Jennifer Lopez Once Sued an Ex-Husband and Won $545,000
Jennifer Lopez has been involved in a few high-profile relationships over the course of her life. The iconic singer and actor has been open about her affinity for being in a relationship over being single. She’s noted that she truly “loves” love.
While many fans are familiar with her more recent relationships with stars like Alex Rodriguez and Ben Affleck, a number of Lopez fans might not be aware of her first marriage — and the dramatic way that it ended. Notably, after the split, Lopez went on to sue her ex-husband, winning a sizable sum of money.
How long were Jennifer Lopez and Ojani Noa married?
Jennifer Lopez was still a star on the rise when she met Ojani Noa, a waiter and aspiring actor. According to Popsugar, the two first crossed paths sometime in 1996 and hit it off quickly, getting married in 1997. Their union was short-lived.
Less than a year after they got married, Lopez and Noa announced their split. At first, the split seemed amicable enough. In 2002, Lopez even hired Noa to manage her restaurant, Madres, according to Hollywood Life.
It’s unclear when or how things started to sour between the couple. Lopez has kept the exact reason for their divorce under wraps. However, certain events that made headlines in 2004 could provide a glimpse into the dynamic between Lopez and Noa and could even explain the animosity.
Lopez sued Ojani Noa after they divorced
Lopez and Noa had been divorced for six years when, in 2004, rumors swirled that Noa was shopping around a tell-all book about his relationship with Lopez. According to Popsugar, Noa also allegedly attempted to release a sex tape made during their honeymoon.
Lopez claimed that her ex’s attempt at selling the private material was a violation of a confidentiality agreement between the two. She took Noa to court, suing him for $10 million and successfully blocking the release of the material.
In 2007, Lopez sued Noa again when the topic of the tell-all book came up. Lopez was ultimately successful in her suit. According to Reuters, Lopez won approximately $545,000 in the arbitration of the lawsuit. She also received a permanent injunction barring Noa from disclosing any intimate information about their relationship for his own personal or financial gain.
Jennifer Lopez has been married two more times
Lopez wasn’t burned too badly by her short-lived marriage to Noa. She went on to marry backup dancer Cris Judd in 2001. Their brief love affair made headlines around the world with their extravagant wedding providing plenty of stunning photo ops. Ultimately, that marriage was also short-lived, with the two announcing their split in 2002.
According to InStyle Magazine, Lopez and Judd released a statement that read, “Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd have announced they have resolved all issues arising out of their marriage…The resolution was extremely amicable . . . The two will remain friends.” The publication notes that Lopez and Judd remain friendly to this day.
In 2004, Lopez married singer Marc Anthony. This marriage lasted for seven years and resulted in twins and a variety of professional collaborations. Many fans were surprised when Lopez and Anthony revealed in 2011 that they were separating. Lopez would later admit that while she never wanted a divorce, she had become very unhappy in the later years of her marriage to Anthony, turning to work as a form of solace.
After their 2012 divorce, Lopez and Anthony remained good friends, co-parenting their children with grace and affection. These days, of course, Lopez is engaged to Ben Affleck.
