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Honestly, if you thought Jennifer Lopez was going to play it safe for her big return to the stage, you clearly haven't been paying attention for the last thirty years. The 2025 American Music Awards just wrapped up in Las Vegas, and while Billie Eilish might have walked away with the most hardware, the American Music Awards Jennifer Lopez performance is the only thing currently lighting up every group chat on the planet.
It was a lot.
Hosting the show is already a massive lift, but JLo decided to kick the doors down at the BleauLive Theater by turning the opening number into a high-octane, sweat-soaked statement of intent. She’s 55 now. Let that sink in. Most people are worried about their knees at that age, but Lopez was out there doing a high-intensity medley that felt like a fever dream of 2024’s biggest hits mixed with her own "Dance Again" from 2012.
The Performance Everyone Is Arguing About
The set started with a classic JLo move—mirrors. Lots of them. The whole concept was built around reflections and "losing control," which she explained to Variety later as a narrative about how we all process music differently. But nobody is talking about the metaphorical mirrors. They’re talking about the kisses.
In the middle of a remixed sequence featuring Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us" and Chappell Roan’s "Hot To Go," things got... cozy. Lopez ended up locking lips with both male and female backup dancers in a sequence that felt like a deliberate callback to that iconic 2003 VMA moment between Madonna and Britney.
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Some people on Twitter are calling it "extraordinary" and proof she’s the greatest living performer. Others? Not so much. The "cringe" allegations are flying thick and fast, with some critics labeling it a "desperate PR stunt" to distract from her messy split with Ben Affleck.
What Actually Happened on Stage?
If you missed the broadcast, here is the breakdown of the chaos:
- The Intro: A ballad-style opening that quickly flipped into a high-bpm "Dance Again."
- The Medley: She transitioned into a massive mashup of "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims and "Die With a Smile." It was a weird mix on paper, but the energy in the room was undeniably high.
- The Controversy: The "three-way" kiss moment with the dancers.
- The Tribute: She ended the whole thing by saluting veterans, since the show fell on Memorial Day.
Talk about whiplash. One minute she’s doing provocative choreography, the next she’s leading a patriotic salute. That is the Jennifer Lopez brand in a nutshell: total spectacle, zero apologies.
The Long History of JLo at the AMAs
This wasn't her first rodeo. Not even close. During the 50th Anniversary Special that aired back in late 2024, Lopez got all nostalgic about her history with this specific awards show. She’s been a staple here since 2001.
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Remember 2011? That was the year she performed "On the Floor" with Pitbull and things got weirdly "organic" on stage (if you know, you know). Or 2015, when she hosted the first time and did that legendary dance medley to "Anaconda" and "Uptown Funk." She changed outfits like eleven times that night.
But 2025 feels different. There is a lot of weight on her shoulders right now. After canceling her "This Is Me... Live" tour earlier in 2024—reportedly due to low ticket sales and personal drama—this AMA slot was clearly a "redemption" play. She even announced a new Las Vegas residency right after the show.
Why the 2025 Performance Hit Differently
Usually, a JLo performance is just a masterclass in jazz funk and hair flips. This time, it felt like she was fighting for her life—artistically speaking.
She told People that she actually hurt her nose during rehearsals and needed stitches. You couldn't tell from the broadcast, but that kind of "the show must go on" grit is why she’s still here while most of her contemporaries have retired to the Vegas lounge circuit.
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What the Critics Are Saying (And Why They're Wrong)
The "desperate" tag is being thrown around a lot by UK tabloids like The Daily Mail and Metro. They’re claiming she’s trying to make Ben jealous or recapture a youth that’s slipped away.
But here’s the thing: since when has pop music been about being "age-appropriate"?
If a 25-year-old did that performance, we’d call it a Monday. Because it’s JLo, there’s this weird magnifying glass over every hip thrust. The reality is that the American Music Awards Jennifer Lopez performance did exactly what it was supposed to do. It made you look. It made you talk. It made you realize that even when she’s down, she is never out.
Actionable Takeaways for the JLovers
If you're looking to keep up with the fallout or see what's next for the Bronx icon, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Uncut Version: The broadcast cut some of the wider shots during the Chappell Roan segment; search for the fan-cam versions on TikTok to see the full choreography.
- Check the Residency Dates: If you liked the AMA energy, her new Vegas residency at the Fontainebleau is expected to mirror this high-production style. Tickets are likely to go fast now that the "comeback" narrative is in full swing.
- Ignore the Noise: Look at the technicality of the dance. Regardless of the "cringe" factor, the precision she maintains at 55 is a literal athletic feat.
The 2025 AMAs proved that Lopez is still the queen of the "watercooler moment." Whether you loved the kisses or found the whole thing a bit much, you can't deny that the woman knows how to build a stage and burn it down.