Jennifer Lopez Expresses Heartbreak Over Oscars Snub for Hustlers

Jennifer Lopez, who portrayed Ramona in last year's festival favorite Hustlers, was disappointed by her Oscars snub. Directed by Lorene Scafaria, Hustlers tells the story of a group of New York City strippers who turn the tables on their Wall Street clientele following the financial crash of 2008. The film, based on a New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler titled "The Hustlers at Scores", took audiences by surprise once it hit theaters. Following its wildly successful debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film became a commercial and critical success. Not only was the story and Scafaria's direction praised, but the performances were the biggest part that stole the show.

Alongside Lopez, the film also stars Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, and Lili Reinhart amongst a flurry of other familiar faces. Each brought something special to the table, but for Lopez, many hailed her performance as a career-best. Hustlers even went on to mark the best opening of Lopez's career. With good news continuing to build around her performance, many were hopeful that all of the positive chatter would lead to a well-deserved Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, her name didn't make it into the Best Supporting Actress category at the end of the day. Now, she's speaking out about the snub and how it made her feel.

During a discussion with Oprah Winfrey (via Variety), Lopez exclaimed that she was "a little sad" about the nomination because "there was a lot of buildup to it," adding that "there were so many articles" and "so many good notices" from individuals who all felt confident in her receiving a nomination. Ultimately, when the nomination didn't end up happening, she explains that it felt like "a little bit of a letdown." Considering most of her team has been with her for 20-25 years, she also added that she felt she "let everyone down a little bit", mainly because she thinks they "had a lot of hopes on that." In the end, she realized that she didn't need people's validation, that she acts "because [she] loves it," and "[she doesn't] need this award" to tell her she's enough.

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Although Lopez didn't receive a nomination from The Academy, she did receive several others from the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Indie Spirit Awards, just to name a few. One nomination even ended up pulling through, as she won the Best Supporting Actress award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. When it came to the Oscars award ceremony, Laura Dern ended up taking home the Best Supporting Actress win for her turn in Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story.

As unfortunate as it was to see Lopez's performance snubbed for an Oscar, she makes an excellent point. Awards serve as validation for a job well done, but it's not the main reason actors do what they do. They do it because they love it, and Lopez's passion for bringing exceptional characters to life is what made us root for her in the first place. Hustlers was just another exciting chapter in Lopez's acting book, and it'll be exciting to see what she does next.

Source: Variety

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.

NYDJ Barbara Jeans

Gap High Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

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