Jennifer Lopez will never win Oscar as Hollywood sees her as a 'Kardashian', not an actress: Source

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Despite her undeniable talent and work ethic, Jennifer Lopez just can’t seem to break through Hollywood’s awards-season glass ceiling.

As her divorce from Ben Affleck made headlines yet again, insiders are spilling the tea on why Lopez is unlikely to ever take home an Oscar. 

Hollywood sees Jennifer Lopez as a celebrity, not an actress

Jennifer Lopez has done it all, with nine studio albums and over 35 films under her belt.

In 1997, her breakout role in 'Selena' earned her a Golden Globe nomination. This year, she continues to chase her acting dreams with performances in movies like 'Unstoppable', where she portrayed Judy Robles.

However, the Academy just doesn’t seem to take her seriously. An insider recently told NewsNation, “People see JLo as a celebrity—not an actress.” That perception could explain why Lopez was left out of the 2025 Oscar nominations for Unstoppable."

This isn’t the first time Lopez’s public image has been scrutinized. A separate insider dished about Lopez’s infamous Bridgerton-themed birthday party in 2024, which noticeably lacked one key guest -- her then-husband Ben Affleck.

“Where are her real friends? She doesn’t have any anymore,” the source claimed, before adding, “She’s turned herself into a Kardashian: all pictures and paparazzi, oversharing everything, and no actual substance.”

Jennifer Lopez and her history of Oscar snubs

'Unstoppable' isn’t Jennifer Lopez’s first run-in with Academy disappointment. Her 2019 movie 'Hustlers' had critics raving about her performance as the savvy stripper-turned-scammer Ramona. Lopez herself thought she’d finally get her big moment.

“The truth is, I really started to think I was gonna get nominated,” she admitted in her Netflix documentary 'Halftime'. “I got my hopes up because so many people were telling me I would be. And then it didn’t happen,” she added. 

Fast-forward to 2025, and it seems history has repeated itself. According to a source who spoke to Daily Mail, Lopez, who delivered a “sensational” performance in 'Unstoppable', believed would finally win over the Academy.

“She wants an Oscar for Unstoppable,” the insider said. “She is sensational in it. I saw the movie, and wow, she nails it.” But apparently, the Academy still wasn’t convinced. 

One of the biggest challenges Lopez faces is her glitzy, larger-than-life image that works against her, sources claimed. “I think a lot of people have discounted her acting skills because she is such a glamazon,” the insider explained. “But this film is a wake-up call, like, hey guys, she can really act her pants off.”

They insisted that Lopez “wanted the Oscar for Hustlers,” but the “prejudice against her” didn’t allow for the nomination. “There is a hope that she will get the gold for Unstoppable,” they said well before the reveal of the nomination list. 

Lopez’s split from Ben Affleck might’ve even played into the narrative. “It helps that she is now seen as the victim in the Affleck split. I think voters may want to give her the award now; they feel she has been through a lot," an insider said.

Ben Affleck’s take

Interestingly, Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband Ben Affleck has always been one of her biggest cheerleaders. After 'Hustlers', Affleck was shocked that Lopez didn’t get an Oscar nod.

“She should have been nominated,” Affleck told the New York Times in 2020. “She’s the real thing. I keep in touch periodically with her and have a lot of respect for her. How awesome is it that she had her biggest hit movie at 50? That’s f***ing baller.”

Affleck hasn’t held back about 'Unstoppable' either, describing Lopez’s performance as “spectacular.”