how much editing had gone into the images she chose to share herself. The stark contrast also reignited long-running speculation about whether the star has ever turned to Botox or other cosmetic procedures to maintain her appearance.
Filtered Photos vs. Red Carpet Reality
Lopez, 56, attended the premiere of her new rom-com Office Romance on Tuesday, May 26, wearing a black Versace gown. She paired the look with long, straight hair and smoky bronze makeup for the red carpet appearance.
Shortly after, she posted several photos and videos from the night on Instagram. In that content, her skin looked notably airbrushed and glowy, with flushed cheeks and softened features throughout.
The issue was the contrast: untouched images from photographers at the same premiere showed more natural signs of aging, including wrinkles around her eyes, forehead, and mouth. Side-by-side, the two versions looked like different photos entirely.
Fans Weigh In Online
Social media users didn’t hold back once the comparisons started circulating. “When filters cannot help,” one person wrote on X alongside a side-by-side of the Instagram upload and an unedited red carpet shot.
Others echoed the sentiment. “It’s not horrible except she always uses filters so when you see the unfiltered version,” one user wrote, while another suggested it “would be the right time for JLo to embrace aging, not twerk her way out of it.”
Not everyone was critical. Several commenters pushed back in her defense, with one writing, “She looks good for her age actually,” and another adding, “Jlo looks amazing for her age. Real skin has texture. Stop trying to shame mature women.” A third simply noted, “She looks her age and that’s ok.”
Lopez’s Long History Denying Cosmetic Work
The renewed scrutiny also revived years-old speculation about whether Lopez has had cosmetic procedures done. It’s a question she’s addressed publicly more than once, most notably back in 2021.
When a social media user accused her of “definitely” having Botox, Lopez replied directly: “LOL thats just my face!!! For the 500 millionth time… I have never done Botox or any injectable or surgery!! Just sayin’ 😊.”
She’s also made clear she has no issue with people who choose those routes, but it simply isn’t her preference. “It’s just not my thing,” she said at the time.
Instead, Lopez has pointed to skincare and non-invasive treatments as her go-to approach. “I want the hyaluronic acid in there. I want the things that are going to help, because I don’t want to have to go to the needles at some point. I’m not saying one day I won’t, but I haven’t yet,” she explained previously.
Her comfort with aging has also come up in past interviews. Speaking with W Magazine in 2017, Lopez said her confidence has only grown with age, contrasting it with how she felt in her twenties. “Men in their 20s are very confident and cocky, and women are super-insecure. And then it flips: Men get super-insecure, and women get comfortable in their own skin, in a way that makes them more beautiful,” she said.
She added that she didn’t fully appreciate her looks when she was younger but does now. “And it’s not about perfection. I like the scars that I have,” she said.
Her Upcoming Netflix Rom-Com ‘Office Romance’
The premiere that sparked the photo comparisons was for Office Romance, Lopez’s upcoming Netflix rom-com co-starring Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein. In the film, Lopez plays Jackie Cruz, an airline CEO who begins a secret relationship with a newly hired employee played by Goldstein.
Speaking to People, Lopez praised Goldstein and admitted he surprised her by being nothing like his gruff Roy Kent persona. “I expected more of a rough guy, but you get this kind, gentle but also very smart person that is so charming. That was a surprise, I think,” she said.
Lopez also revealed the project was written specifically with her in mind, and that Goldstein and co-writer Joe Kelly told her the film wouldn’t move forward without her attached. She described the tone as slightly edgier than her usual rom-coms while still carrying “all the DNA of a classic romantic comedy that you love.”
Office Romance is set to premiere on Netflix on June 5, with a supporting cast that includes Betty Gilpin, Tony Hale, Amy Sedaris, Edward James Olmos, and Bradley Whitford.