news archives

August 31, 2002 - Lynda Lopez of WNBC was on hand at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday and had the guts to ask her sister Jennifer Lopez if it was true she was dating Ben Affleck. The clip also included host Jimmy Fallon goofing on Eminem's 'Without Me', Sheryl Crow's performance, Michael Jackson getting his birthday present, Eminem getting booed after his snide remark about Moby, and the return of Guns N' Roses. Watch the clip here.

August 31, 2002 - Star magazine reports Jennifer Lopez is set to wed her new beau Ben Affleck in a lavish $1.5 million Valentine's Day Puerto Rican extravaganza. "This will be one of the most glorious weddings in Hollywood history. Jennifer is telling friends that she wants to go all out for this wedding ... and money is no object," blabbed a source. Read more.

August 31, 2002 - Tons of photos from last night's Video Music Awards are on the net today, including shots of *NSYNC, Enrique Iglesias with girlfriend Anna Kournikova, Avril Lavigne, Eminem, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Christina Milian, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Kylie Minogue, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Willa Ford, and more. Check out photos from Yahoo, WireImagecom, GlobePhotos, GettyImages, and LFI (PressRoom, Arrivals1, Arrivals2, and Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs Party).

August 30, 2002 - Popdirt.com's latest poll asks which female pop star was best dressed at the MTV Video Music Awards. Vote for Jennifer Lopez here.

August 30, 2002 - Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule teamed up on 'I'm Real' and walked away with the Best Hip-Hop Video at the Video Music Awards on Thursday. J.Lo seems to have forgiven Murder Inc.'s Irv Gotti thanking him in the speech, and perhaps Ja Rule himself, who reportedly was bragging about having sex with J.Lo during their visit to Ramstein Air Force Base to soldiers. Lopez said, "I didn't expect this. Obviously. But, God, I'm a girl from the Bronx and hip-hop is everything to us, so I want to thank God, the fans, thank Ja and the whole crew Irv, and 7 and B.J. And everybody. I want to thank Sony, Corey Rooney, everybody over there and everybody involved with the video, especially Dave Myers who did it individually for us, so great. Thank you for writing the song [Ja Rule]. You're the best."

August 30, 2002 - Stu Bykofsky of The Philadelphia Daily News reports Jennifer Lopez was spotted shopping at the Matthew Izzo Shop on Wednesday in Philly. J.Lo arrived with a male driver, bodyguard and a female assistant where she plunked down $300 (or at least her assistant did) on scented candles, ashtrays, a Versace and other fashion design books, along with a wooden vase with a glass insert by local artist Don Nye. Read more.

August 29, 2002 - The New York Daily News spoke with Marc Hirschfeld, NBC's executive vice president of casting on the new Jennifer Lopez backed NBC sitcom, which will be loosely based on Lopez's teen years. "We see this as a family show, but one especially about young people who struggle and break the bonds of their circumstances to achieve a lot," he said. "Jennifer Lopez is someone who is smart and ambitious, and who has worked her way up from not being around show business to become a movie and music superstar." Read more.

August 28, 2002 - The new Lycos 50 is out today and Britney Spears retains her pop dominance in the #5 spot. 'American Idol' makes its top 10 debut at #8, Eminem jumps to #14, Avril Lavigne reverses her freefall to hit the #18 spot, Shakira holds at #25, and Jennifer Lopez got the #35 spot, jumping two spots. Read more.

August 27, 2002 - The New York Post reports locals at Tribeca got an eyeful of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez last week after a small fire at Affleck's building forced he, J.Lo, Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix all had to evacuate the 8,000 sq. ft. loft. "They were all just sitting there on the street," said a witness. "Ben and Jennifer were commenting on how cute one neighbor's kids were." Meanwhile, the Post reports Ben checked out a Vacheron Constantin ‘Lady Kalla' watch, a diamond and emerald piece priced at $330,000, and seemed "very interested" in the timepiece, according to a spy, which presumably would be intended for J.Lo.

August 27, 2002 - Peoplenews.com quotes Jennifer Lopez saying, "I'm not a big eater. I never eat until I'm full as that's where you can get into trouble. Besides I don't like the feeling of being full."

August 27, 2002 - Zap2it.com reports NBC is searching for the next Jennifer Lopez to star in a new comedy pilot, produced by Lopez' own production company, Nuyorican Productions. The comedy is about a Puerto Rican Bronx family with three daughters and in many ways mirror's Lopez's own life. Read more.

August 25, 2002 - Us Weekly reports that during Jennifer Lopez's nude photo shoot for Glow, the singer/actress required a closed set, where only the photographer Michael Thompson, her hairstylist Oribe, and a bodyguard were allowed. "She's not one to have an open set - she's Catholic," says Oribe. As for whether the sexy final shot used for the fragrance's ad showing what appeared to be a slimmer J.Lo required retouching, her rep said, "No, her waist his really small."

August 24, 2002 - E! Online gossip guru Ted Casablanca has reports on a couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez sightings, at the Four Seasons Hotels in both Maui and Philadelphia. Jen and Ben worked out at the hotel's gym in Philly and in Maui, they were joined by Ben's heterosexual lifemate Matt Damon. Read more.

August 24, 2002 - First it was 'The Chambermaid', then 'Uptown Girl', then it flip-flopped between the two, but now the Ru Report says Jennifer Lopez's next film release has been retitled 'Maid in Manhattan.' Lopez plays Marisa Ventura, a single mother born and bred in the boroughs of New York City, who works as a maid in a first class Manhattan hotel, who gets tangled in a web of deception with Ralph Fiennes’ character Christopher Marshall. Look for the film in theaters on December 13th.

August 23, 2002 - The New York Daily News reports Ben Affleck and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, hung out with his "heterosexual lifemate" Matt Damon at Lupa on Friday. Matt & Ben are planning to launch a double Project Greenlight contest next month, one for screenwriters and one to find a director to shoot the winning script. The prize is $1 million to make the movie.

August 22, 2002 - Jennifer Lopez was voted a top the Woman Whose Sex Appeal You'd Like To Borrow For A Night and Sexiest Diva categories for this year's InStyle Magazine Sexy Poll, which asks readers to vote in a series of sexy categories so they can draw up a definitive list of sexy stars.

August 20, 2002 - The New York Post reports that Ben Affleck celebrated his 30th birthday last weekend by buying himself a $230,000 Spider V8 Ferrari that Jennifer Lopez helped him pick out at a dealership in Coral Gables, Florida. Lopez was later sighted in Manhattan shopping solo at Gucci for clothes for Affleck, but autograph seekers were left empty handed, kept away by a store security guard.

August 20, 2002 - Stu Bykofsky of the Philadelphia Daily News reports Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are in Philly ahead of the 'Jersey Girl' shooting which begins filming next Monday. While the two have separate suites in the Four Seasons, they indeed have been spotted together at a Walnut Street eatery hand-in-hand where they were escorted to a private room. Read more.

August 20, 2002 - The August 27th Star magazine blind item reads, "This handsome actor recently got a new girlfriend, and he's become super self-conscious about his body hair. She likes her men smooth! The guy has most of his growth under control, but he's got an especially fuzzy bottom. He's too embarrassed to visit a waxing salon, so he pays his trusted hairdresser big bucks to give him regular butt-waxings at home. He grins and bears it to keep his precious diva happy."

August 18, 2002 - From Jennifer Lopez's official site news section: "There's a new J.Lo album on the horizon. Stay tuned to this space and to your Jennifer Lopez news for all the details as they become available!"

August 16, 2002 - Jay Leno joked during his Tonight Show monologue on Thursday, "According to The New York Post, Jennifer Lopez has given Ben Affleck an Aston Martin worth $140,000. Pretty good, huh? You know, someone should tell Jennifer if a guy is dating you, he doesn't need any more gifts. I think he's very grateful." You can check out the car, with a kissing Ben and J.Lo inside, here.

August 15, 2002 - Jeannette Walls of MSNBC reports that Jennifer Lopez's rep is denying reports in The Mirror that J.Lo had been with her ex Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs aboard his yacht in Ibiza. She also denied reports that Ben Affleck bought her a Ferrari. Lopez is currently driving her Bentley around Miami.

August 15, 2002 - Jay Leno joked during his Tonight Show monologue about a computer that translates real names into your hip-hop names. One of them: Ben Affleck > J. Lo Rider.

August 14, 2002 - IMDB.com reports Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez recently went on a shopping trip, where Ben ended up spending $225,000 on a metallic blue 360 Ferrari Spider. A dealership in Coral Gables, Florida was lucky enough to sell Affleck the car on the spot.

August 14, 2002 - The Mirror reports Jennifer Lopez met up in a secret rendezvous with her ex-lover Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs on his multi-million-dollar yacht off the coast of Ibiza this week. "The pair were always going to meet at some point but were desperate to ensure that nobody knew about their lunch date," said an insider. "They decided it was best to meet on Diddy's yacht for privacy. Jennifer was picked up from a secluded port and taken to his floating palace. They met just after midday on Thursday and she didn't leave until after dark." Read more.

August 13, 2002 - Variety reports 'Spider-Man' producer Laura Ziskin will be pairing up with Jennifer Lopez to develop the film version of 'Dirty Girls Club,' which is based on the unpublished book from American journalist Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez.

August 12, 2002 - US Weekly reports that after his quick divorce from Jennifer Lopez, he's leaving dancing behind and is "now doing the whole actor thing," according to a source. Judd has been to a few auditions according to the source, and he's not upset that J.Lo has already moved on to Ben Affleck. "He's very happy," said an insider. Judd was spotted earlier this month with dancer Staci Flood, who has previously dated Enrique Iglesias and appeared in his 'Bailamos' video.

August 11, 2002 - US Weekly reports that after his quick divorce from Jennifer Lopez, he's leaving dancing behind and is "now doing the whole actor thing," according to a source. Judd has been to a few auditions according to the source, and he's not upset that J.Lo has already moved on to Ben Affleck. "He's very happy," said an insider. Judd was spotted earlier this month with dancer Staci Flood, who has previously dated Enrique Iglesias and appeared in his 'Bailamos' video.

August 10, 2002 - Launch.com reports Jennifer Lopez is being sued by California-based company Glow Industries, Inc., which manufactures fragrances, skin lotions, skin moisturizers, scented mists, soaps, candles, scented oils, and bubble baths under the Glow name and sells them in department stores nationwide. The lawsuit claims Lopez and fragrance company Coty, Inc. engaged in trademark infringement, dilution of trademark, unfair competition, and that they violated the Lanaham Act. Read more.

August 10, 2002 - Jay Leno joked during his Tonight Show monologue on Friday, "You probably saw in People magazine last week. Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck -- they're the hottest new couple. According to the tabloids, Ben Affleck told friends that every time he kisses Jennifer, he hears fireworks. Ben, that's not fireworks. That's Puff Daddy, he's shooting at you."

August 10, 2002 - The Philadelphia Daily News reports that shooting for the Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck starring 'Jersey Girl' will begin in a couple weeks -- in Philly. Lots of shooting will be done in the former Navy Yard, at the Business Center, and at the Famous Deli. Some shooting in New Jersey as well. The shooting in Philly will be passed off to moviegoers as New York.

August 9, 2002 - The New York Post reports Cris Judd has signed on with Roklin management in Los Angeles and, according to pals, "He is very keen to get into acting." Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband has also been hitting the Los Angeles club circuit hard. "He has been going out every night to the Lounge and AD, and is just having a good time," said a source. "He and a bunch of people always go back to Christina Aguilera's house to keep partying after the clubs shut." Read more.

August 8, 2002 - MSNBC's Jeannette Walls reports sources who know Gwyneth Paltrow say she's appalled that her ex-boyfriend Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are dating. "Gwyn is a woman of great taste and class, and she just doesn’t respect Jennifer," says one source. "She’s sort of appalled. Don’t forget that this is a woman who said she would immediately dump a man if he wore the wrong shoes." Part of the bad blood stems from J.Lo's comments to Movieline magazine that blasted Paltrow’s acting ability, saying, "I don’t remember anything she [Paltrow] was in. Some people get hot by association. I heard more about her and Brad Pitt than I ever heard about her work." Read more.

August 8, 2002 - Jay Leno targetted a trio of pop stars in his Tonight Show monologue on Wednesday. Jay cracked, " And here's a great story -- here's one of those medical marvel things ofhe 21st century. In an operation that lasted more than 24 hours, a team of doctors at UCLA Medical Center were successfully able to separate Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Did you see that? Finally got them apart."

August 7, 2002 - The Mirror reports Samantha Mumba has chose Cris Judd to star in her new video 'I'm Right Here.' The storyline has him playing Mumba's love interest, but now that he's divorced from Jennifer Lopez, the role has been scaled back. "A lot of his performance has ended up on the cutting room floor," said a source. "Obviously as one of his first jobs since breaking-up from J-Lo there's going to be a lot of interest but they don't want his appearance to overshadow Samantha."

August 6, 2002 - The New York Post has a photo of Jennifer Lopez showing off her new hairdo in a sizzling photo shoot with lensman Tony Duran for the October issue of Glamour magazine. Check out the picture here.

August 6, 2002 - Entertainment Tonight spoke with Eduardo Verastegui, the man Jennifer Lopez was seen with in her music video, 'Ain't it Funny'. Eduardo, who is making his first Hollywood film, 'Papi Chulo', commented, "Working with Jennifer Lopez was an amazing experience. She was beautiful, very talented and a very professional artist."

August 6, 2002 - The Mirror reports that Jennifer Lopez will take a break from her romance with Ben Affleck to hit Ibiza this weekend. J.Lo will attend DJ Alex P's birthday party on Friday. Word also is that Lopez has been a regular in Ibiza to work with Artful Dodger producer Mark Hill in his private studio. By the time Lopez arrives, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs should be wrapping up his current vacation on the Balearic Islands hot spot.

August 6, 2002 - Ben Affleck's former long-time love Gwyneth Paltrow sidestepped discussion on Ben and Jennifer Lopez being an item to Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I never read any of that. I don't watch television just in case I might pop up on it," she laughed. "I never even glance at newsstands when I walk by ... just in case something might catch my eye. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to that stuff." Read more.

August 6, 2002 - The Daily Star reports Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs phoned Ben Affleck to warn the actor about his responsibilities with Jennifer Lopez. "P Diddy still loves J.Lo but knows his time with her has passed," said a source. "He considers her a very good friend and wanted to check everything will be okay." But Ben told Combs, "I know how much you care bit I love J.Lo and would never do anything to hurt her."

August 6, 2002 - The Daily Mail reports Gwyneth Paltrow is said to be upset over longtime love Ben Affleck's choice of a girflriend with Jennifer Lopez. "Gwyneth is really upset about Ben and Jennifer. She still has strong feelings for him and she doesn't think Jennifer is right for him, or good enough," a friend of Paltrow revealed. "She still adores Ben and she can't stand Jennifer. She believes Ben, who is from a nice middle class family and is cultured, would be better off with someone more like himself. She has been crying down the phone about it to her friends and she is threatening to ring him up and have it out with him."

August 6, 2002 - Cindy Adams of the New York Post reports Jennifer Lopez and Elton John are planning to duet on an album. She says she loves him. He says he's a fan of her fanny.

August 5, 2002 - Popdirt.com's latest poll asks which female pop star do you think would be the toughest fighter? Vote for Jennifer Lopez here.

August 5, 2002 - The New York Post reports People magazine paid an eye-popping $75,000 for a series of nine photos of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, outbidding US Weekly for the rights. The nine-photo package showed the couple in the front seat in a Bentley convertible. Most importantly, the magazine "wanted the lip-lock photo," said a People spokeswoman. Read more.

August 5, 2002 - Doug Elfman of the Las Vegas Review Journal spoke with New York native Marc Anthony about his disgust for being grouped in the "Latin explosion." Anthony fumed, "When the hell does race or religion play a card in what you do artistically? Do you think I have talent or not?" He added, "It's socially significant music. And you're gonna tell me (Martin's) 'She's All I Ever Had' is Latin music? And (Lopez's) 'If You Had My Love' is Latin music? I was just going bonkers." While J.Lo and Ricky don't seem to have a problem with it, Anthony sighed, "Everybody else was cool with it, (saying), 'It's our time.' Who's time is it? I was born in New York. It was always my time." Read more.

August 5, 2002 - Chaunce Hayden of Steppin' Out magazine caught up with Paulina Rubio and asked her about some musical peers. As for Jennifer Lopez, "I think she's cool." Read more.

August 5, 2002 - Star magazine reports that Jennifer Lopez's new boyfriend Ben Affleck told J.Lo's family that he had fallen deeply in love with the diva at her 32nd birthday party in New York. "It was an incredibly romantic moment," said a pal. "Ben was very charming and bold. It took guts for him to stand up and make an announcement like that in front of Jennifer's whole family. Her party was clearly a chance for Jennifer's friends and family to spend some time with her new love. And they all got along great." The pal adds, "Jennifer is saying she'll make a formal announcement about her and Ben to her fans when the time is right. They know getting married is a big step, but they're convinced they're meant for each other."

August 4, 2002 - The Sun has photos of Jennifer Lopez with new boyfriend Ben Affleck sharing a kiss as they drove to a friend's party in Los Angeles. "After months of keeping things under wraps, they didn’t seem to care who saw them," said an onlooker. "They were strolling hand in hand and laughing and joking. Both of them seemed relieved that everything was finally out in the open." Check out the pictures here.

August 2, 2002 - Rolling Stone spoke with Murder Inc chief Irv Gotti on the controversial comments he made about the Jennifer Lopez remix 'Ain't It Funny' which he had told about the track to Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs saying, "Puff, come listen to the new record I did with your old bitch." Gotti admits, "I wanna apologize to J. Lo in the deepest sense. I truly apologize for the Elle magazine comments. I called her a bitch. This is J. Lo, and I'm referring to her as a bitch! That's harsh. I killed her. I shouldn'ta killed her. She didn't deserve that. I was high when I did the interview." Read more.

August 2, 2002 - TeenHollywood.com (WENN) reports Jennifer Lopez was genuinely surprised when she was given a secret party on the set on her new movie 'Uptown Girl' to celebrate her 32nd birthday. Jennifer's lack of preparation meant she didn't have time to change into one of her trademark dresses, so she partied with the assembled guests, including co-star Ralph Fiennes, in a white hooded tracksuit. Read more.

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