In 2022, shortly after Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot, Lopez received an unexpected call from Jane Fonda. The two had maintained a close friendship since co-starring in the 2005 film Monster-in-Law, and Fonda had even introduced Lopez when she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This time, Lopez reached out with a unique request: she wanted Fonda to participate in a yet-to-be-defined musical film exploring Lopez’s romantic struggles in a self-aware, almost autobiographical way. The proposal included Fonda playing a member of Lopez’s “Zodiac love council”—a concept that would later become part of Lopez’s larger multimedia project.
Fonda, however, was hesitant. Before making a decision, she turned to Benny Medina, Lopez’s longtime manager, to voice her reservations. She questioned whether such a project might come across as overly celebratory of the Lopez-Affleck relationship, potentially sparking public criticism. According to Medina, Fonda shared this sentiment: “Everyone in the world is rooting for this love story. The way it’s presented is so important—it needs to avoid feeling excessive or like it’s being flaunted. Otherwise, it could invite backlash or resentment.”
Medina relayed Fonda’s thoughts to Lopez, and the two women eventually had a direct conversation, which was later included in Lopez’s new documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told. This documentary is a key piece of Lopez’s ambitious $20 million, three-part multimedia project that delves into her personal experiences as a serial romantic.
In the documentary, Fonda candidly admits her concerns. “I don’t entirely know why,” Fonda tells Lopez, “but I feel invested in you and Ben. I really want this to work. However, it feels like you’re trying to prove something instead of just living your life. You know, every other photo is of the two of you kissing or hugging.”
Lopez, smiling on-screen, responds, “That’s just us living our life.”
Despite her initial hesitation, Fonda eventually agreed to take part in the musical project. Later in the documentary, she shares another widely felt worry about the high-profile relationship. This time, it stemmed from the media frenzy after photos surfaced of Affleck appearing tired or unenthused while attending the 2023 Grammy Awards with Lopez. Fonda recalls her reaction, saying, “I got really scared. All that talk about the Grammys, and he looked unhappy. I was like, ‘Oh no, what’s going on?’”
Lopez addresses the situation with characteristic humor, saying, “Nothing was wrong. He told me, ‘I’ve just become the symbol of the beleaguered man.’”
Fonda’s involvement in the film marks just one element of Lopez’s deeply personal exploration of love, relationships, and resilience. The Greatest Love Story Never Told reflects Lopez’s determination to take creative risks and share her narrative on her own terms. By self-funding this project, Lopez has proven her commitment to crafting a story that is as bold and multifaceted as her life itself.