- Jennifer Lopez went into detail about her drinking habits in a recent video posted to Instagram.
- Lopez defended her decision to launch a spritzer brand even though she has abstained from alcohol in the past.
Fans criticized Jennifer Lopez for a lengthy Instagram video detailing her drinking habits to promote her nascent cocktail brand. They claimed the singer and actress lacked tact in doing so by not thinking of her husband Ben Affleck and his history with alcoholism.
On Tuesday, ahead of July 4 festivities in the Hamptons, the 53-year-old star shared the video to her Instagram, where she has over 249 million followers. In the 8-minute clip, Lopez films a selfie in her car telling viewers she woke up early to "sneak out" and get some Delola, the low-calorie sparkling cocktail brand she launched in April.
In the video, Lopez defended launching the line amid previous backlash in recent months for stating she didn't drink.
While she didn't drink "for a long time," Lopez acknowledged in the video, she said she has enjoyed the occasional cocktail over the last decade or so, adding, "I do drink responsibly." She also told fans that she doesn't "drink to get shitfaced" and instead does so to "be social and have a nice time."
As the video continues, Lopez enters a liquor store in the Hamptons and adds several bottles of Delola to her cart. She also chats up customers and urges them to try it for themselves.
While some commenters applauded Lopez for the savvy marketing stunt, others seemed both baffled and concerned by her seemingly cavalier attitude towards drinking — and questioned why she'd launched an alcohol-based business at all.
"Why not respect your husband's sobriety?" one commenter asked.
"So awkward when she talks about drinking responsibly and not getting shit faced knowing her husband suffers from alcoholism for years," another viewer responded in a top comment with over 600 likes.
However, some fans came to Lopez's defense and suggested she shouldn't have to personally remain sober or stay away from alcohol because of her husband.
"Why would she have to pay for [her husband's] past or present?" one user wrote. "She supports him and makes sure he is on check. But again, it is not her responsibility."
In 2017, Affleck shared via Facebook that he had "completed treatment for alcohol addiction," and that it was something he had "dealt with in the past and will continue to confront." In 2023, Affleck said previous reports that he'd blamed ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his alcoholism had been "mischaracterized," adding, "My behavior is my responsibility entirely."
Lopez and Affleck began dating in 2002 and got engaged the same year before splitting up in 2004. They ultimately rekindled their relationship in 2021 and married in Las Vegas in 2022.
When reached, a representative for Lopez declined to comment.