept. 10 and published Wednesday, Oct. 9, Lopez, 55, spoke to her mindset during hertime spent abroadandin the Hamptonsin the months before shefiled for divorcefrom ex-husbandBen Affleck

“I had to be like, ‘I need to go off and be on my own. I want to prove to myself that I can do that,’ " theUnstoppableactress said. “Yes, it’s f—— hard,” Lopez said, when Glaser asked her about the experience.

Lopez listed April 26, 2024 as the former couple’s date of separation when she filed for divorce in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.

“Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people,” Lopez added. “I have to have happiness within myself. I used to say I’m a happy person, but was still looking for something for somebody else to fill, and it’s just like, ‘No, I’m actually good.’ "

Jennifer Lopez attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Jennifer Lopez attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Lopez and Affleck, who married in July 2022, do appear to have remained on amicable terms even after Lopez’s August divorce filing. The former couplereunited for a friendly lunchin Los Angeles on Sept. 14 with Lopez’s 16-year-old twinsMax and Emme, and Affleck’s childrenSeraphina, 15, andSamuel, 12.

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Lopez shares her twins with ex-husbandMarc Anthony, while theOscarwinner shares Seraphina, Samuel andViolet, 18, with ex-wifeJennifer Garner.

Jennifer Lopez on Sept. 6, 2024.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Jennifer Lopez

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

During Lopez’s wide-ranging conversation with Glaser, which also touched upon her new role in the wrestling biopicUnstoppable, the actress and singer also told Glaser that she feels comfortable living the single life. “Here’s the thing: There’s no new bar because I’m not looking for anybody,” she said, after toward learning to love herself. “How’s that?”

“You know what? For people who are romantics and love being in relationships and want to grow old with somebody, we think, ‘I have to have that to be whole and happy,’ " she added. “And you don’t.”

Unstoppablewill be in theaters beginning Dec. 6.

source: people.com