Jennifer Lopez responds to criticism for taking Ben Affleck’s surname

Jennifer Lopez dished on why she changed her name after marrying Ben Affleck.

And look, we're just going to go ahead and say it, J.Lo and Ben Affleck are our favourite celebrity couple.

Their marriage has been a long time coming and the pair have been engaged twice - but this name change shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans.

On The J.Lo

The 'Jenny from the Block' singer had previously hinted at changing her name way back in 2003.

During the airing of Ben & Jen: A Dateline Special, the singer was asked whether she'd change her legal name and stage name, to which she responded: "I think I’m going to stay with Jennifer Lopez, but my name will be Jennifer Affleck, obviously."

And true to word, when the happy couple finally married in Vegas this July, she took Ben's name, and became Mrs. Affleck, legally.

REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

We can't imagine people screaming are J.Aff at her concerts, though.

Still, her choice received some backlash from fans, with one saying: "I refuse to call her J.Aff," (we were joking btw).

Someone else tweeted: "It’s 2022 and you are Jennifer freaking Lopez, do you really need to take your husband’s last name?"

While another added: "Wait, why DON’T both parties take each other’s last name. Way more romantic and actually Ben Lopez is a whole other vibe."

Now, J.Lo has opened up about the change, telling Vogue that the decision was her own and she stands by it.

At one point, the interviewer even asked if she considered giving Ben her name, to which she said: "No! It’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean?

"I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person."

"I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too. But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl."

Honestly, the Afflecks seem happier than ever, with J.Lo gushing about their wedding in a fan newsletter: "In the end, it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. Once we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last."

And, just as a kick to anyone that isn't on board with the name change the icon signed off her letter: "With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”

Topics: Celebrity, News, Real Life, Sex and Relationships

Shola Lee

Shola is a Staff Writer for the LADbible Group and a contributing writer for Warner Brothers' Wizarding World Digital and the BAFTA Crew.

@SholaLee2