JLo Under Fire: Critic Calls Out Her Raunchy Performances

Jennifer Lopez has had a rocky year or two. The fifty-five-year-old has been criticized for everything from her music and acting to her personal life. However, the "Waiting For Tonight" singer now appears to be revamping her image. She has recently embarked on a European tour "Up All Night." However, despite singing some of her biggest hits, the concerts have attracted more scrutiny and criticism for Lopez, ranging from her wardrobe and choreography to her singing skills. One infamous political commentator, Megyn Kelly, recently made headlines by offering the most scathing review of Lopez's performances of all, stating that Lopez was more of an X-rated star than a singer. However, this is not the first time the pop star has been accused of being too raunchy.

Megyn Kelly Throws Shade at Jennifer Lopez Over Recent Performance

Jennifer Lopez

On July 8, Jennifer Lopez began her fifth tour in six years. The European-based tour, which is set to conclude in August, features Lopez, 56, performing some of her most popular hit songs, such as "Get Right" and "Love Don't Cost A Thing", as well as new songs like "Save Me Tonight". In a January 2025 interview with Variety magazine, Lopez discussed her excitement over her tour and other projects such as a Las Vegas Residency, which begins in December 2025. "I still have so much more to do. I’m at the halfway mark. I feel like my best work is in front of me. My biggest projects are in front of me, and my biggest successes. Everything is in the future.”

And while Lopez is focused on expanding her illustrious career in the entertainment industry, her detractors, such as far-right commentator Megyn Kelly, are criticizing her for her image. On Monday, July 21, Kelly, who hosts a radio show on SiriusXM, shared a clip on her social media page from a recent Lopez concert. The clip showed Lopez dancing suggestively with three of her male backup dancers to her hit 2011 song "I'm Into You" featuring Lil' Wayne. “So she’s a soft porn star now,” Kelly wrote alongside the video. Kelly added: “Great choices!”

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Jennifer Lopez Has a History of Facing Similar Criticism

On May 26, Jennifer Lopez hosted the 2025 American Music Awards. As one of today's most prolific performers, her presence at the awards ceremony generated fervor discourse. Lopez certainly lived up to her somewhat controversial name when she took to the stage to perform a medley of her most famous hit songs. However, it wasn't her songs that raised eyebrows but rather the fact that Lopez shared several steamy kisses with male and female backup dancers. The incident sparked heated discourse on social media, with one viewer posting on X, "Bro, what in the world did Jennifer Lopez just do at the #AMA's? Just when I thought she couldn't get any more cringe, she proved me wrong. Just a totally shameless PR stunt." Although several media outlets praised the singer for her impressive six-minute set, many echoed the sentiments of fans online, with Fox News branding the kissing incident as "vulgar".

The controversial performance follows J. Lo's divorce from Ben Affleck, which was finalized earlier this year. The "Love Don't Cost A Thing" singer has also been romantically linked with a string of people, including actor Kevin Costner. In addition to her AMA performance and hosting duties, Lopez also made headlines after making a prominent announcement on social media. On Instagram, Lopez wrote to her 240+ million followers that she was returning to the stage with a residency in Las Vegas: "SURPRISE! JLOVERS! We're back! I'm doing a residency in Las Vegas! Join me for Up All Night! Live in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dec 30 — Jan 3, & select dates in March! Tickets are on sale Friday, June 6 at 10 AM PT."

While many fans are celebrating the monumental news, it is worth mentioning that Lopez's 2024 North American tour, "THIS IS ME… LIVE," was canceled. At the time, representatives for Lopez stated that Lopez had abruptly canceled the tour to spend time with her children, family, and friends. However, several media outlets speculated that the tour was abruptly canceled due to her tumultuous marriage to Ben Affleck and low ticket sales. One fan wrote on Reddit regarding the cancellation, "That series of screenshots of the arenas with barely any tickets sold is absolutely diabolical. It goes to show how important booking and researching/analyzing your potential audience is."

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026. 

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Clooney opted for a pair of medium-wash jeans with subtle fading (another Y2K reference, IMO). Her blues had an ultra-high waist—so high, in fact, that they appeared to hit at the ribcage. It’s the complete opposite of the controversial low-rise denim, so it’s a possible sign that the high-high waist is coming back, too. Not to mention, Clooney’s jeans had a slightly oversized fit from the thighs to the ankles, but it’s that flared hem that has all my attention; it’s taking me back to my middle school days when I’d wear my True Religion flares every single day. (No joke.)

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It’s undeniable that Clooney’s jeans have that nostalgic flair (ahem, flare, wink, wink), but it’s also undeniable that celebs are clamoring to the style because it’s incredibly flattering. The blues basically act like an optical illusion, making legs look super long, especially when paired with a style that has an extra-long hemline and sky-high platforms á la Lopez; the singer is 5-feet-5-inches, but don’t you agree with me that she looks way taller in these jeans? Yeah, that’s thanks to the flares. The flare hem and longer inseams help create the look of legs for days, but add in a high-waisted cut, platform heels, and a crop top, and you’ll fool people into thinking you’re inches taller. 

Leg-elongating factor aside, there’s no denying that flares are fun and nostalgia-inducing—and that’s exactly what I need right now. So, shop some more fun, funky flares from Frame, NYDJ, and Mavi below.

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Gap High Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

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