Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez says challenging “Kiss of the Spider Woman” role is something she’s “wanted to do my whole life”
Jennifer Lopez says her latest project, a musical film exploring an unlikely bond between a transgender character and a political revolutionary, arrives at a moment when a message of acceptance is necessary.
“I think it’s necessary because the world is in a place where there’s a lot of hate … there’s a demonization of like the Latino community, of the queer community….and I think, you know, we need to remind each other that love is the answer – not hate,” Lopez told “CBS Mornings” co-anchor Gayle King about the new film, “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which hits theaters Friday.
Lopez said she was “immediately floored” when she read the script for the film by writer and director Bill Condon, known for his work on “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls.” The movie is based on a 1970s novel by Manuel Puig, which Lopez described as being far ahead of its time.
The story’s central message focuses on a transgender character and a cisgender political revolutionary who come from completely different worlds but, through extraordinary circumstances, come to recognize each other’s humanity and develop a deep bond.
“I thought to myself: this is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” she said.
Playing three “very different characters”
Lopez said the last time she felt that same thrill was when she was preparing for her star role in “Selena.” In “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Lopez plays three different versions of the same woman.
“They’re the same person, but they’re three very different iterations of this woman and they’re all very different characters and they have very different looks as well. And that was fun. But I think the essence of who they were was very different, but still the same. And I think that was the challenge,” Lopez explained.
Lopez said the film’s core message is about seeing past differences.
“When you forget about all those things, if you forget about somebody’s political views and you forget, we’re all entitled to our opinions about everything and our ways of thinking, and even, you know, from where we grew up and where we’re from all over the world. But the truth is, we’re all human, we’re all the same. And if we can just see that we can allow people to be who they are and love each other anyway,” she said.
She also spoke about her character, Ingrid Luna, who appears in one musical sequence. In that scene, Ingrid helps another character escape the harsh reality of prison through a fantasy-like performance. The number, titled “Where You Are,” serves as an emotional moment of release, inviting the character to forget his surroundings and find comfort through imagination.
“And I think that’s what art and music and movies…films do for people. You know, and especially in difficult times of their life, I know for me, it definitely has been that way,” Lopez said.
Bad Bunny and the power of music
Lopez and Shakira headlined the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV halftime show, with a special guest performance from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny during a rendition of “I Like it.”
As Bad Bunny now prepares to take the NFL’s biggest stage for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show, Lopez is sharing her appreciation for the artist as he encourages people to learn Spanish. She said the message behind his performance, much like her new film, centers on love and openness, encouraging people not to close themselves off to new experiences.
“Music and art transcends language. It doesn’t matter,” she said. “And he’s done that probably more than anybody of any generation he really has.”
Lopez said the Super Bowl gives artists a rare opportunity to reach new audiences and show who they are.
“It’s about not having so many ideas and closing yourself off to experiences that you might be missing out on something wonderful. Don’t do that to yourself. That’s what I would say,” she said.
She praised a moment when Bad Bunny brought singer Marc Anthony, the father of Lopez’s children, onstage during a concert in Puerto Rico.
“It couldn’t have been a more perfect moment. And I didn’t even see it. I know it was perfect– God didn’t let me see it, because I would’ve exploded. I would’ve died,” Lopez said.
For Lopez, it’s always important to keep her mind and heart open, telling King she still considers herself a “hopeful romantic” – the term she told King she preferred over “hopeless romantic” in an interview in 2022.
“100%. 100%. And the more self aware I become with the lessons that I learn and the hardships that I go through, the more I feel whole and complete on my own, the more I become hopeful for that same type of person to come into my life,” said Lopez. “The more I know the more, you know, that type of person will come into my life. Yeah. And so I’m excited for everything in the future.”
Jennifer Lopez transformed herself by losing significant weight for a role in the upcoming movie, Kiss Of The Spider Woman.
The Atlas star appeared in a recent interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, and revealed to host Gayle King that she got “very thin” for her character as she portrays a “blonde Hollywood bombshell” in the film produced by her ex husband, Ben Affleck’s company.
It is pertinent to mention that the shooting of the film took place in April 2024 which is also mentioned as her separation month in her divorce filing.
At the time fans speculated that she might have dropped weight due to the stress of her broken marriage.
A nutritionist named Monica Partier suggested that Lopez weighed 125 lbs during the filming of the movie, via DailyMail.
“Jennifer is 5ft5in, so I would put her at a size four, and I would say she got down to around 125lbs when she made the musical last year,” the functional nutritionist shared.
“Her normal weight appears to be 135lbs and a size six because she is so muscular from consistent workouts; muscle weighs more than fat,” said the health expert continued, That is a very healthy weight for her.”
“So she dropped at least 10lbs for the movie and she must have done it in about a month,” the nutritionist added.
Entertainment
Judge dismisses Drake’s lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar diss track “Not Like Us”
A federal judge in New York tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group, ruling that lyrics branding the superstar as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us” were opinion.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on Thursday rejected the suit in a written opinion that began by citing “the vitriolic war of words” and saying the case arose “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.”
Filed in January, the lawsuit alleged that UMG published and promoted “Not Like Us” even though it included false pedophilia allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice.
The lawsuit also alleged that the track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand.
Lamar was not named in the lawsuit.
Universal Music Group, the parent record label for both artists, had denied the allegations.
“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” a UMG spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Thursday. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
A spokesperson for Drake told CBS News in a statement, “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
CBS News has also reached out to representatives for Lamar for comment.
UMG owns both Interscope, Lamar’s label, and Republic Records, where Drake has spent his entire career.
In February, Drake reached a settlement with iHeartMedia in a separate court complaint filed in Texas over “Not Like Us.”
In that complaint, Drake alleged that iHeartMedia had received illegal payments from UMG to boost radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” iHeartMedia and UMG denied the allegations.
And in November 2024, Drake also filed a similar complaint in New York against streaming giant Spotify and UMG, accusing them of conspiring to inflate streams of “Not Like Us.” Both companies have also denied those claims.
Lamar and Drake have been beefing for years, with the two rappers releasing several diss tracks about one another. The feud appeared to reach its height when Lamar called out Drake during his Super Bowl Halftime Show in February.
In “Not Like Us,” which was released in May 2024, Lamar makes disturbing accusations about Drake allegedly having inappropriate conduct with minors. He also makes similar allegations about Drake’s friends and continues to question Drake’s talent.
In his own responding diss track, Drake denied these allegations, as well as allegations about having a daughter.
Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz’s romance is moving towards something serious as the love birds are hardly apart.
The 36-year-old actress and the 31-year-old singer, who have made love displays on recent outings, are said to have taken major steps in their blossoming relationship.
As per a report by The Sun, Zoe and Harry are getting closer and closer as the Catwoman star “plans to stay in Harry’s posh London pad while she starts filming a new project.”
“Harry and Zoe have a real connection — this is love,” a source told the outlet. “It’s a real honeymoon period.”
“And they’re barely apart,” the insider emphasized.
The tattler went on to say, “Zoe has to get back to work on a film so she’s coming to London and will be staying with Harry while she’s here.”
As Zoe and Harry were first linked earlier in August, “They’ve had an amazing summer together.”
“Things are only getting more serious between them,” the bird chirped.
Back in August a source told the pulisher that Zoe finds Harry’s vibe like her dad, Lenny Kravitz.
“[Harry] treats everyone the same, whether they are famous or not, and she’s found that refreshing. Lenny is like that… to be kind, to never be a diva,” the publisher reported.
The pair’s romance rumors first sparked when Harry and Zoe were reportedly spotted arm-in-arm in Rome in August.
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