Jennifer Lopez’s highly anticipated “This Is Me… Now” tour has finally come to an end, marking one of the biggest stories in entertainment this year. The tour, which was announced in February, was a part of a grand project that included an album, two films, and a celebration of Lopez’s personal life and her reunion with actor Ben Affleck. However, despite the initial hype, the album received a lukewarm response, and it wasn’t long before rumors started circulating about poor ticket sales for the tour. Ticketmaster seating charts, along with insider reports and rumors, provided the only glimpse into the tour’s lackluster performance.
After ongoing reports, Jennifer Lopez discreetly rebranded her tour to focus more on her successful career hits rather than promoting her new album. Although ticket sales were strong in a few markets, they were underwhelming in most. Then, on a picturesque Spring Friday, which conveniently provides the perfect backdrop for delivering bad news, the bombshell was dropped: the tour was canceled to allow her more quality time with loved ones. No official reason was given for this decision (though “more time with family” is often used as a euphemism by politicians and CEOs when they are stepping down due to more scandalous circumstances). However, the gossip magazines were quick to link it to rumors of her breakup with Ben Affleck. Those close to the singer were swift to emphasize the tour’s success in places like New York and Los Angeles, conveniently avoiding any mention of its apparent disaster in most other locations.
Why do we judge and criticize celebrities when their plans don’t go as expected? Just a few days ago, the popular rock duo the Black Keys had to cancel their ambitious North American tour. This raised questions about the state of the touring business. However, when Jennifer Lopez also canceled her tour shortly after, the focus shifted to her personal choices.
Some online commentators wasted no time in speculating and criticizing J-Lo. They questioned whether she had considered her family before making tour plans, implying that she was neglecting her responsibilities. Others accused her of using her family as an excuse for low ticket sales or as a publicity stunt for her marriage.
But why do we, as a society, feel the need to jump to such conclusions? Why do we scrutinize celebrities and make assumptions about their personal lives? It’s important to remember that celebrities are human beings with their own struggles and challenges. Canceling a tour or making changes to plans doesn’t automatically make them irresponsible or deceitful.
Instead of rushing to judgment, we should strive to understand the complexities of their lives and the pressures they face. While it’s natural to be curious about the lives of celebrities, we should approach it with empathy and respect. Let’s focus on appreciating their talents and contributions to the entertainment industry, rather than tearing them down when things don’t go as planned.
In general, the reasons for both cancellations are similar: an artist who is no longer as commercially successful as before makes an overly optimistic prediction about the reception of their new project, but ends up being wrong and facing the consequences. This also affects their partners in the venture, including promoters, venues, dancers, and truck drivers, as organizing a tour of that magnitude requires the collaboration of numerous individuals. Sadly, the public often overlooks the fact that these cancellations have a direct impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of people involved, and instead seems to derive some satisfaction from these missteps.
While J-Lo targets a pop audience, the Black Keys aimed for a more loyal and less fickle rock fanbase. The pop world in which J-Lo thrives has a short attention span and is notoriously unforgiving of perceived missteps. These missteps can range from intentional factors, such as having a romantic partner that fans dislike, to unintentional ones, like releasing a self-absorbed autobiographical project by someone who is not known for kindness or humility. Despite her Bronx toughness and confidence, J-Lo is fully aware of the challenges that come with being a pop artist and is well-versed in navigating the industry.
However, the consequences of fame and power often disconnect individuals from reality. It becomes inconsequential whether those surrounding her also believed in the success of her project and tour. It doesn’t matter if no one had the courage to question the decision to revive Bennifer as a commercial venture, considering the disastrous failure of “Gigli” in 2003, which not only ruined their reputation as a couple but also negatively impacted their careers. The outcome remained unchanged: the tour was cancelled, and the album struggled to gain traction. Artists make similar misjudgments on a yearly basis.
The backlash and negativity online surrounding the failure of this project have been incredibly intense. The term “schadenfreude,” which combines the German words for “damage” or “harm” and “joy,” perfectly captures the illogical pleasure some people take in others’ misfortune. While men can also be targets of this behavior – remember Martin Shkreli and his universally despised face? – it seems that society reserves its harshest criticism for powerful, successful, and talented women.
It is widely known that women’s rights are facing intense attacks, not only in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, and the United States, but also in institutions like the Supreme Court, state governments, and even at Benedictine College’s commencement. However, it is important to note that this hatred is not solely coming from men. Often, we find ourselves disliking public figures without truly understanding or consciously considering the reasons behind it.
Why do we frequently subject women to this treatment? Could it be because society sees them as an easier target due to their perceived vulnerability and “weaker” status (sarcasm intended)? Or is it possible that there is a subconscious resentment towards women for giving birth to all of us? Another reason could be that scientific evidence consistently proves that women are stronger than men in almost every aspect except physical strength, leading to a desire for control and a need to put strong women “in their place.”
It’s unlikely that our dislike or weariness of someone is deeply rooted in our subconscious. Sometimes, we simply don’t like someone’s face (for example, Shkreli, who was never given a fair chance). Other times, we may resent their success or feel envious of their happiness, especially if they appear to flaunt it. In the public eye, J-Lo seems to have fallen victim to these latter two sentiments. The rumors of her potential separation from Affleck, less than two years into their marriage, feels like the inevitable climax before a redemption arc that will likely occur when people finally realize how unfair they were (similar to the situation with Britney Spears).
Beyonce also took a similar path during the height of her career. She openly addressed the challenges in her own marriage, deepening her connection with her audience through the powerful lyrics of her album and tour, “Lemonade.” However, she followed it up with a duet album with her husband Jay-Z, titled “Everything Is Love” in 2018. Although it initially received positive reception, in hindsight, the album comes across as self-indulgent, overly sentimental, and excessively self-congratulatory. It’s difficult to empathize with two individuals who are near-billionaires singing about their struggles, especially considering their influential status and the fear that surrounds their fanbases. This enabled them to avoid the backlash that usually follows such arrogance.
Jennifer Lopez, at the age of 54, is facing a challenging phase in her pop star career. It is uncommon for artists of her age to produce hit singles – examples like Cher’s “Believe” and Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam” were released decades apart. Only iconic stars with extensive catalogs of hits, such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Billy Joel, can continue touring arenas well into their retirement age. However, this category lacks female representation. Most of the highest-grossing female touring artists, like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Pink, are under 45 years old. The exception is Madonna, who, at 65, performed to moderate audiences during her recently concluded “Celebration” tour. Madonna has withstood numerous challenges and emerged victorious, but it has required an exceptional level of determination akin to a once-in-a-generation hurricane.
It’s difficult to comprehend that there are individuals who eagerly anticipate seeing Taylor Swift, the world’s most successful and widely-known entertainer, stumble and fall during her highly lucrative “Eras” tour. These troll-like people, who may even derive some twisted satisfaction from witnessing her leggy and towering presence take a spill, seem to revel in the idea of proving that she is not perfect. Is it because they are tired of her success and resent her happiness? Or does it somehow provide them with solace in their own failures? And if so, what does that say about us?
Variety aggressively pursued reports of J. Lo’s low ticket sales, not out of schadenfreude, but because such stories are important in our industry. Unfortunately, bad news tends to attract more clicks than good news. Her fans reacted strongly, which is to be expected, but the stories were highly successful. This reminded me of something that often happens when negative attention is directed towards a female public figure. Back during the peak of Lena Dunham’s TV series “Girls,” there was a video meme circulating where young women humorously and sarcastically expressed their dislike for the show, even though they had never actually watched it.
It may have been said in jest, but the statement reflects a disturbing truth about the lack of thought and logic behind the criticism that female public figures like J. Lo are currently facing. This mindset likely plays a significant role in undermining the success of many accomplished women, including Hillary Clinton’s defeat by a blatantly misogynistic opponent in 2016.
J. Lo is a talented artist who will undoubtedly bounce back from this setback, as she has proven her resilience time and time again. However, it begs the question: why should she have to endure such treatment in the first place? There are clearly deeper issues at play here, beyond just a canceled tour. It forces us to reflect on the pleasure we derive from others’ misfortune and consider the potential harm caused by our complicity in perpetuating this harmful cycle, even if it’s through seemingly harmless clicks.