Jennifer Lopez’s Team Warned Her Against Joining American Idol: ‘You’ll Never Be Hired for a Movie Again’

Jennifer Lopez’s Team Warned Her Against Joining American Idol: ‘You’ll Never Be Hired for a Movie Again’

Jennifer Lopez recently revealed that her decision to join the judging panel of American Idol came despite warnings from her team, who feared it might jeopardize her film career.

In a conversation with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, the 55-year-old singer and actress reflected on her journey during her time on the popular singing competition, where she served as a judge from 2011 to 2016.

Lopez explained the tough decision she faced at that time, saying, “I’ll take risks because I believe they’ll turn out well. After starring in big movies and releasing albums, I was approached to do reality TV. I had also had kids and hadn’t worked for a couple of years. American Idol was a major show back then. Ultimately, it was about what I believed I could contribute, even when my advisors warned me, ‘Don’t do this; you’ll be reduced to just a reality star.’”

Glaser noted the stigma often associated with reality TV stars, a perception that was particularly strong before Lopez joined the American Idol panel alongside Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, and later with Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.

Lopez acknowledged the prevailing negative view, recalling that someone from her team cautioned her, “Don’t do this or nobody will ever hire you for a movie again.” However, she ultimately chose to follow her instincts.

“I felt differently. I believed I had something valuable to offer,” she shared. “I love music and mentoring, and I wanted to share my knowledge of the industry. It became more about what I thought I could achieve with this opportunity. When I make decisions that might not seem wise to others but feel right to me, I won’t be swayed. It was similar to when I decided to perform in Vegas. People said, ‘That’s where entertainers go to die,’ but I thought, ‘No,’ and it opened up an exciting new chapter in my life.”

Lopez’s time on American Idol coincided with a remarkable resurgence in her music career. She released “On the Floor” in February 2011, which became one of her most successful singles. The show provided the perfect platform for her to debut the music video and perform the song live, ultimately leading it to become her first top-five hit in the U.S. as a lead artist since 2002’s “All I Have,” featuring LL Cool J.

Not only did American Idol revitalize Lopez’s music career, but it also did not hinder her success as an actress. Years later, she received critical acclaim for her role in the 2019 film Hustlers, which grossed $105 million domestically and earned her nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Jennifer Lopez’s Team Warned Her Against Joining American Idol: ‘You’ll Never Be Hired for a Movie Again’

Lopez, who recently navigated a highly publicized divorce from Ben Affleck, will next appear in the upcoming sports drama Unstoppable, which has already garnered critical praise following its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in September.

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