The following article contains allegations of sexual misconduct that some readers may find distressing.
Earlier this year, Jennifer Lopez gave an emotional speech in Puerto Rico in support of the Time's Up movement. And now, in Harper's Bazaar's April cover story, she's opened up about her personal experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood.
"I haven't been abused in the way some women have," she told the magazine. "But have I been told by a director to take off my shirt and show my boobs? Yes, I have. But did I do it? No, I did not." She goes on to explain that she did have reservations about speaking up but ultimately decided it was something she had to do.
"When I did speak up, I was terrified. I remember my heart beating out of my chest, thinking, 'What did I do? This man is hiring me!' It was one of my first movies. But in my mind I knew the behaviour wasn't right. It could have gone either way for me. But I think ultimately the Bronx in me was like, 'Nah, we're not having it.'"
During the interview, Lopez also talked about her current relationship with Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. The two have been dating publicly for over a year, and engagement rumours have naturally begun to appear in the tabloids. "I do believe in marriage," she said.
"And I would love to grow old with somebody in a committed relationship. But I'm not forcing anything right now. It's good, it's healthy; we communicate well. We understand each other's lives in a way that most other people couldn't. We both entered the public eye in our early 20s and overachieved right from the start. And that affects every dynamic in your life, from your family to your work to your relationships. We have a similar makeup."
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And the lack of wedding ring clearly doesn't stop her from showing love in big ways. The night before the Super Bowl, Lopez performed her new song 'Us' at a concert and gave a direct shout-out to Rodriguez. "I don't want to get all mushy or anything," she said. "But, baby, this song's for you. I love you."
Read Lopez's full interview here.
Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of sexual violence. If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
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Madison is the former Digital Deputy Editor at ELLE.com, where she also covered news, politics, and culture. If she’s not online, she’s probably napping or trying not to fall while rock climbing.
