Jennifer Lopez took a subtle jab at her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, during her appearance on the podcast SmartLess. She revealed that she largely raised their twins on her own, receiving minimal assistance throughout the process.
These revelations came as the 56-year-old singer and actress celebrated her children Oskar (formerly known as Emme) and Max Muñiz’s academic achievements. Both 18-year-olds were accepted into all the universities they applied to and received scholarships to continue their education.
“My two kids got into every college they wanted to attend. Both received scholarships and are going where they wanted,” Lopez expressed with evident pride on the podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
It was during this moment of pride that she delivered the comment that caught media attention: “I was like, ‘You did it alone. You had very little help.’”
While Lopez didn’t name the Puerto Rican singer directly, the remark was widely interpreted as a direct reference to her ex-husband, with whom she has co-parented the twins since their divorce was finalized in 2014.
The comment came at a particularly sensitive time. Weeks earlier, Marc Anthony was notably absent from Oskar’s graduation at Windward School in Los Angeles, which took place around June 1st. This event marked the first public appearance of the young person with their new name.
Lopez, however, was in attendance along with her mother Guadalupe Rodríguez, Max Muñiz, and Samuel Affleck, the son of actor Ben Affleck.
Days later, the singer was also missing from Max's graduation and did not post any congratulatory messages on social media for either of the ceremonies.
This contrast was striking, as during those same weeks, Marc Anthony participated actively in family events with his current wife, Paraguayan model Nadia Ferreira. He celebrated the baby shower for their expected daughter—his eighth child—and attended the birthday of Marquitos, Ferreira’s eldest, who turned three on June 12th.
This isn’t the first time Lopez has spoken about how challenging that period of her life was. Last March, during a performance in Las Vegas, the artist broke down in tears recalling that time and confessed to being on the brink of collapse.
“It was actually a really tough time. I was about to give up. I mean, I was a single mom with two 3-year-old twins,” she shared then.
On that occasion, she also remembered the advice given by her late friend, writer Louise Hay: “Always keep dancing,” a phrase she described as her personal life guide.
Oskar Muñiz has been accepted to Sarah Lawrence College to study theater and visual arts starting in the fall of 2026, while Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira are preparing to welcome their second child together, further expanding the singer’s already large family.
Insights on Jennifer Lopez's Family and Career Challenges
How did Jennifer Lopez manage raising her twins?
Jennifer Lopez revealed that she largely raised her twins with minimal help, indicating a challenging period where she felt like a single mother managing on her own.
What achievements did Jennifer Lopez's children recently accomplish?
Oskar and Max Muñiz were accepted into all the universities they applied to and received scholarships, highlighting their academic success.
How did Marc Anthony's recent actions contrast with his absence from his children's events?
While Marc Anthony was absent from his children's graduations, he was actively involved in family events with his current wife, including a baby shower and a birthday celebration.