Jennifer Lopez gave her brutal verdict on fellow celebs in notorious 1998 interview - is this why she's so isolated during rift with Ben Affleck?

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Fans went wild when 2000s It-Couple 'Bennifer' made headlines after rekindling their love in 2021.

But Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have in recent months been weathering rumours that they're headed for divorce, amid reports that marital issues have seen them move out of the home they share together.

However while Ben, 51, is said to be relying on fellow A-lister BFF Matt Damon, the singer, 54, is 'leaning on her mom, sisters and kids', according to a source speaking to Entertainment Tonight.

The performer however appears to be centering herself with family and management over a host of celebrity pals, never having been known for accruing close besties in the industry, save connections with Leah Remini and Jane Fonda.

She's been accused of being a diva, as well as being tough to work with. However, her seeming lack of Hollywood connections may also well be linked to JLo's own comments made in the past.

Fans went wild when 2000s It-Couple 'Bennifer' made headlines after rekindling their love in 2021. The couple pictured in May 

Recent years saw a 1998 interview with the star resurface and go viral on social media. In a pool-side sit down chat with Movieline, Jennifer - then 27 - boasted about being 'the best' and slammed a series of noughties performers, implying they're not on her level.

Starting with Salma Hayek - who would in five years be nominated for an Academy Award following her performance in Frida - Jennifer claimed they were 'in two different realms'.

'She's a sexy bombshell and those are the kinds of roles she does. I do all kinds of different things,' she continued.

The singer also expressed that Salma 'outright lied' when she claimed she got offered the role of Selena in 1997. 

Elsewhere, Cameron Diaz, who had just a year earlier starred in the critically acclaimed My Best Friend's Wedding alongside Julia Roberts, was dubbed 'a lucky model who's been given a lot of opportunities'. However, Jennifer offered that 'she can be good' when 'directed'.

JLo was less kind to Gwyneth Paltrow, asking 'what she's been in' and insisting she's heard more about the star's ex Brad Pitt than her. Gwyneth went on to win an Oscar for her part in Shakespeare in Love the following year. 

Jennifer also admitted she 'was never a big fan' of 80s acting legend Winona Ryder, who she felt was 'revered in Hollywood'. 

'She gets nominated for Oscars, but I've never heard anyone in the public or among my friends say, "Oh, I love her.",' she expressed.

Starting with Salma Hayek (pictured when she was young) - who would in five years be nominated for an Academy Award following her performance in Frida - Jennifer claimed they were 'in two different realms'

Elsewhere, Cameron Diaz (pictured when she was young), who had just a year earlier starred in the critically acclaimed My Best Friend's Wedding alongside Julia Roberts, was dubbed 'a lucky model'

In other verdicts, she felt that Claire Danes had 'a good start' when it comes to theatrical prowess, but Madonna is 'not a great actress' despite being a good performer.

'Acting is what I do, so I'm harder on people when they say, "Oh, I can do that--I can act",' she said. 'I'm like, "Hey, don't spit on my craft."' 

She was however complimentary to Jack Nicholson, dubbing him 'a legend in his own time and in his own mind - like the rest of us are peons'.

Jennifer claimed three years later, in a 2001 interview with Vanity Fair, that the chat was 'a sore subject' because she 'was so misquoted and so taken out of context.'

She added, 'I don't like to hurt anybody. I don't like to hurt their feelings. I like to joke, so I do that sometimes. What they wrote in that article hurt people.'

She expounded further on the chat speaking with NPR last year about the blow-back of the vitriolic chat.

Jennifer was less kind to Gwyneth Paltrow, asking 'what she's been in'. Gwyneth pictured  in 1998

Jennifer also admitted she 'was never a big fan' of 80s acting legend Winona Ryder (pictured in 1990), who she felt was 'revered in Hollywood'

In other verdicts, she felt that Claire Danes had 'a good start' when it comes to theatrical prowess, but Madonna (pictured in 1994) is 'not a great actress' despite being a good performer

Jennifer felt that Claire Danes, pictured in Romeo and Juliet, had a 'good start' when it came to acting

'It gave me a lot of notoriety in the moment,' she said, 'and then it made a lot of people in the industry really pissed off'.

She said that the interview was something of a learning experience, saying, 'I didn't realize that my words could impact people that way.'

However, it would appear that JLo still finds herself in awkward moments with fellow artists.

Earlier this year, fans noticed a tense energy between Jennifer and co-star Sterling K. Brown during an interview amid the press tour for their movie Atlas.

Speaking to UNILAD, Jennifer was asked what her 'go-to comfort meal was'.

'I grew up - I'm Puerto Rican so I like rice and beans,' she began, prompting Sterling to interject:  'Are you Puerto Rican?' in a playful reference that the star is known for often bringing up her heritage. 'Get outta here!' he continued in mock-surprise. 

However, a seemingly un-amused Jennifer simply continued listing her favourite dishes.

Viewers were quick to question if there was 'beef' between the two stars, adding 'I know she was heated after he said that'.  

However, Jennifer and her former BFF, Leah Remini, have reportedly 'reconnected' amid the star's rumored marital woes.

Earlier this year, fans noticed a tense energy between Jennifer and co-star Sterling K. Brown (right) during an interview amid the press tour for their movie Atlas

She said that the interview was something of a learning experience, saying, 'I didn't realize that my words could impact people that way.' Pictured in 1998

The Atlas actress- who canceled her This Is Me...Live summer tour in order to spend time with family - had been close to The King Of Queens star, 53, for years until their rumored falling out back in 2022.

According to Page Six, the two stars got into an argument in regards to Jennifer's impending marriage to Ben at the time.

Leah had expressed her worries to Lopez, while also reminding her the reason for their first split years earlier: 'Because he is selfish and is not fully committed as a partner.' 

However, following the fight, the On The Floor hitmaker 'was so mad' and decided to 'cut off all ties' with Leah. 

In August 2022, Jennifer and Ben held a lavish wedding ceremony in Georgia - after saying 'I do' in Las Vegas one month earlier. 

However, Jennifer and her former BFF, Leah Remini , have reportedly 'reconnected' amid the star's rumored marital woes. Pictured in 2007

Jennifer has also been linked to Jane Fonda, who appeared in her documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. Both pictured in 2005

Leah was notably absent from the nuptials, with sources telling TMZ that Leah didn't make an appearance due to spending time with her daughter, Sofia, who was about to head off to college. 

Earlier this year, a source told Page Six that the pair 'were friends for years' and explained that Leah, 'wants to reach out to her, but she can't just call up and say, "I told you so."'

The insider then updated the publication to reveal that Leah reached out to the songstress and added they have also spoken with each other. 

Last year in September, RuPaul's Drag Race star Michelle Visage briefly touched on the topic of the duo's rocky friendship. 

During an interview on the Las Culturistas podcast, host and SNL star Bowen Yang asked if Jennifer and Leah were still 'best buds.' 

However, Michelle quickly shut down the questioning by simply responding with, 'No comment,' subtly hinting that all was not well between the pals. 

Ben and Jennifer rekindled their romance in 2021. The couple pictured putting on a loved-up display in February

A very loved-up Bennifer pictured together in 2003, when they were young, at the Vanity Fair party

The pair first met in 2004 while attending a red carpet premiere when Jennifer was dating Marc Anthony. The pair married in June of that year but divorced 10 years later in 2014 - and share twins Max and Emme, 16. 

Leah - who tied the knot with Angelo Pagan in 2003 - recalled crossing paths with Jennifer for the first time at the event while previously talking to Entertainment Tonight in 2018. 

'So, we went to the premiere hoping she was gonna be ugly in real life,' she explained to the outlet.

'And then, when I was approaching her, I was like, "I hope it's the lighting. Maybe she just looks good in here," and as I got closer I was like, "Oh damn, there's a lot of light right here and she looks really pretty."' 

'I even said that! I said, "Why the f**k? Why are you so f***ing pretty?" And she laughed.' 

'Then I was like, "Ugh, I hope she's dumb," ya know? I was like, "She could be dumb!" I wanted to find something [wrong with her] and I didn't...' Leah added. 

And during a past, joint appearance on The View, the pair - who starred in the romantic comedy Second Act - also opened up about their friendship.  

'We're very close, like sisters are. But in a different way that sisters are,' Leah shared on the show, per Us Weekly. 

Jennifer also expressed, 'We understand each other's lives. We have similar lives and similar careers, and we understand nuances that other people don't understand, so that also bonded us.' 

Jennifer further labeled the actress as 'courageous, caring and generous' while Leah jumped in to say her friend was 'loving, warm, fiercely loyal, courageous, brave, true and authentic.' 

Jennifer has also been linked to Jane Fonda, who appeared in her documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. 

In it, the two-time Academy Award winner, 86, admitted that she had doubts about her rekindled romance with Ben.

Jennifer and Jane have been friends for nearly 20 years since co-starring in the 2005 rom-com Monster-In-Law. 

'I want you to know that I don't entirely know why, but I feel invested in you and Ben, and I really want this to work,' she told Jennifer, as reported by Variety.

'However, this is my concern. Like, it feels too much like you're trying to prove something instead of just living it.'

Referring to Ben and Jen's red carpet PDA, Jane added: 'You know, every other photograph is the two of you kissing and the two of you hugging.' 

Lopez took Fonda's relationship analysis with stride as she replied with a laugh: 'That's just us living our life.'