Jenny from the Block? It seems she’s now the target of relentless teasing.
Jennifer Lopez is experiencing a pivotal moment in her career with the launch of her album “This is Me … Now” alongside its accompanying musical film, “This is Me … Now: A Love Story,” and not to forget, the Amazon Prime documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.” This documentary chronicles her reunion with her now-husband, Ben Affleck, after years of separation.
“This was the ultimate expression of what I’ve been trying to convey about love,” Lopez shared with USA TODAY earlier this year. “I’ve been on this quest for a long time, from my very first record and even in my debut movie role. I’ve been on a journey to understand this for myself. This album completes the circle in a way,” Lopez explains. “It captures this moment to express my thoughts on love, affirming that true love does exist and some things are meant to last forever. I urge everyone not to lose faith in love because, in the end, love is all that truly matters.”
However, with the release of all this content, a wave of criticism has followed. Recently, TikTok has been abuzz with users critiquing the pop star, accusing her of “creative narcissism” and attacking her for what they perceive as insensitivity. They’ve criticized her for a lack of authenticity in her documentary and her failed attempts at relatability, even bringing up past interviews and dissecting her statements.
“Some people never liked her to begin with,” one TikTok user commented. Another chimed in: “People are over all celebrities!”
The fascination with watching the rich and famous face difficulties is a guilty pleasure for many, especially when it unfolds in reality TV or, in Lopez’s case, this documentary.
But the mockery of JLo might reveal more about us than about her. Experts suggest our inability to look away stems from schadenfreude – delighting in others’ misfortunes – and the irresistible allure of a compelling narrative.
“There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing wealthy individuals, who seem to have everything, show that they really don’t,” Elizabeth Cohen, an associate professor at West Virginia University who studies the psychology of media and pop culture, previously told USA TODAY. “And perhaps they don’t even deserve it all.”
‘True love does exist’: Jennifer Lopez says her new album encapsulates her feelings, potentially marking her last.
‘It can be motivational, but make you feel bad about yourself’
A psychological concept known as “social comparison” explains our fascination with this drama, according to Cohen. It suggests that people constantly compare themselves to others to determine their place in the world. Watching someone affluent like Lopez inevitably leads to reflections on what you have (and lack).
“The issue with upward social comparison is that it can be inspiring, yet it also makes you feel inadequate,” Cohen notes. “So it can motivate you, but it can also bring you down.”
Conversely, downward social comparison involves consuming media to feel superior to others.
“You observe these incredibly wealthy individuals who lead seemingly enviable lives, yet in reality, they don’t,” Erica Chito-Childs, a sociology professor at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY, previously told USA TODAY.
‘We enjoy watching others misbehave’
Television shows us that even the wealthy and famous have their flaws, and audiences seem to love that. Any misstep by Lopez becomes prime material for criticism.
“We’re drawn to watching others act out in bizarre and negative ways,” Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications Syracuse University, previously mentioned to USA TODAY. “We’re fascinated by watching others unravel, regardless of their financial status.”
It all boils down to storytelling. “There’s a narrative appeal in watching people rise to wealth and status,” Thompson explains. “But once they’re there, one of the few remaining plots is to witness their downfall. And we often find pleasure in that, as evidenced by many of the stories we tell.”
Whether someone enjoys or despises (or loves to despise) this is a matter of personal preference, not something hardwired into our brains.
“Why some people dislike this and others enjoy it isn’t a question for science,” Thompson states. “It’s a question of show business.”
Regardless, if you find yourself overly preoccupied with celebrities you don’t personally know, it might be time to explore your own neighborhood.