Is Jennifer Lopez really heading towards retirement? Her first new album in a decade flopped, she cancelled tour dates, and netizens are dissing her bodega order and multimillion-dollar Dubai show

Mar 31 , 2024

Jennifer Lopez might be a pop sensation, but her latest album doesn’t exactly reflect that. Photo: @jlo/Instagram

Lopez has encountered challenges in recent years and This Is Me … Now, her latest album, performed underwhelmingly on music charts – its live tour has seen recently cancelled dates too

Last year, Lopez posted about her Delola cocktail line on social media, sparking backlash due to her husband Ben Affleck’s documented struggle with alcohol addiction

Jennifer Lopez is an undeniable force in entertainment, with a career spanning acting, singing and dancing that has established her as a global superstar. The 54-year-old boasts No 1 albums and global hits like “Jenny From The Block” (2002) along with critically acclaimed roles in films such as Selena (1997) and Hustlers (2019). She’s even expanded her empire into the beauty industry with her skincare line, JLo Beauty, aimed at sharing the secrets behind her envied glow.

Jennifer Lopez got some backlash on this photo posted in February due to her choice to wear fur. Photo: @jlo/Instagram

Her marriage to Ben Affleck, 51, marked by a high-profile split and heartwarming reunion culminating in remarriage in July 2022, has fascinated fans worldwide.

Amid professional success and personal milestones, Lopez has hinted at possibly stepping back from the spotlight. After encountering challenges in recent years, from her latest album’s underwhelming performance on music charts to unexpected tour setbacks and publicity efforts that fell short, she appears to be rethinking next steps.

Recently, she sparked retirement speculation, telling Entertainment Tonight last month, “The truth is I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this,” suggesting her current one might be her last.

in August 2023, Jennifer Lopez posted this happy memory of her and her husband Ben Affleck tying the knot. Photo: @jlo/Instagram

Jennifer Lopez’s latest album fell short

J.Lo signs posters for her new album This Is Me … Now, plus other items fans brought along to a publicity event in the US, in February 2024. Photo: @jlo/Instagram

In a twist that surprised many, J.Lo’s latest album, This Is Me … Now, landed at just No 38 on the Billboard 200 current album rankings. Despite the buzz around this being Lopez’s first studio album in a decade, its opening sales in the US in its first week were modest, with just over 21,000 units sold, per Billboard. Soon afterwards it reached that chart’s top position, but sales still fell far below estimated demand.

According to Forbes, this album is the lowest-charting release of her career and marks a rare moment in her dazzling journey, diverging from her formidable usual chart-topping sales. In comparison, her J to Tha L-O! The Remixes clocked up 156,000 sales in its first week when released in 2002.