Jennifer Lopez gives relationship advice to men: ‘Women don’t need much’

Jennifer Lopez has spent decades writing love songs, starring in romantic films, and living some of the most public relationships in Hollywood. But these days, the global superstar says she has learned something important about love. She is not rushing to find it.

During a recent stop in her Las Vegas residency, the 56-year-old singer offered a candid message to the crowd about what she believes relationships should actually look like.

Speaking directly to the men in the audience, Lopez explained that despite her glamorous image and global fame, what she values most in a partner is surprisingly simple.

“I been saying it for years, haven’t I been saying it for years? It’s not about the money, I don’t want your stuff,” Jennifer told the energized JLO Show crowd in a clip shared on Instagram. “It’s simple. People look at me, and they see me with my sparkly mic, and they think that I’m expensive. And I am expensive. But I got my own money, I don’t need you to buy me nothing.”

Instead, Lopez said the real key to a successful relationship comes down to kindness and emotional generosity.

“You know what fellas,” she added. “I’m gonna tell you a little secret. Women don’t need much. First of all, we need very little. All we need from you is a little bit of sugar. You give us a little bit of sugar, a little bit of sweetness, kindness and we will give you so much in return.”

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The singer, who finalized her divorce from Ben Affleck in 2024, has indicated she is not actively looking for a new partner and is content focusing on herself. For Lopez, independence is an essential part of any relationship. She has made it clear she wants someone who respects her autonomy, has a full life of their own, and can meet her on equal footing both emotionally and professionally.

Even so, she believes that small gestures can make a major difference in a relationship. During the show, she playfully explained how women often amplify whatever they receive from their partners.

“We multiply whatever you give us,” she noted. “You give us a bag of groceries, we cook you a five-course meal. You give us a house, we give you a home. You give us a little something, something we give you a baby, maybe.”

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Her message, however, also came with a humorous warning about what happens when relationships lack kindness.

“But if you give us any grief,” the 56-year-old quipped. “We’ll give you a thousand f–ing headaches and you know it’s true. Because we do so much for you and we always want that little bit of sugar in return.”

The moment was just one of several personal reflections Lopez shared with fans during the show. At another point in the performance, the “On the Floor” singer opened up about the difficult period following the end of her 10-year marriage to Marc Anthony, with whom she shares twins Max and Emme.

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“After my third divorce, that’s when I really started getting good at it,” Jennifer, mom to her and Marc’s 18-year-old twins Max and Emme, explained. “Seriously, that’s not funny. That’s not funny.”

“It was actually a really tough time,” she continued. “I was really about to give up on it all. I mean, I was a single mom with two 3-year-old twins and I called up one of my mentors. Her name was Louise Hay.”

According to Lopez, the late author and motivational speaker gave her advice that helped her push through the emotional moment.

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“She said to me, ‘Jennifer, you’re a dancer, right?’” Jennifer recalled. “I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ And she said, ‘When you’re learning a dance, and you get the steps wrong, what do you do?’ I said, ‘I just keep going until I get the steps right.’ And she said, ‘That’s right, Jennifer. Always keep dancing.'”

Lopez told the audience that the message still resonates with her today. Life, she suggested, often requires resilience and a willingness to keep moving forward even during difficult chapters.

“And I wish the same for every last one of you,” she said, “that no matter what life throws at you, that you dance, and you dance, and you dance—again, and again, and again. I love you so much!”

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Her perspective on relationships has evolved over the years, but some values have remained constant. In a past interview with People, Lopez explained that honesty, respect, and commitment are the foundations she looks for in a partner.

“Honesty is really important,” she said. “I’m looking for someone who is like-minded and respectful, conscious of someone else’s feelings and loves themselves enough to have a healthy relationship; someone who will allow me to be myself 100 percent completely and will love me for that person.”

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Even after multiple marriages and very public breakups, Lopez has never lost faith in love.

“I believe in marriage,” she said. “I believe that two people can commit to each other and share a life together. But my main relationship is with myself, and when I’m happy on my own, it will allow for something great to happen. I have to remind myself not to settle.”

For now, Lopez appears comfortable embracing that philosophy. As she told fans in Las Vegas, the most important thing is protecting the happiness she already has.