Singer-actor Jennifer Lopez has opened up about what she now seeks in a relationship, reflecting on love, self-respect, and emotional growth nearly a year after her divorce from Ben Affleck was finalised. Speaking during a recent show in her Las Vegas residency, the 56-year-old shared how her experiences, heartbreaks, and self-discovery have shaped her understanding of relationships.
Before performing her 1999 hit If You Had My Love, Jennifer revisited the mindset she had as a young artist. “When I first sang it, I was very young. I was a little baby in the woods and I sang it with a lot of hope,” she said. Over the years, the song has accompanied her through multiple phases of life—both in moments of sadness and happiness.
Now, Jennifer says the song carries a different emotional weight. “But today, you know how I sing it? I sing it in power,” she explained. This shift reflects her current expectations from a partner: “Because the truth is, if you wanted to have my love, you would have to earn it. You would have to treat me right. You would have to respect me. You’d have to accept me for all that I am. You’d have to love me if you wanted my love.”
She also acknowledged the emotional risks involved in relationships, especially after multiple marriages. “Love is a complicated thing and I know that… you can’t have love without heartbreak. You can’t. That’s what you sign up for,” Jennifer added.
Jennifer and Ben Affleck finalised their divorce in January 2025, five months after she filed in August 2024. The settlement formally ended their brief marriage, marking both as legally single by February 2025.