Throughout her career as a singer, actor, and dancer, Jennifer Lopez hasn't been one to shy away from a new venture. She's launched her own clothing lines and fragrances and has also partnered with other brands. Lopez recently launched yet another business, but this one has led to backlash from some fans.
On April 4, Lopez announced the arrival of her new alcohol brand, Delola, which consists of Italy-inspired pre-mixed cocktails. The video features shots of the Italian coast, while Lopez waxes poetic about wanting to create a cocktail with better ingredients that she'd "want to drink with my friends and family."
However, as fans have pointed out in the wake of the announcement, Lopez has said that she doesn't drink. On top of that, her new husband Ben Affleck has been to rehab and been outspoken about his own struggles with alcoholism. For those reasons and more, some are slamming her new line of products as a "money grab" that doesn't seem to align with Lopez's lifestyle. Read on to find out more.
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She shared the news on Instagram.
Lopez revealed Delola in a video posted to Instagram on April 4.
"I have been grinding nonstop for decades, and more and more I realize the importance of enjoying life," Lopez says in the video. She explains that she wanted to create a "better tasting" drink with "better ingredients" that she would enjoy having with her friends and family.
"All of this came about when I fell in love with the effortlessly elegant lifestyle and hospitality of the Italian coast," she explains. "I just love it." She also notes that Delola is "lower in alcohol than classic cocktails. It has about the same alcohol as a glass of wine."
Lopez has said she doesn't drink because it "wrecks your skin."
lev radin / ShutterstockThe brand came as a surprise to some fans, who were well aware of Lopez's past comments about drinking. In 2016, Lopez told Us Weekly how she takes care of her skin. "I don't drink or smoke or have caffeine," she said (via Independent.ie) "That really wrecks your skin as you get older."
Similarly, she told InStyle (via Women's Health) of alcohol, "I think that ruins your skin. Of course, during celebratory toasts, everybody's like, 'You can't toast with water!' So I'll toast with alcohol and just take a sip."
In 2018, Lopez was profiled by Harper's Bazaar and her then-partner Alex Rodrigueztold the magazine, "She really leans in to the big fundamentals, like getting her rest, eight to 10 hours. She doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke. She lives a very clean life.”
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A Delola press release claims that she does indulge occassionally.
DFree / ShutterstockA press release about Delola tells a slightly different story.
"For Jennifer, when it's time to unwind with her friends, it's time for Lola, a longtime nickname that reflects her more playful, carefree side," the press release reads. "In those times, Jennifer 'Lola' enjoys a glass of rosé, champagne or light cocktail."
In a statement, the 53-year-old star said, "I love entertaining and to relax and unwind with friends, but never found a drink that was right for me. I was in search of something that I could enjoy that fit the thoughtful way that I live my life."
Fans are disappointed in the star.
lev radin / ShutterstockThe comments on Lopez's post announcing Delola are full of people pointing out that she has denounced alcohol in the past.
One follower commented, "This feels like such a weird move for $$, I was hoping it was an elegant NA [non-alcoholic] cocktail when I first saw this post…"
Another said, "Ah capitalism strikes again! J.Lo was an inspiration for me to stay away from alcohol, tho she is not sober, she talked about how she rarely drinks and if she does it’s a celebratory sip, so it’s a bummer she is promoting alcohol when there are so many great NA drinks!"
Someone else wrote, "She doesn’t drink alcohol so just goes to show what she will do for money."
"I’m generally a big fan of everything you do, but this is a big disappointment," wrote another follower. "There’s so much alcohol being marketed towards women specifically and not surprisingly the number of women struggling with alcohol is skyrocketing. I appreciate you having a brand to grow, but why not glamorize mocktails instead?"
Others have pointed to Affleck's addiction issues.
Tinseltown / ShutterstockIn addition to fans pointing out that Lopez doesn't drink, some people are disappointed because Lopez is married to someone who has said he is an alcoholic and has struggled with his sobriety. "It took me a long time to fundamentally, deeply, without a hint of doubt, admit to myself that I am an alcoholic,” Affleck told The New York Times in 2020. “The next drink will not be different."
One person wrote on the Delola post, "This is super disappointing considering she doesn’t drink and is married to a recovering alcoholic."
Another posted, "This is so out of alignment for the brand. 1) jlo doesn’t even drink?? And 2) Ben is a recovering alcoholic."
Someone else said, "I’m disappointed that you’re promoting an alcoholic beverage when your husband has a serious issue with alcohol addiction. And my understanding is that you don’t drink. Why not promote non-alcoholic??"
"Would have been a way better opportunity to promote a non alcoholic product and pave the way and also support your husband who doesn’t drink," another comment reads. "This is such a money grab jlo."
Best Life has reached out to a representative of Lopez for comment.
