Jennifer Lopez Says She Should Have Gone Single Sooner, Reflects on Four Failed Marriages

Jennifer Lopez has publicly stated she regrets not embracing single life earlier, according to her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week. The performer and actress confirmed her current single status while discussing her romantic history, which includes four marriages spanning three decades. Lopez admitted, "I should have done it sooner," prompting collective gasps and applause from the studio audience.

Lopez's revelation carries weight given her documented relationship timeline. She married producer Ojani Noa from 1997 to 1998, dancer Cris Judd from 2001 to 2003, singer Marc Anthony from 2004 to 2014, and most recently actor and producer Ben Affleck from 2022 until their split last year. The Lopez-Affleck pairing represented a rekindling of an early-2000s romance that ended before their subsequent reconnection in 2021. Lopez filed for divorce on their two-year anniversary, marking the conclusion of their second attempt at marriage.

During the late-night conversation, Kimmel suggested Lopez might consider appearing on The Bachelorette, the ABC dating competition series. Lopez declined firmly, stating she had no intention of jeopardizing her current contentment. "I'm not doing anything to ruin how I feel right now," she said, describing her single status as "fantastic." When asked whether her celebrity status might complicate finding a suitable partner, Lopez responded with measured optimism, suggesting she would "meet somebody somewhere one day, if they're good enough."

Lopez's candid remarks build upon earlier comments she made to radio host Howard Stern in October, where she reflected on never having been truly loved by her romantic partners. She explained that while she has "loved someone," the individuals she chose "weren't capable" of reciprocating that love in meaningful ways. Affleck, by contrast, offered a less introspective explanation during a separate interview, characterizing the split as ordinary and unremarkable rather than the product of scandal or dramatic circumstances.

The actress is currently promoting her Netflix romantic comedy Office Romance, scheduled for release on June 5. In the film, Lopez plays an airline CEO who enforces strict anti-dating policies among employees—a position that becomes complicated when a new attorney, played by Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein, enters her professional sphere.