Jennifer Lopez Admits Turning Down Unfaithful Still “Haunts” Her

In a revealing Howard Stern interview, J.Lo opens up about missed opportunities, love, and the Oscar buzz surrounding Kiss of the Spider Woman

Jennifer Lopez recently joined Howard Stern for a candid conversation on his SiriusXM show, where she reflected on her past relationships, career decisions, and the growing acclaim for her new film Kiss of the Spider Woman.

When Stern asked if she ever regretted turning down a movie role, Lopez didn’t hesitate. She revealed that acclaimed director Adrian Lyne had once offered her the lead in Unfaithful (2002), the steamy thriller that went on to star Diane Lane, Richard Gere, and Olivier Martinez. “Adrian Lyne offered me Unfaithful,” Lopez confirmed. “The script wasn’t good,” she admitted, before acknowledging that Lyne ultimately “made it great.”

The film went on to earn Diane Lane an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress — a moment Lopez now looks back on with a tinge of regret. “It haunts me,” she confessed. “It’s like the one that I turned down where I still ask myself, ‘Why did you say no to working with Adrian Lyne?’ I don’t even know what was going on in my mind at the time.”

At the time of Unfaithful’s production, Lopez was balancing a thriving music and film career. She had just released The Wedding Planner and Angel Eyes in 2001, followed by Enough, Maid in Manhattan, and Gigli — the last of which turned into one of the biggest box office disappointments of her career.

The wide-ranging interview also delved into Lopez’s personal life, including her past relationships and marriages. When asked if she still keeps in touch with her exes, she joked, “Once I’m done, you’re dead to me,” though she clarified that she doesn’t hold grudges.

When Stern pressed her on whether she had ever truly felt loved, Lopez paused before answering, “No. They gave me what they had, but they didn’t have it in them.” She also admitted that, for a long time, she didn’t fully love herself either.

Stern brought up her on-screen chemistry with George Clooney in Out of Sight, often regarded as one of her most magnetic performances. Lopez, however, downplayed any off-screen spark, saying, “When I’m in a relationship, nobody else exists.”

Lopez’s latest project, Kiss of the Spider Woman, is already generating major Oscar buzz. Directed by Bill Condon, the musical drama reimagines Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel and the hit Broadway show. Lopez portrays three interwoven personas — Ingrid Luna, Aurora, and the Spider Woman — in a story exploring sexuality, identity, and political repression.

The film premiered to a standing ovation at Sundance in January 2025 and hit theaters on October 10. While its box office opening was modest, critics have praised Lopez’s fearless performance and ambitious range, calling it one of her most transformative roles in years.

Industry insiders suggest she could be a serious contender for Best Supporting Actress this awards season, a category she’s being actively promoted in. It’s a familiar position for Lopez, who experienced a highly publicized Oscar snub for Hustlers in 2019. Reflecting on that, she told CBS earlier this year, “I learned my lesson last time. I don’t need the validation — being in the conversation is enough.”

The film’s soundtrack, which features Lopez alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh, has also received praise for its haunting, theatrical energy.

From turning down Unfaithful to facing down Hollywood’s biases, Lopez’s journey has been defined by resilience and reinvention. Her honesty about past regrets only adds another layer to her decades-long story of ambition and artistry.

And while Unfaithful might forever remain the one that got away, Kiss of the Spider Woman could finally give Jennifer Lopez the moment of recognition she’s been chasing — not for what she missed, but for everything she’s daring to embrace now.