Lizzo Says Nobody Asked Her to Be in Jennifer Lopezs Film After Claim She Was Unavailable
Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy;Presley Ann/Getty Images for LACMA
Lizzo has denied rumors that she declined an invitation to appear in Jennifer Lopez's new film, This Is Me ... A Love Story. In a TikTok video posted on Wednesday, February 28, the 35-year-old singer stated, "Ain't nobody told me nothing. Nobody asked me." However, she ended the video expressing her love for J. Lo, suggesting that she was interested in being part of the film.
Lizzo was mentioned in Lopez's documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, as one of the stars who declined an offer to appear in the movie musical. According to a producer in the documentary, other celebrities like Taylor Swift, Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge, Vanessa Hudgens, Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, and Khloé Kardashian also turned down the opportunity.
Lopez, who is 54 years old, hoped to have Anthony Ramos star in her film but was disappointed when he turned down the opportunity.
During a rehearsal, Lopez expressed her disappointment to wardrobe supervisor Shawn “Beezy” Barton, mentioning, “Anthony Ramos was supposed to be in this. You know, the guy from In the Heights. He was supposed to do the ‘Rebound’ scene with me ... but he said, ‘Oh, I'm friends with Marc.’”
Ramos, who is 32 years old, mentioned Lopez's third husband, Marc Anthony. They were married from 2004 to 2014 and have 16-year-old twins named Max and Emme. (Anthony, who is 55 years old, also appeared in the movie adaptation of In The Heights.)
The scene then shows Lopez calling Ramos and expressing surprise, "I didn't know that you and Marc were good friends. That's nice."
Lopez, however, didn’t take the rejections personally. In the documentary, she mentioned, “I don’t wanna force anybody to do this who doesn’t think it will be fun.” She understands that people are scared to put themselves out there, as it took her a long time to do so as well. Despite appearing confident, she admits to feeling scared, which she believes has been a key factor in her successful career.
The documentary offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Lopez’s creative process while working on her latest album, This Is Me … Now, as well as the musical film, This Is Me … Now: A Love Story.
The film includes appearances from various celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Derek Hough, Trevor Jackson, Fat Joe, Jennifer Lewis, Post Malone, Trevor Noah, Keke Palmer, Sofia Vergara, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Kim Petras.
Following the documentary's premiere, Lopez expressed satisfaction with the final result, stating that no celebrities were left out.
"They were telling me about all these amazing people, and I was thinking, 'Yes, they are great, but that's not what I'm looking for,'" she shared with Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday, February 27. "My top picks were Jenifer Lewis and Jane Fonda, but they didn't understand. They thought it was too young, like music. I explained, 'No, I want a diverse group of people. I want a mix of all kinds.'"
She added, "These individuals have various personalities and backgrounds, but they have all impacted me in some way. Their views on life, love, the universe, and music are what drew me to them. That's the criteria I used for my list."
Editor's P/S:
The article reveals the behind-the-scenes struggles of Jennifer Lopez in creating her film "This Is Me...A Love Story." Despite her determination and enthusiasm, she faced setbacks when several celebrities declined her invitations. The rejections, particularly from Anthony Ramos, left her disappointed. However, Lopez's resilience and understanding that others may have different priorities demonstrate her maturity and respect for their decisions.
The article also highlights the importance of collaboration and diversity in artistic endeavors. Lopez's vision for an inclusive cast with a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds allowed her to create a film that reflects the richness and complexity of human experiences. Her ability to recognize the value of different viewpoints and life journeys is an inspiring example of how art can transcend personal preferences and connect with a broader audience.