Kaylah Walton
Amid her impending divorce from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez has been counseled to reduce her social media presence and emphasize showcasing her talents instead. The couple, who has been dealing with marital troubles in the public eye, is reportedly heading for divorce, prompting Lopez to recommit to her career.
With her “This Is Me… Live” tour canceled and her latest album underperforming, Lopez is at a critical juncture in her career. She called off her summer tour to address family matters as speculation about her relationship with Affleck escalated. Despite this, she has been relatively inactive in the music industry, although she is set to debut in a new film.
Steve Honig, a PR expert and founder of The Honig Company, recommends that Lopez should decrease her personal exposure and maximize her professional image. “Lopez needs to immerse herself in her work and let her talent – of which there is ample – speak for itself,” Honig advised. He believes Lopez needs to show that she is “more than a tabloid headline” and reclaim her status as a “timeless performer.”
Shaping the narrative
PR expert Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, argues that Lopez should remain in the public eye to control her own story, particularly post-divorce. Eldridge cautions that withdrawing from social media could be risky. “Never leave a story for someone else to tell, it will almost never be positive,” he advised. Social media is crucial for shaping public perception, especially during a high-profile split, according to him.
Eldridge recognizes that while stepping away from the limelight may be tempting, it’s a “risky move” given the uncertain details surrounding Lopez’s impending divorce. However, he also suggests that the split might work in Lopez’s favor if she handles it well. Eldridge highlights that Lopez has successfully reinvented herself throughout her career while retaining her core fanbase, indicating that she could emerge stronger with careful timing.
Advice has also come from Jon Peters, a former producer who collaborated with Lopez on the 1995 film Money Train. Peters proposed that Lopez could rejuvenate her career by relocating to Nashville and releasing a country album. He even offered to finance the endeavor, believing it would be a major success. Whether Lopez considers this unconventional path remains to be seen, as she weighs her options during this challenging phase.
