Jennifer Lopez has faced her fair share of challenges throughout her career, but it’s her 2024 album This Is Me… Now that she admits stands out as a significant source of regret. The album, which was meant to serve as a sequel to her 2002 album This Is Me… Then, was a deeply personal project that drew from Lopez’s rekindled relationship with actor Ben Affleck. Despite her enthusiasm and an impressive personal investment of reportedly $20 million, This Is Me… Now failed to achieve the success she had hoped for, both commercially and critically.
The album debuted at number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart, a lackluster performance that quickly saw it fall off the rankings. This underwhelming reception was made even worse by the cancellation of several planned shows due to poor ticket sales. A source close to Lopez shared that she was “devastated” by the album’s failure, adding, “She’s never experienced this kind of failure. It’s humiliating.”
This Is Me… Now was a deeply introspective album, with Lopez intertwining her personal life—particularly her relationship with Affleck—into the music. However, this decision to merge her personal and professional worlds was met with mixed reactions. For some, the focus on Lopez’s relationship seemed more like a publicity stunt than a genuine exploration of her emotions. Others found it difficult to connect with the music, which made it difficult for the album to resonate with audiences.
The album’s release coincided with a turbulent period in Lopez’s marriage to Affleck, which ultimately ended in their separation shortly after the project’s debut. In a reflective moment, Lopez opened up about the heartbreak she experienced following their initial breakup, describing it as “the biggest heartbreak” of her life. “I honestly felt like I was going to die,” she said, recalling the emotional toll it took on her. The personal nature of This Is Me… Now made its failure all the more poignant for Lopez, who had poured her heart into both the music and the public persona that surrounded it.
While This Is Me… Now wasn’t the first of Lopez’s albums to face commercial difficulties, its underperformance seems to have had a more profound impact. Her 2014 album A.K.A. also struggled commercially, debuting at number 8 on the Billboard 200 and selling only 33,000 copies in its first week. However, the personal and financial stakes of This Is Me… Now were far higher, making its failure a far more significant blow.
Lopez’s experience with This Is Me… Now serves as a reminder of the complexities that come with being a public figure and sharing one’s personal life with the world. While she has been known for her resilience in the face of adversity, the emotional and professional repercussions of this album’s failure show that even the most successful stars can face profound setbacks. As Lopez reflects on this difficult chapter in her career, it remains to be seen how she will move forward and what lessons she will take with her into the future.
