The Unbreakable Bond Between Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini: A Friendship That Defies Time

Are Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini still friends? This is a question that some fans are asking, even though the two have been close for over ten years.

Their friendship began in 2004 when Lopez started dating Marc Anthony. Remini, known for her role in "The King of Queens," had been married to Angelo Pagán since 2003. She fondly remembers their first encounter at a red carpet premiere.

“So, we attended the premiere with the expectation that she would be unattractive in real life,” the actress admitted to Entertainment Tonight in 2018. "As I approached her, I secretly hoped that it was just the lighting making her look good in here, but as I got closer, I was taken aback. The abundance of light in that area showcased her true beauty."

The Dancing With the Stars former contestant remembered commenting on Lopez's appearance. "I actually said that!" Remini disclosed. "I asked her, 'Why the heck are you so incredibly gorgeous?' And she laughed. At that moment, I wished she was unintelligent, you know? I was searching for something that was not right about her, but I failed to find any flaws."

Remini stated that what initially brought them together was the Wedding Planner star's sense of humor. She remarked, "The fact that I could tease her and she didn't take herself too seriously, spoke volumes to me."

In return, Lopez fondly recalled the immediate connection she felt with Remini. She expressed, "It was one of those instances where there was instant chemistry, where you just know, 'I adore this person. I enjoy being in their presence. This person brings joy to my life.' She's great, and we also share similar backgrounds. That's why we have such a strong working relationship."

Selena star, who shares twins Emme and Max with Anthony, was formerly married to the songwriter from 2004 to 2014. In 2021, she reunited with Ben Affleck after her split from fiancé Alex Rodriguez. Lopez and the Gone Girl actor were married in Las Vegas in July 2022 and later hosted a larger ceremony in Georgia a month later.

Remini did not attend Lopez's August 2022 nuptials, but she has consistently supported her close friend over the years. The Emmy winner publicly praised the Hustlers actress in 2020 while celebrating her birthday.

I adore my stunning, gifted, and bold friend. My love for you knows no bounds. Sending you heartfelt birthday wishes, @jlo. #throughtheyears #friendsthatarefamily #hitsquad #fbf. In an Instagram post, she shared numerous photos of herself and Lopez.

Nevertheless, a year later, the Match Game panelist revealed the reason behind her desire to keep her friendship with Lopez away from public scrutiny.

Remini mentioned in a 2021 interview with Today that she prefers not to discuss her friend Lopez, but rather is curious about when Lopez plans to get married. "Even if I knew the specific details, I don't believe it's appropriate for me to disclose them here," Remini stated.

Reports emerged that Remini opted out of attending Lopez's second wedding to Ben Affleck in order to accompany her daughter, Sofia, to college.

The rumors about a possible rift between the close friends persisted when Remini expressed her support for Anthony at his wedding to Nadia Ferreira in January 2023. Another friend of Remini, Michelle Visage, alluded to a strained relationship during an episode of the "Las Culturistas" podcast in September 2023. When asked about the status of Remini and Lopez's friendship, Visage responded with a cryptic "No comment."

Keep reading for Remini and Lopez's honest remarks on their friendship:

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Everything Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini Have Said About Their Friendship Over the Years: 'We're Very Close, Like Sisters Are'

On the outs? Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini have been friends for more than a decade — but some fans have questions about where the pair currently stand.

Lopez and Remini first met in 2004. This was when the singer began dating Marc Anthony. The actress, who has been married to Angelo Pagán since 2003, recalled their initial encounter at a red carpet premiere. In 2018, Remini admitted to Entertainment Tonight that she and her friends were secretly hoping that Lopez would not be attractive in person. However, as Remini approached her, she quickly realized that Lopez looked stunning in real life, despite her initial doubts about the lighting.

The Dancing With the Stars alum recalled a comment she made to Lopez about her appearance. "I actually said that!" Remini shared. "I said, 'Why are you so incredibly beautiful?' And she laughed. Then I thought, 'I hope she's not intelligent,' you know? I was hoping to discover a flaw, but I couldn't find one."

Remini mentioned that it was Lopez's "sense of humor" that brought them closer. "The fact that I could tease and joke with her, and she didn't take herself too seriously, meant something to me," she added.

Lopez expressed how she instantly connected with Remini and felt a strong bond. During their joint interview, she gushed about how much she loved being around Remini, finding her funny and cool. They also shared similar backgrounds, which contributed to their successful partnership.

Lopez, known for her role in Selena, was previously married to songwriter Anthony from 2004 to 2014. After her split from fiancé Alex Rodriguez, she rekindled her relationship with Ben Affleck in 2021. The couple got married in a spontaneous Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022 and later celebrated with a larger ceremony in Georgia.

Remini has been a consistent source of support for her longtime friend, Lopez, even though she didn't attend her wedding in August 2022. In 2020, the Emmy winner took the opportunity to celebrate Lopez's birthday and express her admiration for her. Sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram, Remini referred to Lopez as a beautiful, talented, and fearless friend. She expressed her deep love for Lopez and wished her a joyous birthday, using hashtags like #throughtheyears, #friendsthatarefamily, #hitsquad, and #fbf. Accompanying the message were several photos of Remini and Lopez together, showcasing their strong bond.

One year later, but the Match Game panelist revealed her reasons for keeping her friendship with Lopez private.

"I don't want to give the impression that I dislike discussing my friend, but it's more about when she plans to get married," Remini explained to Today in 2021 when asked about her refusal to talk about Lopez. "Even if I had that specific information, I don't think I would disclose it here. It's not my position to do so."

Lopez remarried Ben Affleck, but reports suggest that Remini was not present at the ceremony as she took her daughter, Sofia, to college. Rumors of a possible rift between the close friends persisted when Remini showed her support for Anthony during his wedding to Nadia Ferreira in January 2023. Another close friend, Michelle Visage, hinted at the strained friendship during a September 2023 episode of the “Las Culturistas” podcast, responding with “No comment” when asked about Remini and Lopez's current status as friends.

Scroll down for Remini and Lopez's candid comments about their friendship:

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2008

Lopez delivered twins Emme and Max, prompting Remini and her husband to humorously express their desire for the role of godparents.

"We're basically requesting an audition for the godparent positions," Remini revealed to People. Pagán playfully added, "We're not sure if singing, dancing, or reciting monologues is part of the requirements, but we're prepared!"

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2015

The “On the Floor” performer supported Remini's tell-all book "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology" by cooking a meal for her friend.

Captioned with Instagram footage of Lopez laughing while preparing food, the Cheers alum gushes, "My adorable girl @jlo is whipping up a delightful dinner for us! #boricua #NYLACrew." In awe of her culinary skills, he adds, "There she is, my girl, effortlessly conjuring up a mouthwatering Puerto Rican feast for everyone. Just an ordinary Puerto Rican girl, showcasing her cooking prowess at home."

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2018

Lopez and Leah discussed their experience working together in the romantic comedy Second Act.

"Our dynamic as Maya and Joan closely resembles my and Leah's relationship," Lopez shared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. "If Leah signed on, I knew it would be a remarkable project. The connection between Maya and Joan is truly extraordinary, just like our own special bond. I was confident that if we could portray our genuine honesty, love, and humor, it would result in an entertaining and enjoyable experience for the audience."

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2018

"We share a deep bond, like sisters do, but in a unique way," Remini expressed during their joint appearance on The View with the Marry Me star.

In agreement, Lopez stated, "We have a profound understanding of each other's lives. Our similar careers and lifestyles connect us on a level that others may not comprehend, further strengthening our bond."

During the interview, Remini was praised by the Grammy nominee as "courageous, caring, and generous." In return, Lopez was described by the sitcom star as "loving, warm, fiercely loyal, courageous, brave, true, and authentic."

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2019

Remini stated that Scientology made unsuccessful attempts to recruit Lopez into their church.

"I didn't rescue her from anything. Jennifer is a resilient woman with a strong mindset, and she is searching for spiritual fulfillment," said the former Saved by the Bell star, who departed from the controversial religion in 2013, in an interview with the Daily Beast. "She has always been Catholic, and her father has been a devout Scientologist for a considerable period of time. He has reached the secretive stages of Scientology. However, Jennifer is independent and makes her own choices."

She persisted, saying, "Indeed, I did run interference. However, despite her disagreement with the disconnection policy, she maintained her unwavering resolve and refused to succumb to any form of coercion. Throughout it all, she remained a steadfast and supportive friend to me."

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February 2021

The host of The People Puzzler shared why she isn't always pleased to receive inquiries about Jennifer during interviews. Remini clarified that it's not because she doesn't enjoy discussing her friend, but rather because she often perceives it as gossip-driven. Particularly when she aims to address significant topics such as their podcast or shed light on the abuses within Scientology and its victims, being asked about Jennifer's wedding becomes highly irritating.

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March 2022

In a TikTok video, Remini joked about how her attire differed from her friend's fashion choices.

Jen requested a poolside meeting, and I arrived looking my usual self, without makeup and wearing a baseball hat," stated the former NYPD Blue star. In contrast, Lopez appeared in a red bikini adorned with numerous accessories. Remini jokingly exclaimed, "Take a look at this! A headwrap! Jewelry! Can you ever just be plain? Just once, be ordinary! You're such a clown!" The dancer giggled in the background.