Marc Anthony Said Jennifer Lopez Was ‘Harsh’ in Her Criticism of Him

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were romantic partners , but also professional ones. While they were together, the couple collaborated on a number of projects. This gave Anthony insight into Lopez’s extremely hardworking nature. He said that while he appreciated the drive she helped instill in him, she could be harsh when she wasn’t happy with him.

Marc Anthony said Jennifer Lopez could be demanding

Anthony and Lopez first met in 1998, but they didn’t begin a romantic relationship until 2004. They reconnected and married that year. Over the years, they performed at the Grammys together, produced and starred in films, and hosted a reality show. Anthony said Lopez helped him develop a stronger work ethic.

“[S]eriously, she’s taught me discipline,” he told Vanity Fair in 2011, adding, “I was just a musician’s musician, you know what I mean? And now I get up at six in the morning, film Hawthorne , score the show, and I make my meetings.”

He said Lopez likely worked too much and could be hard on him when he didn’t meet her expectations. Still, he said he appreciated the place she helped him reach.

“We know each other, we know when we can’t tolerate each other, and we each have that sounding board [in each other],” he said. “She’s harsh with her criticism sometimes, but it’s just because she wants me to be the best I can be. I will always be there for her. It’s a very, very dynamic life. I’m taxing myself and pushing myself to the limit, work-wise. But I’ve been faced with the phone not ringing, and that’s not fun. I’d rather this.”

Jennifer Lopez shared what it was like to be married to Marc Anthony

When speaking about their marriage, Lopez admitted that she and Anthony fought “about everything.” It made their relationship a challenge .

“Marriage is tough,” she said. “It’s not going to be perfect and it’s not going to be awful if you’re going to stay in it. It’s definitely challenging.”

Still, she said they tried to navigate their way through it together.

“I think you both need to run the show sometimes,” she said. “It has to be a balance, or else it just gets boring. Sometimes I need to be in charge, sometimes he needs to be in charge. It’s a partnership.”

The couple ended their marriage in 2011

Not long after her Vanity Fair interview, Lopez and Anthony decided to divorce. In a follow-up to the magazine, she explained that it was one of the most difficult decisions she ever made.

“This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to face,” she said. “I really wanted this family to work. That was my biggest dream, and I worked hard at it. We both did. Sometimes it doesn’t work — and that’s sad.”

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Still, she said she remained optimistic about her path forward.

“But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love, as I told you. It’s still my biggest dream,” she said, adding, “I am positive — determined to move forward with my life, bring up my babies, and do the best job I can as a mother, entertainer, and person. I now look forward to new challenges. I feel strong.”