Jennifer Lopez’s brilliant response to a predatory director

JENNIFER Lopez has spoken of her ‘terror’ at being sexually harassed early in her career.

The Jenny From The Block singer and actress joins a growing number of high-profile women speaking out in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations.

J-Lo told US magazine Harper’s Bazaar that although her experience did not involve any violence, she had been petrified.

‘I haven’t been abused in the way some women have,’ she said. ‘But have I been told by a director to take off my shirt and show my boobs. Yes, I have. But did I do it? No, I did not.

‘When I did speak up, I was terrified. I remember my heart beating out of my chest, thinking, “What did I do? This man is hiring me!”‘

But J-Lo didn’t let her fear dim her feistiness, as what she said next proves.

‘I knew the behaviour wasn’t right,’ she said. ‘It could have gone either way for me. But I think, ultimately, the Bronx in me was like, “Nah, we’re not having it.”‘

J-Lo did not name the pervy director but she did reveal that the inappropriate request was made on one of her first films.

She made her movie debut at the age of 16 in 1986’s My Little Girl, before going on to star in Selena, Anaconda and Out Of Sight.

On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, J-Lo wore black in support of the Time’s Up movement for gender equality.

Author: Anna Thomson