Jennifer Lopez admits she had to overcome difficult years on her own: The hidden truth behind her broken marriage to Marc Anthony.

Jennifer Lopez Opens Up About Raising Twins With “Very Little Help” as Her Journey Through Motherhood, Marriage and Heartbreak Comes Into Focus

Jennifer Lopez has never been a stranger to the spotlight, but behind the glamour, global fame and decades-long career, the singer and actress has often spoken about the challenges she has faced in her personal life. During an appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast, Lopez opened up about one of the roles she values most: being a mother to her twins, Emme and Max, whom she shares with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.

The “Selena” actress became emotional while discussing the fact that her 18-year-old children are preparing to leave home for college. For Lopez, the milestone represented not only a proud moment but also a chance to reflect on everything she has built throughout her life.

“It’s crazy. And now I can really look at my life, appreciate it for what it is and what I’ve created for myself and be really happy,” Lopez shared during the conversation with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett.

She proudly revealed that both of her children had been accepted into colleges, received scholarships and were moving forward with their own dreams.

“And both my kids got into all their colleges and they both got scholarships and they’re going where they want to go,” she said.

While celebrating her children’s achievements, Lopez also made a comment that appeared to reference the challenges of raising them after her divorce from Marc Anthony. Reflecting on the years she spent caring for her twins, she said she had to remind herself of everything she accomplished.

“It’s just … I was like, ‘You did that s–t all by yourself.’ That’s great. Like, ‘You had very little help,’ you know?”

The comment immediately drew attention because of her history with Anthony, one of the most successful Latin music artists in the world. Although Lopez did not directly accuse her former husband of failing as a parent, her words sparked conversation about the realities of raising children while managing a demanding career and navigating life after divorce.

Lopez and Anthony were married from 2004 to 2014 after years of friendship and a highly public romance. Their relationship became one of the most talked-about celebrity marriages of the 2000s, bringing together two of the biggest names in entertainment.

The couple welcomed their twins, Emme and Max, in February 2008. Their arrival marked a major turning point in Lopez’s life, as she often described motherhood as one of the most meaningful experiences she had ever known.

However, their marriage eventually came to an end, and the former couple announced their separation in 2011 before finalizing their divorce in 2014. Despite the breakup, both Lopez and Anthony continued to emphasize the importance of protecting their children and maintaining a respectful relationship as co-parents.

Lopez’s latest comments come after years of openly discussing the emotional difficulties surrounding that period of her life. During a previous performance in Las Vegas, she reflected on the struggles she faced after her divorce from Anthony, describing it as one of the hardest chapters she experienced.

“After my third divorce, that’s when I really started getting good at it,” she joked at the time, before acknowledging the seriousness of what she had gone through.

“Seriously, that’s not funny,” she continued, explaining that the situation had been extremely painful.

The superstar admitted that she had reached a point where she felt overwhelmed while trying to raise two young children as a single mother.

Lopez explained that she turned to her mentor Louise Hay during that difficult period, seeking guidance while trying to rebuild her confidence and emotional strength.

“She said to me, ‘Jennifer, you’re a dancer, right?’” Lopez recalled. “I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ And she said, ‘When you’re learning a dance, and you get the steps wrong, what do you do?’ I said, ‘I just keep going until I get the steps right.’ And she said, ‘That’s right, Jennifer. Always keep dancing.’”

The advice became a meaningful reminder for Lopez, whose entire career has been built on persistence and reinvention.

From her early days as a dancer on “In Living Color” to becoming one of the most recognizable performers in the world, Lopez has repeatedly rebuilt herself through personal and professional challenges.

She became a major Hollywood star with films such as “Selena,” which earned her widespread recognition and established her as one of the first Latina actresses to achieve major mainstream success. Her music career later transformed her into a global pop icon with hits including “If You Had My Love,” “Jenny From the Block” and “On the Floor.”

Throughout her career, Lopez has balanced multiple identities: actress, singer, performer, entrepreneur and mother. Her ability to remain successful across different industries has made her one of the most influential entertainers of her generation.

But her romantic life has often attracted as much attention as her career.

Before marrying Marc Anthony, Lopez had already experienced highly public relationships. She was married to Cuban waiter Ojani Noa from 1997 to 1998, followed by a marriage to dancer Cris Judd from 2001 to 2003.

Her relationship with Ben Affleck in the early 2000s became one of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity romances. The couple, famously nicknamed “Bennifer” by the media, became engaged in 2002 before separating in 2004.

Nearly two decades later, Lopez and Affleck reunited, eventually marrying in 2022. Their reunion became a major cultural moment, with fans celebrating the return of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples.

However, their marriage faced challenges, and Lopez and Affleck finalized their divorce in 2025. The end of their relationship marked another highly public personal transition for Lopez.

Despite the difficulties, Lopez has repeatedly presented herself as someone who continues moving forward. Her career, family and personal growth have remained central parts of her identity.

Meanwhile, Marc Anthony has continued his own journey. The Grammy-winning singer remains one of the most successful salsa artists in history and has built an international career spanning music, film and television.

After his divorce from Lopez, Anthony continued with his personal life and married model Nadia Ferreira in 2023. Ferreira, who is significantly younger than Anthony, later announced her pregnancy with the singer’s eighth child.

While Lopez and Anthony have both moved on romantically, their connection remains through Emme and Max. Their children have occasionally appeared alongside Lopez at public events, with the singer frequently expressing pride in the young adults they have become.

Recently, attention returned to Anthony when he appeared to miss important milestones for their children, including their high school graduation ceremonies. Reports noted that he was not seen at Emme’s graduation or Max’s graduation celebrations, leading to renewed discussion about their family dynamic.

Lopez’s remarks about raising her twins with “very little help” added another layer to the public conversation surrounding their co-parenting relationship.

Still, those close to the situation have often emphasized that celebrity families, like any others, experience complicated personal circumstances behind closed doors.

For Lopez, the upcoming chapter of watching her children leave for college represents a major emotional transition. After years of balancing motherhood with a demanding entertainment career, she now finds herself looking back at everything she has overcome.

Her journey has included professional triumphs, public relationships, heartbreak, motherhood and constant reinvention. Through each stage, Lopez has continued to present herself as someone determined to keep moving forward.

As her twins begin their own adult lives, Lopez appears focused on celebrating the family she has built and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Her latest comments may have reignited conversations about her past with Marc Anthony, but they also highlight a larger story: the experience of a woman who has spent decades creating a life while navigating the pressures of fame, love and motherhood in the public eye.