In her first major interview since her split from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez is opening up about what she describes as one of the most challenging periods in her life. The global superstar, who recently released a new album and documentary about her love story, reflected on the emotional highs and lows that have defined her past year during an interview with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview Magazine.

Lopez candidly shared how her world was turned upside down after she filed for divorce from Affleck in August 2024, just two years after they rekindled their romance and tied the knot. The singer and actress revealed that the dissolution of their marriage, along with canceling her summer concert tour, left her feeling as though everything she had worked for was unraveling.

“I felt like, whoa, ‘I got here, I’m good. I did all the work and look at where I am,’” Lopez said. “And then it was like my whole f—ing world exploded.”

Though she did not mention Affleck by name during the interview, Lopez discussed the complexities of relationships and the importance of breaking harmful patterns. Their highly publicized romance, which saw the pair rekindle their engagement after more than a decade apart, captivated fans worldwide. Yet, despite their second chance at love, their relationship ultimately ended.

Reflecting on the experience, Lopez admitted that she struggled with expectations versus reality. “I was thinking about this time in my life, and I’m like, ‘That’s not what I thought it was going to turn out like.’ And then I thought, ‘No, this is exactly where I needed to be, to lead me to where I want to go.’”

Lopez revealed that the emotional turmoil from the split almost “took (her) out for good,” but she’s come out on the other side with a new sense of clarity. “When you get to a point where you think that you’ve learned the lessons, and then it blows up in your face again, you realize, ‘OK, I haven’t, so what is it that I need to look at right now?’” she reflected. “Never stop looking inward, because it’s so easy to blame everybody else.”

Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, Lopez is focused on embracing her independence. “I’m not looking for anybody,” she said, emphasizing that she’s not dating and is content being single. After four marriages and a high-profile engagement to Alex Rodriguez, Lopez said she has learned that she must be happy on her own. “I thought I learned that, but I didn’t. And then, this summer, I had to be like, ‘I need to go off and be on my own. I want to prove to myself that I can do that.’”

While the experience has been challenging, Lopez acknowledges that the isolation has been a valuable lesson in self-reliance. “It feels sad. It feels desperate. But when you sit in those feelings and go, ‘These things are not going to kill me,’ it’s like, actually, I am capable of joy and happiness all by myself,” she said. “Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself.”

Lopez had previously hinted at her difficult summer in an Instagram post, sharing a collection of photos with her kids, her dog, and some inspirational quotes, captioned simply, “Oh, it was a summer.”

Now, as she continues to process the changes in her life, Lopez seems determined to find peace and strength within herself, ready to embrace whatever comes next.