In a raw and emotional interview on SiriusXM’s “Howard Stern Show,” global superstar Jennifer Lopez opened up like never before — reflecting on her highly publicized 2024 divorce from actor Ben Affleck and revealing that, despite the heartbreak, it became one of the most transformative moments of her life.

Known for her glamour, confidence, and decades-long dominance in music and film, Lopez stripped away the celebrity façade during the conversation, admitting to years of emotional struggle, failed relationships, and the painful realization that she had never truly felt loved — not even by herself.

“When I got divorced this last time,” Lopez confessed, “it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

A Heartbreak That Sparked Healing

Lopez and Affleck’s love story — often dubbed “Bennifer 2.0” — had captivated fans around the world. Their rekindled romance, two decades after their first engagement in the early 2000s, was celebrated as a fairytale comeback. But behind the headlines and glamorous red carpets, Lopez said she was facing something much deeper and more personal.

The end of the marriage, she explained, became a turning point — a wake-up call that forced her to confront the emotional patterns she had carried for years.

“When I got divorced this last time, it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Lopez repeated. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna f—in’ figure this s— out if it kills me.’”

Rather than retreating from the spotlight, Lopez threw herself into a journey of intense self-discovery. She revealed that she began working with a religious coach, therapists, and even an addiction coach, committing to understanding herself and the roots of her emotional struggles.

“It was hard work — like, really hard work,” she said. “But I realized I couldn’t keep repeating the same patterns and expecting different results.”

“I Didn’t Love Myself” — A Painful Admission

The most vulnerable moment of the interview came when host Howard Stern asked Lopez if she had ever felt truly loved. Without hesitation, Lopez replied:

“No.”

It was a startling confession from one of the most admired women in entertainment — someone who, from the outside, appeared to have everything: beauty, fame, success, and romance. But Lopez clarified that her sense of emotional emptiness came from within.

“I didn’t love myself,” she admitted softly.

For Lopez, the lack of self-love had been the silent thread running through all her relationships. She explained that it wasn’t about being unworthy of love, but about misunderstanding what real love looked like.

“What I learned,” she said, “it’s not that I’m not lovable — it’s that they’re not capable. They don’t have it in them.”

Her tone, though reflective, wasn’t bitter. She emphasized that her ex-partners — including Affleck — had given her everything they could, but emotional capacity couldn’t be bought, gifted, or performed.

“They gave me all of it, every time,” Lopez continued. “All the rings, all the things I could ever want. The houses, the rings, the marriage. All of it. But…”

Her voice trailed off — a pause that spoke volumes about the difference between material gestures and emotional fulfillment.

Finding Meaning Beyond the Spotlight

Lopez has long been known for her resilience — whether rebuilding after public breakups, navigating motherhood, or reinventing her career through music, film, and business. But this time, she said, the transformation wasn’t about proving herself to the world. It was about reclaiming peace.

“For the first time, I stopped running,” she told Stern. “I stopped trying to fix everything outside of me and started looking inside.”

That inward focus, she explained, helped her break cycles of dependency and performative happiness. She began journaling, meditating, and prioritizing her mental and emotional health in ways she had never done before.

“I realized I had spent so much of my life trying to be loved that I forgot to love myself,” Lopez said. “It’s such a cliché, but it’s the truth.”

A Message of Empowerment and Self-Reflection

The singer’s honesty resonated deeply with Stern’s audience — and, soon after, with millions online. Clips from the interview quickly went viral, with fans praising Lopez for her vulnerability and willingness to speak openly about the emotional complexity of love, fame, and self-worth.

Her comments also sparked larger conversations about how women, especially those in the public eye, often face intense scrutiny for their relationships while being expected to “have it all together.”

Lopez didn’t shy away from acknowledging her past mistakes, but she made it clear that her story is now one of redemption and self-awareness.

“I don’t regret anything,” she said. “Every relationship taught me something. Every heartbreak got me closer to understanding who I am and what I deserve.”

She added that her healing journey continues — and that, for the first time in her adult life, she’s content being on her own.

“I’m okay by myself,” Lopez affirmed. “And that’s something I never thought I’d be able to say.”

The Power of Honest Reinvention

Jennifer Lopez’s conversation with Howard Stern wasn’t just another celebrity confession — it was a profound moment of self-reflection from a woman who has lived much of her life in the public eye. Her words revealed not just pain, but also power: the courage to admit what she didn’t know, and the determination to find something real beyond fame, fortune, or romance.

In the end, her message was clear: heartbreak can be the doorway to healing, and the truest love story begins not with someone else — but with yourself.

“You have to love yourself first,” Lopez said simply. “Otherwise, no one else really can.”