Jennifer Lopez' Mother Told Her to Be Tough When Faced With Rejection

Jennifer Lopez will forever be one of the most iconic musicians and actresses to grace Hollywood and the entertainment industry. She has amassed millions of followers worldwide and isn't likely to hand over her crown any time soon. 

However, as successful as Lopez is, she did have it hard at the start of her career and is no stranger to rejection. Lopez once shared about the time she got rejected for an opportunity she thought she would get and how much it hurt her.

She also revealed her mom's reaction when she broke down into tears after finding out that she got rejected for the opportunity. Read on to find out what her mom said and how it affected Lopez. 

In her book, "True Love," Lopez shared how grateful she is to her parents for all the lessons they instilled in her. She mentioned that they taught her how to hustle, ensure that she works hard to attain her dreams, and the importance of being hardworking.

She also mentioned how her parents hustled and were very hardworking to ensure that their family never lacked and that their children went to good schools. She also said that her father worked night shifts at an insurance company while her mother worked two jobs at a time, all to make ends meet. 

Their work ethic and dedication taught Lopez that it is not only important to work hard for a good living but that when you're making enough money, you shouldn't stop the hard work. This is why, despite her success and amassed wealth, Lopez says that she refuses to relax, sit back and stop being hardworking. 

Lopez has said in several interviews that her mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, raised her into a strong woman. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight that People reported, she said, "She wanted us to be independent. She never wanted us to ever have to depend on a man for anything because that's what she was taught when she grew up."

In a previous interview with Cosmopolitan, Lopez reflected on one occasion when she was reminded of her mother's lessons. She said that she received the news that she didn't get a solo she really wanted and had called her mom in tears. However, her mom was supportive and encouraged her to pick herself up and try again.

She also said, "My mom gave me some good career advice. When I first started, I went to my first show in Europe. I called her crying because I didn't get a solo, and she was like, 'You're in a tough business. Don't ever call me crying again; toughen up.'"

In "True Love," Lopez wrote about one incident with her family when she, her mother, and her kids went to the park to enjoy some family time. While her kids enjoyed toys and candy booths, she noted that the paparazzi arrived to disrupt their fun. 

The reporters got too close to her kids, and the whole experience suddenly became uncomfortable for Lopez. So she dared her mom to take a water gun and spray the photographers and reporters with it. 

Lopez wrote, "She snatched a water pistol out of my hand, charging those photographers like a mama bear on a rampage." After this, Lopez and her family could finally enjoy their family day and explore the park entirely. 

In her interview with Entertainment Tonight, Lopez also talked about how her mom has inspired her in several ways. She mentioned that her mom, who she fondly referred to as "Mama Lupe," is 74 years old and still has a strong artistic streak.

She said, "I get my dance moves from her. My mom is really the person who instilled the love of music in me and all of my sisters. She was a young mom; she got married when she was 20. She had my sister when she was 21. She had all of us by the time she was 26, so we all grew up together. It was like living with a teenager, to be honest."

She also spoke about when she recently teamed up with her mom for a Coach campaign to promote the fashion brand's fall collection. Lopez made an Instagram post about the experience where she wrote, "This day had me feeling all the feels. I've watched her work so many times and today is so special because I got to work with her.".