news archives

January 30, 2004 - The Sun reports Jennifer Lopez had her bodyguard return the Rolls-Royce Phantom given to her by Ben Affleck for her 33rd birthday back to the Beverly Hills dealership. "Jennifer loved that car but it held too many painful memories," a pal said. "Losing the car is the first step to getting closure on the relationship." Check out a picture of the car back at the Beverly Hills dealership here.

January 30, 2004 - The New York Daily News reports Jennifer Lopez was choosing designs for invitations to her wedding to Ben Affleck as late as January 6th. But at a fateful meal at the Beverly Hills restaurant Matsuhisa - what Lopez calls 'The Last Supper' - Ben refused her ultimatum to set a date, prompting the split. "I am extremely brokenhearted," Lopez told Star magazine's Victoria Gotti. "I put enormous effort into my relationship with Ben, but in the end, I realized I needed to put my personal and professional life back together." Read more.

January 30, 2004 - Heat magazine reports Jennifer Lopez was so thrilled to hear that actress Natalie Portman likes her J.Lo clothing line that she sent her loads of freebies, including a velour tracksuit.

January 30, 2004 - Groovevolt.com reports Benny Medina is really trying to make the Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez duet happen. Read more.

January 30, 2004 - Jennifer Lopez visited psychic Merle Gonzalez in East Los Angeles on Monday (January 26) for three hours - the same woman from whom she sought help after the postponement of her wedding to Ben. Now that the couple has officially separated, perhaps J.Lo is back for some more advice on the future of her love life. Check out picturs from Red Hot J.Lo.

January 30, 2004 - The New York Post reports Jennifer Lopez felt she was "accosted" by Billy Bush of 'Access Hollywood' on Sunday night at the Golden Globe Awards, where the diva was still reeling after her split with Ben Affleck. "Jennifer had made it very clear that she was giving no interviews," a source said. "Billy jumped over the barriers, shoved a mike in her face and tried to get a sound bite - it was awful." J.Lo's publicist Rob Shuter stepped in and told Bush, "Back off!" Lopez skipped the after parties, opting to go to her restaurant Madre's with her new business partner, Peter Chelsom.

January 30, 2004 - Paulina Rubio was photographed out and about with Cris Judd, the ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez. Check out the pictures here.

January 30, 2004 - Us Weekly News Director Mark Malkin tells 'Extra' their insight on the breakup of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. He says, "They were actually in counseling to try and make this relationship work. Unfortunately, it didn't work." So who is taking the breakup harder? Malkin says that Affleck is. He says, "Since the breakup, Ben has actually been going to casinos, he's been gambling, hanging out with friends. He's also been looking to buy a new house in the Los Angeles area." Read more.

January 30, 2004 - Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, Kelly Osbourne, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez, Elijah Wood, Elton John, Jessica Simpson and her 98 Degrees star husband Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter and girlfriend Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Prince were amongst the stars on hand for the 61st annual Golden Globe Awards and/or various afterparties in Beverly Hills on Sunday (January 25). Check out pictures here.

January 30, 2004 - Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com reports that even though Jennifer Lopez has split with Ben Affleck and attended Benny Medina's birthday party, the singer isn't returning to her former manager. Simon Fields and Lopez got along so well on the set of 'Shall We Dance?' that a bond formed and turned into a business relationship. Meanwhile, at Benny's birthday bash, Lopez was put in one room, and rival Mariah Carey - currently Medina's part-time client - was in another. Read more.

January 30, 2004 - Associated Press reports the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez starring 'Gigli' had a leading nine nominations - among them worst picture and worst screen couple - for the Razzies, an annual spoof of the Academy Awards that mocks the year's most awful movies. Mike Myers' storybook adaptation 'Dr. Seuss the Cat in the Hat' and 'From Justin to Kelly,' featuring 'American Idol' stars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, came in second with eight nominations each, including worst picture. Razzie "winners" will be announced February 28th, a day before the Oscar ceremony. Read more.

January 30, 2004 - Alev Aktar of The New York Daily News reviewed the fashion at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday (January 25). Aktar writes, "Everyone knows that looking good is the best revenge. Jennifer Lopez went one better at last night's Golden Globes: She looked drop-dead gorgeous. The newly unengaged Bronx bombshell sported a radiant smile and a silver-belted tangerine goddess dress. 'Ben who?' she seemed to be saying." Read more.

January 30, 2004 - The New York Daily News reports Jennifer Lopez tells pals she hasn't decided whether to give back Ben Affleck's 6.1-carat pink Harry Winston ring now that she's called off their engagement. Meanwhile, as J.Lo kept her yoga appointment last week, Affleck was spotted cruising merrily down Sunset Blvd. in his Mercedes SUV. "He had all the windows open," an onlooker revealed. "The music was blasting. He was waving to chicks. It looked like he was loving life."

January 26, 2004 - Jay Leno joked during his Tonight Show monologue on Friday night, "The good news, the Mars rover and NASA are communicating with each other again. The bad news Ben and J.Lo aren't. That’s the sad news, Ben Affleck and Jennifer have broken up. This time Jen didn't even use her usual method of dumping a guy – divorce. Of course, everyone in Hollywood is wondering the same thing: 'Why couldn't they have broken up before 'Gigli'? I like Ben, he's a friend of ours. I feel sorry for him. He's got to be pretty depressed – it's going to be hard for him to leave her behind."

January 26, 2004 - Don't expect Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez to jointly promote their long-shelved upcoming movie, 'Jersey Girl' together. Director and longtime Affleck buddy Kevin Smith tells The New York Post reports film critic Lou Lumenick: "There weren't plans beforehand for [Lopez] to be there at the March 5 press junket in New York, so the breakup doesn't affect that. But I expect Ben to get hammered with questions," and he predicted the premiere will be a full-scale mob scene. Read more.

January 26, 2004 - Jay Leno joked during his Tonight Show monologue on Thursday night, "The big story today not the war, not Howard Dean, not the presidential election, no the big story today Ben and Jennifer have broken up. The final straw was when Ben told her 'Yes, your ass does look big in those pants'."

January 26, 2004 - The Sun reports that immediately after phoning Ben Affleck to dump him, the singer/actress phoned a number she knew by heart, former lover Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs. "Jennifer has never really got over breaking up with Sean. They were together for two years and she loved him, trusted him and admired him," a friend of J.Lo's revealed. "Jen thought that Sean was so wise. Especially when it came to helping her establish herself as a credible singer. When she was with him her career was on a real high. She’d landed a few big movie roles and her debut album was No1 all over the world. Ironically, the reason she split up with him was because she felt she had to for the sake of her career." The source added, "She never really wanted to split with him. She was forced into it by her advisers and family. She felt in a corner. But it comes as no surprise that she turned to Sean when she realized it was over between her and Ben." Read more.

January 26, 2004 - Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com and Tom O'Neil of In Touch magazine were on 'At Large with Geraldo Rivera' on Saturday night to discuss the breakup of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Read on for a rough transcript.

January 26, 2004 - dirrtyj writes "Jennifer Lopez's first husband Ojani Noa will be speaking out on the Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck breakup on E! Live on Monday night at 8pm ET/PT. He also Launched his new 2004 Calendar. Check it out at OjaniNoa.com."

January 26, 2004 - Us Weekly's Ken Baker talked to Jennifer Lopez the night after her split with Ben Affleck when she dined at Morton's -- the same restaurant where she and Cris Judd had their engagement party. "The important thing that Jen wanted people to know is that she doesn't want people to think that she was some pathetic woman waiting for her man. You know, 'Please marry me. Please marry me.' She says that's not the case. She just made a decision that it was something she had to do for herself," Baker told 'Access Hollywood'. Meanwhile, after living at J.Lo's home on Mulholland Drive, Ben's been shopping for a new home in Los Angeles. Read more.

January 26, 2004 - After Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck announced their breakup, many are wondering what will happen with the 25-karat pink diamond Ben gave to J.Lo at a pricetag over $1 millin. Royal Oaks, a Hollywood attorney, told Access Hollywood: "Basically, if the guy calls the wedding off then the gal gets to keep the ring, but if she calls it off she has to give it back." Read more.

January 26, 2004 - Peter Castro of People magazine was on the Fox News Channel on Friday to discuss the Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck split. Castro says that J.Lo finally had enough of his partying and he believes they fell in lust not love. Castro added that he thinks Lopez will show up to the Golden Globe Awards, and thinks people will feel sorry for her and will be giving her support, portraying Ben as the bad guy in the situation. Watch the interview here. [click the 'options' button]

January 26, 2004 - Bonnie Fuller of American Media was on the Fox News Channel on Friday to discuss the ended romance of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Fuller says she wasn't surprised, especially after Ben agreed to a wedding before Christmas and suddenly got cold feet a second time. She added that Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs has now entered the picture. Watch the interview here. [click the 'options' button]

January 26, 2004 - Entertainment Tonight reported Thursday that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have called off their engagement and parted ways. J.Lo originally told Golden Globe Awards organizers that she'd prefer to skip the red carpet on Sunday, sneak in a back door and not do any press -- but ET has learned from the site of the awards show that she now may brave the red carpet.

January 26, 2004 - Craig Kilborn joked about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's breakup during his Late Late Show monologue on Thursday night, "Ben and J.Lo have broke up. A teary eyed J.Lo was heard saying, 'We'll always have our bad reviews'."

January 26, 2004 - Despite the split of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, their movie 'Jersey Girl' is slated to open in mid-March and former couple have both confirmed they will be promoting the picture. The main press junket for the film is scheduled for the weekend of March 5th in New York. A Hollywood source told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday, "I'm sure the timing of this announcement was not unrelated to doing press for 'Jersey Girl.' They're giving themselves a bit of time, probably hoping interest in their breakup will have waned somewhat by the time they have to face reporters to talk about the film." Read more.

January 26, 2004 - Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com weighed in on the split between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. He writes, "Was anyone in favor of it? Affleck's mother and friends objected to it. Lopez's longtime manager was forced to endure a painful separation from his friend and client because of it. Affleck prostituted himself in Lopez's music video. Lopez had to read about Affleck's extra-curricular adventures in the tabloids." Friedman added, "J.Lo and Ben will almost certainly blame overheated media attention for their break up, and they'll be right to some extent. Us Weekly and The Star tabloid literally built whole careers and circulations on the ill-fated romance. But the couple courted the attention, too. As much as they said they hated the limelight, Affleck and Lopez were drawn to it, and ultimately it did them in." Read more.

January 26, 2004 - lopez_lover writes "According to Entertainment Tonight, Jennifer Lopez will be attending this years Golden Globes, but without Ben Affleck by her sexy side. ET reported Thursday that Jen and Ben have called off their engagement and parted ways. And in light of her situation, J.Lo has told Globe organizers that she'd prefer to skip the red carpet, sneak in a back door and not do any press."

January 26, 2004 - Us Weekly reports Jennifer Lopez appeared to be enjoying her new freedom Wednesday night after her split with Ben Affleck when she joined business advisers for dinner at the West Hollywood hot spot Morton's. "She was laughing and talking the entire night," a witness told the magazine. "She looked more relieved than upset." Meanwhile, Affleck was spotted gambling with friends at an L.A.-area casino, hitting the tables until 5 a.m. "Ben looked really, really tired," a source revealed. "He looked down." Read more.

January 26, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Red Hot J.Lo has got photos of Jennifer Lopez going to an office in West Los Angeles, just hours after announcing her break up with Ben. In the meantime, Affleck has been spotted having a lunch with a friend at 'Frankie & Johnnie's N.Y. Pizza'. The site has also posted photos of Jen driving her car in Los Angeles and pictures when she's leaving a hot spot in Miami not wearing her engagement ring (January 15th). Check them out here."

January 26, 2004 - Us Weekly is reporting the particulars of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's breakup. The tumultuous 18-month romance purportedly ended Tuesday (January 20), just three days after Ben returned to Los Angeles from the Sundance Film Festival. The decision was reportedly mutual. One reason for the final demise of the relationship is said to be Jennifer's desire to settle down and have a baby. Another, according to Us, was her chagrin at Ben's partying ways. The latest incident cited was Ben and pal Matt Damon's night out in Berlin, where the two were photographed being admired by a bevy of women. Read more.

January 26, 2004 - E! Online reports that four months after nixing their lavish nuptials, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have split, her camp confirmed Thursday. "Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy," a spokesperson said. Affleck's rep declined comment. "As usual, we never comment on our clients' personal lives," Ken Sunshine said. Read more.

January 26, 2004 - ballersfantasy writes "According to the Houston Chronicle, while Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez co-star in the upcoming film 'Jersey Girl,' their on-screen collaboration won't be a selling point after their colossal bomb 'Gigli'. "The one thing it prevents from happening is for the marketing people to sell it in a dishonest way," Affleck told The Associated Press at the Sundance Film Festival. "They're not going to be so eager to sell it as a Ben-and-Jen movie. They can actually sell it for what it actually is, which is a movie about me and a young girl, and me trying to raise her." Lopez has a cameo as the wife of Affleck's character, but she dies 12 minutes into the movie, Affleck said."

January 22, 2004 - lopez_lover writes "According to The Korea Times, the new album by local female pop group Baby Vox will have vocals by singer Jennifer Lopez and the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Lopez will be rapping and singing the chorus for one of the songs on the album, due out in early March, Daily Sports reported. J.Lo will be recording her part in a studio in the United States. The song will then be completed by Baby Vox (short for Baby Voice of Expression) in South Korea. Read more."

January 22, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has been spotted when leaving J.Lo's office block in Westwood Tuesday evening (January 20). The actress covered her face with a coat. Check out the photos at RedHotJLo."

January 22, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Red Hot J.Lo has got first still from Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon's new movie 'Shall We Dance?'. Check it out here."

January 22, 2004 - Globe magazine reports Jennifer Lopez once again almost lost the $1.2 million Harry Winston pink-diamond ring that fiance Ben Affleck gave her at a Manhattan hotel. She didn't realize she left it behind in her hotel room's bathroom before jetting off in her limo. "She was horror-stricken," an insider revealed. "Fortunately, the housekeeper had found the ring and it was in the safe. When the manager handed it over, Jennifer sobbed and thanked him profusely."

January 22, 2004 - WENN reports Ben Affleck was said to be concerned by reports that his fiance Jennifer Lopez and her ex Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs were partying together recently in Miami. But when asked about the touchy topic this week he insisted they are "deadly serious about spending the rest of their lives together." Ben says, "We will always be a pair. The future will bring a family. I believe in trust."

January 22, 2004 - The New York Post reports Jennifer Lopez is reconciling with former manager Benny Medina. "She's mending the bridges burned when she went down the Ben-slide," a source explained. "Rumor has it she's going to Benny's birthday party" at his house in Los Angeles next Saturday. The source also commented on J.Lo's night out with Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs in Miami. "Everybody credits Puffy with her success, even her," the source explained. "Maybe if she's having a career meltdown, she's going back to the source."

January 22, 2004 - Jeannette Walls of MSNBC.com reports that while Ben Affleck was promoting his new film 'Paycheck' in Europe, he demanded no questions be asked about Jennifer Lopez. "It was just a few minutes into the interviews," an insider explained. "Ben was talking about Matt Damon and he seemed really happy to talk about that. Then someone asked if Jennifer had influenced his musical tastes and someone else asked where she was." Affleck got quite tense and sullen-looking, says the source, but tersely responded to the questions. His publicist then stepped up and called a halt to the press conference. Read more.

January 19, 2004 - The Sunday Mirror reports Ben Affleck tried to duck out of sight behind pal Matt Damon when he was snapped chatting up the beauties at Berlin nightclub 90 Grad, all while Ben's fiance Jennifer Lopez was back in America. One of the club girls, 19-year-old Klara Seewalkd, said: "Matt was so cute. He said he liked to cut loose after being on set and was thrilled that Ben was in town to join him. He said he liked coming to Europe because he found the girls 'less complicated than Hollywood chicks' and that people in general had a cool outlook. He was very nice and friendly - but Ben wasn't so approachable. I had a quick drink with him and said, 'Hey, so what's the latest with J.Lo?' He just glared and said, 'She's off the conversation, if you don't mind'." Read more.

January 19, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Red Hot J.Lo has posted several photos of Jennifer Lopez entering The Hit Factory in Miami where she records her new album. Check out the photos here."

January 19, 2004 - Ben Affleck talks to Capital FM's Seven about his new movie 'Paycheck' as well as girlfriend Jennifer Lopez. Suggesting the difficulty keeping their marriage plans secret, and why he hasn't snuck away and got married, Ben responded, "I think that's probably the way to do it, because otherwise there's just a lot of craziness that's unnecessary and distracting. We also thought, 'What's the hurry lets take our time, lets be who we are,' and you know, maybe we'll get married when they find weapons of mass destruction!" Read more.

January 17, 2004 - Anonymous writes "MariahInfo.com contacted Mariah Carey's rep Cindi Berger about the current rumors of Mariah and Jennifer Lopez recording a duet together. The rumor has been reported from many online sources including in print in many publications. Berger says, "No truth to the duet.""

January 17, 2004 - The New York Daily News reports 'Law & Order: SVU' star Richard Belzer struck a deal with Madonna's production company, Maverick Films, to make a $5 million-plus satire of American popular culture, and hopes the Material Girl will play herself in the film. "I think she's a very good actress," he said. As for a key aspect of American pop culture -- a wedding between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Belzer opined, "I don't think I could care any less. There is probably no branch of physics that could measure the minuteness of my interest." Read more.

January 17, 2004 - MTV News spoke with 'Monster-in-Law' director Robert Luketic about his new film that will star Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda. "It's an interesting, emotionally complex piece about two very strong women coming together and forcing the other to like her despite the fact that she doesn't," Luketic explained. Read more.

January 17, 2004 - keepthepeace writes "Red Hot J.Lo has the first pictures of Jennifer Lopez at Prive in Miami, where she reportedly danced and drank the night aways with ex boyfriend Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs. Check out the pictures here."

January 17, 2004 - David Letterman joked during his Late Show monologue on Wednesday night, "Here’s some showbiz news. J.Lo, Jennifer Lopez was seen in Miami over the weekend partying with P. Diddy, who used to be Puff Daddy. You know what this means? We’re going to have another one of those weekend weddings!" Listen to Letterman deliver the joke at CBS.com.

January 17, 2004 - The New York Daily News spoke with Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs at the 33rd birthday party for Mary J. Blige at Butter, where the hip hop mogul denied any rekindled romance with Jennifer Lopez after they were spotted dancing together at Miami Beach's Privé nightclub on Monday morning. "We just happened to be there at the same time," he insisted. "It was a coincidence." But a source close to Puffy revealed, "Jennifer has also been coming over to his Park Ave. pad." Read more.

January 17, 2004 - The Mirror reports that when Jennifer Lopez booked a table at the Bed restaurant in Miami on Monday, she booked tables to either side to keep away unwanted pests, namely Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, who has taken to following her around like a lovesick puppy. When the diva's pals arrived first, they found that Diddy was already their, and phoned J.Lo to warn her. "She's had enough," reveals a source close to Lopez. "Jennifer thinks someone in her camp is leaking info to Diddy and telling him where she's going to be. It's pathetic. It's like he's trying to outdo her by showing up wherever she is, just to get her attention." J.Lo stayed away from Bed thanks to the warning. Read more.

January 17, 2004 - In Touch magazine reports Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs and Jennifer Lopez arrived at the chic Opium Garden/Prive nightclub separately between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Monday morning with their entourages, but soon were sitting next to each other in the VIP section. "It was odd," a source said. "Diddy had called ahead of time and said that he was coming with J.Lo. They arrived separately, but within moments of each other." In their most intimate public moment, the hip-hop mogul and J.Lo were said to have clinked glasses in a toast. "[Diddy] made a new year's toast for both of them," the witness said. "There was no kissing or anything like that, but they definitely were both in good spirits in each other's company." Read more.

January 14, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Ben Affleck has told Radio 1 he is grateful to Britney Spears for finally taking the spotlight off his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. He was at a celebrity screening of his new film 'Paycheck' in London last night (Monday), although only Michelle from Liberty X and boyfriend Andy Scott Lee were there - Jen didn't show as she's recording an album at the moment, and we weren't allowed to ask questions about her. But he was happy to talk about the publicity surrounding them both, and he has a lot to thank Britney for: "Britney, yeah, I'm going to send her a check. I can't tell you how pleased I was, it was finally the big one that's pushed it off. Which is really nice - nice for me. The poor thing!""

January 14, 2004 - Us Weekly quotes Ben Affleck saying, "I wish there were something in my life that gave me so much instant pleasure as a new episode of 'Queer Eye' gives Jennifer. She's obsessed. I'm sure those guys could benefit me a great deal."

January 14, 2004 - The Sun reports Jennifer Lopez is planning a Valentine's Day bash at The Collection in London, but won't be inviting fiance Ben Affleck. "This do isn't to promote anything," a J.Lo assistant explained. "She doesn't have a movie, single or an album out. She's just throwing this party for a bit of fun and to let her hair down a bit. Ben isn't on the list at the moment and the likelihood is he won't be going. He has a lot of work on and just can't fit it in. He's still promoting his film 'Paycheck' around the world." Read more.

January 14, 2004 - People.com reports Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs and ex galpal Jennifer Lopez, as well as their respective entourages of bodyguards and assistants, arrived at hip nightspot Opium Garden/Prive sometime between 12:30 and 1 a.m. and entered the VIP area early Monday morning. "J.Lo and P. Diddy were hanging out and talking and (were) virtually together all night till about 4 a.m., when they left," a club staffer revealed "They danced and drank, and had a great time." Puffy's girlfriend Kim Porter was nowhere to be found and J.Lo's fiance Ben Affleck is in London promoting 'Paycheck'. Read more.

January 14, 2004 - Ben Affleck had some nice things to say about Jennifer Lopez when asked by The Mirror about the farce over their postponed wedding. "I had a tough time of it, but it's made me stronger," Ben said. "Hell and back would be one way of describing it. I feel real lucky to have such an amazing fiance and we are fine together, despite what people say. She is a very grounded person and no matter what people write about me they always are 10 times harder on her. She's a human being and sometimes it hurts to see what she goes through. But we are strong together." Read more.

January 14, 2004 - Ben Affleck was on the Richard and Judy show in the UK to promote his new movie 'Paycheck' and address why he and Jennifer Lopez cancelled their wedding last year. "It was cancelled for a variety of reasons, most of them have to do with the fact that it seemed it was a period of time that was just too frantic," Affleck said. "It just seemed like, here we are, we're two people, we can do this whenever we want. We certainly don't need to feed into what had become an escalating frenzy beyond our control and that was clearly going to turn into something unpleasant. So why not take our time with it?" Asked if they had set a new date, Ben said, "There actually is no date and if there were one I would probably not be very wise to share it." Read more.

January 14, 2004 - A source close to Mariah Carey tells The New York Daily News the singer wants to record a duet with rival diva Jennifer Lopez. "Mariah wants to bury the hatchet," the source revealed. "She wants Jennifer to do a duet." A spokesman for Carey responded, "It sounds like a nice idea, but there's no truth to it." Meanwhile, Sony Music is trying to coax Lopez into returning to the studio, but she's trying to renegotiate her contract. A source revealed, "Jennifer wants to wants to get back in the studio, but she's not willing to do so until there's a new deal in place. Given how the record business is now, her position isn't being well-received." Read more.

January 10, 2004 - The New York Daily News hears that U2 singer Bono proposed to the NFL that he and Jennifer Lopez perform his single 'An American Prayer', his song concerning the African AIDS crisis, during the February 1st Super Bowl extravaganza in Houston and thus raise awareness of the growing catastrophe. But last week, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's office summarily rejected Bono's proposal, saying the show - which is being sponsored by AOL to the tune of $8 million - is for entertainment, not for flogging worthy causes. "We simply decided that we were going to have our halftime show, and we were going to deliver, as we do annually, an extremely entertaining halftime show," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy explained. "We don't believe it's appropriate to focus on a single issue." Read more.

January 10, 2004 - Sky News reports that while Jennifer Lopez was staying at a top London hotel, the actress and singer personally cleaned her bathroom from scratch herself. J.Lo told staff: "Now I know it's been done properly."

January 7, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Hi, I work in shop as a cigar clerk in an upscale cigar shop in Vegas near the Hard Rock Cafe and I don't want my name revealed, I risk my job over this. Shortly after new years I was working the graveyard shift and a woman came asking me if we could close the store for a little bit, the person she was dealing with wanted to come and shop around for a bit. After she told me who it was I agreed to close the store for a little bit if she came." Read more.

January 7, 2004 - The Evening Standard reports nine out of ten British teenage girls are unhappy with their bodies - and believe thinner girls have more friends, it emerged today. A new study shows that, despite the best efforts of health professionals, young women are more obsessed than ever with losing weight and are convinced that being thin is the key to being happy and popular. They consider Britney Spears has the best female body, but the perfect woman is a combination of former S Club star Rachel Stevens (face), Christina Aguilera (breasts and stomach), Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles (legs), Jennifer Lopez (bottom) and Britney (arms). Read more.

January 7, 2004 - lopez_lover writes "Red Hot J.Lo posted photos of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck playing blackjack at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. Check out the pictures here."

January 4, 2004 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were spotted playing poker with Rene Angelil in the Bellagio's high-limit section on Thursday night and later Ben joined Jennifer Lopez for some dancing at Bellagio's club Light later that night with Damon and galpal Eva Mendes.

January 4, 2004 - The New York Post's Page Six handed out their annual 'Sixy' Awards. Included were Jessica Simpson, who won the 'Sixy Watt Bulb Award' for leading the trend of "stoopids" on TV this year, Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan for 'Sixiest Catfight', Britney Spears for 'Sixy More Reasons Not To Date Fred Durst', Ben Affleck for 'Sixy Ways to Leave Your Lover' after "desperately trying to get out of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez," and *NSYNC star Justin Timberlake, for 'Six Cents on the Dollar Award' after the singer "tried to pay for his party of eight to play all night at a San Francisco bowling alley with two tickets to his concert." Read more.

January 4, 2004 - The Las Vegas Sun spoke with Jennifer Lopez's ex-manager who has perhaps been rehired at the Hard Rock Hotel on Tuesday night, where both were in the same building. Their cross lawsuits were recently withdrawn, and Medina had nothing but kind words for Lopez. "I wish her nothing but the best both professionally and personally," Medina said. Read more, including the New Year's Eve goings on of Bennifer, Britney Spears, and 'American Idol' Justin Guarini, here.

January 4, 2004 - The New York Post reports that Jennifer Lopez escorted Ben Affleck and his pal Matt Damon for an all-night poker game at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday (December 30). Lopez, who had in the past disliked Ben's gambling habit, even smiled and cooed for the cameras when she won a hand. The couple joined J.Lo's sister Lynda, her boyfriend Chris Booker, Nicky and Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Shannon Elizabeth for the premiere performance of 'Jeff Beacher's Comedy Madhouse' in the Hard Rock's The Joint club before the poker festivities.

January 4, 2004 - Globe magazine reports that during Saddam Hussein's rule of Iraq, the dictator's favorite movie star was Jennifer Lopez. He had sick fantasies of J.Lo and constantly talked about the actress and what he would like to do with her, according to a source. The butcher of Baghdad measured his women's backsides by how they compared to J.Lo's. Throughout his palaces were J.Lo videos, CDs and movies. One of Saddam's palaces featured a life-size cardboard cutout of the singer in one of his bedrooms.

January 4, 2004 - The Sun has photos of Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly wearing a jacket reading Mrs. Affleck outside a store in Santa Monica, California. Clothing with the slogan has been hot since the actor and Jennifer Lopez called off their wedding last September. An onlooker remarked, "Everybody knows Kimberly has a cheeky side and the jacket was a nice touch. Ben is the hottest guy in Hollywood and every girl would love to get a piece of him — but J.Lo might have something to say about it." Check out the pictures here.

January 4, 2004 - Star magazine reports that when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were signing autographs for admirers outside their Manhattan hotel on December 15th, one of the "fans" was a process server who asked for an autograph, only to then tell J.Lo she had just signed a subpoena. The actress/singer is being called as a witness in a civil suit filed by Wardell Fenderson, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs' ex-chauffeur who was in the drivers seat back in December of '99 when Diddy was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and bribery. Though Puffy was cleared and Lopez was never charged, Fenderson is now saying he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

January 4, 2004 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports Jennifer Lopez was spotted shopping in Versace Jeans Couture at Caesars' Forum Shops on Wednesday as hundreds gathered outside, peering through windows. Meanwhile, Britney Spears and her posse of dancers were eyed partying at the 'Real World' suites at the Palms.

January 4, 2004 - The Boston Herald's Inside Track listed their Favorite Stories of 2003, with local boy Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez topping the list. Also on the list was Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston at #9. Check out what they had to say here.

January 1, 2004 - Entertainment Tonight revealed their Hot List, comprised entirely of those celebrities who landed the most airtime on the entertainment newsmagazine show in 2003. Topping the list was Jennifer Lopez, while Jennifer Aniston came in at #2, Michael Jackson at #3, and J.Lo's boyfriend Ben Affleck at #4. Others on the list included Britney Spears at #9, 'American Idol' stars Ruben Studdard at #15 and Clay Aiken at #16, and Madonna at #17. Check out the entire top 20 list here.

January 1, 2004 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports security concerns and a rare snowfall didn't scare away the New Year's Eve celebrity crowd. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were spotted Tuesday at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Palms was buzzing over the rumored arrival of Britney Spears. Read more.

January 1, 2004 - Ben Affleck was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday to prmote his new movie 'Paycheck', his trip to Iraq, and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez. For the J.Lo portion of the chat, read here.

January 1, 2004 - Sky News reports that Jennifer Lopez's all-new J.Lo doll will now smell of her top-selling fragrance, 'Glow', as well. Lopez hopes the stunt will get her fragrance promoted to a wider audience.

January 1, 2004 - The Sun has a photo of Jennifer Lopez leaving a Beverly Hills fitness center and getting into a car, showing her famous booty folding over itself in an embarrassing pose. Check out the picture here.

January 1, 2004 - MRIB reports Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes has hinted that he wants to produce new material for Jennifer Lopez in 2004. Asked who they'll be hooking-up with next Pharrell could only think of one name. "Hi, J. Lo. That's all I can say." Read more.

January 1, 2004 - lopez_lover writes "WENN reports Ben Affleck has applauded film bosses for ignoring his fiance Jennifer Lopez's part in new movie 'Jersey Girl' - because she only appears for 15 minutes. Skeptics felt sure marketing experts at Miramax were trying to distance themselves from 'Gigli', Ben and Jen's disastrous first movie collaboration, by leaving her off movie posters and ads for 'Jersey Girl'. But Affleck insists the idea not to capitalize on his girlfriend's bit part was a smart one. He says, "To sell Jennifer on 'Jersey Girl' would have been disingenuous. She's in the first 15 minutes of the movie, a cameo. It's actually more honest, and I think it makes everybody more comfortable at this point to make it about what it is - a father and his daughter.""

January 1, 2004 - lopez_lover writes "Red Hot J.Lo reports that Jennifer Lopez, who recently has had more exposure due to her on again/off again relationship with Ben Affleck, is planning to release a brand new album mid-2004. Two tracks have been recorded in the last few weeks, after Sony released the DVD/CD package 'The Reel Me'. 'If U Want It' is a mid-tempo track, whereas '(Livin' On) E-Z St.' is up-tempo and features a rap by Jay-Z. The album, which is still untitled, will see Lopez teaming up with long-time collaborator Cory Rooney. New album will also see her return to the music that was featured on her 2001 set 'J-Lo'."

January 1, 2004 - With Ben Affleck travelling to Iraq for Christmas, the actor spent another important occasion away from Jennifer Lopez. A source close to the diva told Star magazine, "She truly believed they were going to spend the holidays together. Of course she was upset, but he told her it was something he had to do for the movie." But a source told the tabloid that it was Ben who asked to travel to the Middle East. A source close to J.Lo's mother Guadalupe said, "She's proud of Ben for helping the troops, but she also wishes J.Lo wouldn't be home alone on Christmas Eve. She wants her daughter to be happy -- especially over the holidays."

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