Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend the red carpet of the movie quot The Last Duel quot during the 78th Venice International Film Festival

Jennifer Lopez Advised To 'Minimize Exposure On A Personal Level' Amid Ben Affleck Divorce

Home / News / Jennifer Lopez Advised To 'Minimize Exposure On A Personal Level' Amid Ben Affleck Divorce

By Favour Adegoke on August 28, 2024 at 1:15 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez has been advised to reduce her social media updates and "let her talent speak for itself" amid her split from Ben Affleck.

The former couple has been in the spotlight in recent months for their marital woes, but now that the "Jenny From The Block" singer has filed for divorce, she's expected to turn her attention to her career.

In the meantime, it is unknown if Jennifer Lopez will proceed with a proposed Las Vegas residency following the cancellation of her "This Is Me… Live" tour and the flopping of her recent album.

Article continues below advertisement

Jennifer Lopez Told To 'Let Her Talent' Do The Talking

Jennifer Lopez out and about in New York promoting 'Marry Me'
MEGA

In the wake of her highly publicized split from the "Argo" actor, Lopez seemingly finds herself at a crossroads as she seeks to move forward with her entertainment career.

The "Atlas" actress canceled her summer tour "to be with her children, family and close friends" as rumors about her marital troubles with Affleck reached a fever pitch.

However, she has seemingly paid little or no attention to her music since then, although she'll reportedly be premiering a new movie in two weeks.

According to Fox News, Steve Honig, a PR expert and founder of the PR and issue management firm The Honig Company, shared that the 55-year-old singer should reduce her social media presence and instead "let her talent" do the talking.

Article continues below advertisement

"As much as she can, Lopez needs to minimize her exposure on a personal level and maximize it on a professional level," Honig told the news outlet. "She needs to immerse herself in her work and let her talent — of which there is ample — speak for itself. It's important for Lopez to show she is more than a tabloid headline and, instead, a great, timeless performer who can withstand some bumps in the road."

Article continues below advertisement

Another PR Expert Wants The Singer To Take Charge Of The Narrative

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attending "The Last Duel" Red Carpet.
MEGA

With a career spanning decades and a reputation as the show biz diva, another PR expert argues that Lopez needs to redefine her narrative and prove that she is more than just a tabloid sensation.

According to Fox News, Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, believes that Lopez would have to remain in the spotlight to control the narrative of her own story for the sake of her public image and her future.

He noted that her recent divorce and her career being paused is a "double-whammy," as rumors have not stopped "filling the informational void."

Eldridge said, "That's PR 101: never leave a story for someone else to tell, it will almost never be positive. Having a client pull back from social media on top of all this could prove to be the 'proverbial straw' and we know how that ends."

Article continues below advertisement

"From a PR standpoint, social media is both a strategic and tactical means of controlling and leveraging the message," he continued. "This is especially important during polarizing divorces when one side almost always tries to play the sympathy card. As I've always said, the only difference in the villain and the victim is who's telling the story."

Article continues below advertisement

Leaving The Spotlight 'Might Be Risky' For Jennifer Lopez

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez depart NBC Studios in New York.
MEGA

The "Hustlers" actress filed to end her nearly two-year marriage to Ben Affleck on Tuesday, August 20, at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, following months of speculation that their marriage had failed.

She listed their separation date as April 26, and the pair went on to spend most of the following months apart.

The singer also noted that she does not want spousal support and asked the court to deny Affleck such support if he asks for one.

Considering the highly publicized split, Eldridge told Fox News that Lopez must stay in the spotlight to control the narrative, as it would be "risky" otherwise.

"In JLo's case, the details around the pending divorce are murky at best, so getting out of the literal spotlight is a risky proposition," Eldridge shared.

The Divorce Could Benefit Jennifer Lopez If She Plays Her Cards Right

Jennifer Lopez 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Arrivals
MEGA

Eldridge further noted that Lopez's split could help her depending on how the Grammy Nominee played her cards.

"When it comes to taking a break [from social media], the problem is more complex: Lopez has made a career at the center of pop culture, which is quite literally based on Q scores and popular trends," Eldridge told the news outlet. "The marketplace now moves at an eye-burning pace, and it's hard to predict what will be popular in six to 12 months from now, especially when you're already playing catch-up to global acts like Taylor Swift, who is single-handedly rewriting the revenue record books."

Article continues below advertisement

The PR expert pointed out that Lopez has "managed to reinvent herself throughout her career" and didn't lose "her core fanbase in the process," adding that the timing of the situation "is like Double-Dutch on the playground: time it right and you'll come out in sync on the other side; mistime it and you'll get the rope in the face."

The Singer's Former Producer Previously Shared A Career-Saving Advice

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck
Instagram | Jennifer Lopez

The "Ain't Your Mama" singer is not short on counsel on how to revitalize her career as Jon Peters, a former producer who worked closely with her, said in June that she needs to get back on track professionally by "selling everything" and releasing a country album.

Peters, who worked with Lopez on her 1995 film, "Money Train," said in an episode of  "TMZ Investigates: JLo and Ben: Missed Warning Signs" that Lopez needs to pivot into country music if she must do it big.

"Her career needs to change. I told her manager, Benny Medina, she needs to sell everything and move to Nashville and do a country or western album," Peters said at the time.

Article continues below advertisement

"It would be a monster, she'd get every young guy. I [told Benny], 'I'll fund it. You don't even need a record company, I'll put up all the money and we'll own it,'" the industry veteran added.

Advertisement