Bennifer hater? Who is Jennifer Lopez’s mum, Guadalupe Rodríguez, who J.Lo credits with getting her into music and dance – and what does she think about the Ben Affleck divorce rumours?

Lopez grew up in the Bronx with her parents, Guadalupe aka Lupe, and David Lopez, who are both from Puerto Rico and reportedly instilled a fierce work ethic in J.Lo through their own hard work.

Nowadays, the Hustlers star never misses an opportunity to gush about her mum. In an Instagram post for Mother’s Day this year, J.Lo said, “As the years go by, I realise more and more the sacrifices you made of yourself and your dreams to give us the opportunity and strength to live our own. I love you and accept you for who you are … Thank you for the joy that you instilled in me.”

Read on to find out everything we know about the woman who’s had J.Lo’s back from day one.

Guadalupe Rodríguez was born in Puerto Rico

Rodríguez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and married Jennifer’s father when she was 20 years old. By the time she was 25, she’d had her three daughters and the Lopez household was complete.

Rodríguez reportedly became a full-time homemaker after getting married, and worked hard to raise their three daughters and provide a good life for her children in the Bronx’s Castle Hill neighbourhood in New York. At one point, she even reportedly sold Tupperware and worked at a school to support her family. However, J.Lo’s parents’ marriage ended after nearly three decades together, soon after Jennifer’s breakout role in 1997’s Selena.

She disapproved of J.Lo’s decision to skip college

Rodríguez has always been a pillar of support for J.Lo, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing between mother and daughter. When the “On the Floor” singer announced she wanted to pursue being a dancer rather than pursue further education, sparks flew between them.

“I didn’t want to go to college – I wanted to try dance full time,” J.Lo told W Magazine in 2013. “So she and I had a break. I started sleeping on the sofa in the dance studio. I was homeless, but I told her, ‘This is what I have to do.’”

Rodríguez once joined J.Lo on stage for a special performance

Rodríguez isn’t someone who stays in the a background quietly. In fact, she’s even joined her daughter for talk shows and performances in the past. For example, for Global Citizen’s Vax Live in May 2021 was a stand-out moment. According to Business Insider, Rodríguez and J.Lo performed a heartwarming duet of “Sweet Caroline” – but with a twist by changing the lyrics to “Sweet Jennifer”.

She influenced J.Lo’s passion for music

When accepting the Icon Award at the 2020 Billboard Women in Music event, J.Lo credited her mum for introducing her to dance and music, recalling their singalongs together as her first performances. “It’s what inspired me to do what I’ve had the privilege to do for all of you all these years,” Lopez said.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, the superstar shared that her mum was the one who introduced her to music and musicals. “I am an entertainer because of her,” she said.

She secretly wanted J.Lo and Ben Affleck to rekindle their romance

Despite her reported attitude towards him today, on the Today show last May, Rodríguez said she always knew J.Lo and Affleck would find their way back to each other. “Because I prayed for 20 years,” she said, earning an eye roll from her daughter.

Perhaps that was because it was news to Lopez, who told Entertainment Tonight, “It’s so funny, she never said that to me … She really loved him when we were together before, so maybe deep down, I don’t know.”