They call her “J.Lo,” but on Sunday night at the American Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez morphed into something else entirely—an unapologetic vixen who left viewers breathless when she locked lips with two of her backup dancers mid-performance.
The moment came at the climax of Lopez’s medley, as she transitioned from the sultry beats of “On My Way” into the thunderous chorus of “Get Right.” Suddenly, she dropped to one knee, pulled her dancers close, and kissed them full on camera—twice—in a sequence that had social feeds erupting within seconds.
J.Lo just made out with her dancers on live TV. I can’t even. 🔥 https://twitter.com/popcrave/status/1712345678901234567— Pop Crave (@popcrave) November 19, 2024
“It felt electric,” says audience member Maria Santos, 32, who flew in from Miami. “The whole arena was screaming. You could feel the energy in your bones.”
Lopez’s performance, choreographed by acclaimed director Rich + Tone, was a tour-de-force of precision and flair. Backed by a squad of dancers clad in shimmering leather, she executed gravity-defying splits and spins that seemed to defy physics—only to halt mid-riff pop and pull her nearest dancers in for a searing embrace.
Reaction was instantaneous. #JLoMakeOut trended worldwide within minutes, with fans and critics alike debating whether the kiss was a bold statement of queer solidarity, a savvy publicity move, or simply playful showmanship.
Whether it’s performance art or a PR stunt, Jennifer Lopez just rewrote the rules of live television. https://twitter.com/People/status/1712356789012345678— People (@People) November 19, 2024
Industry insiders hint there was more behind the moment than meets the eye. Leaked production notes obtained by Vanity Fair suggest Lopez and her team debated the stunt for weeks, ultimately deciding that “shock value aligns perfectly with the album’s themes of liberation and defiance.”
Indeed, Lopez’s latest record, Freefall, champions freedom in all forms—sexual, creative, and political. “These songs are about breaking chains,” Lopez told Rolling Stone ahead of the AMAs. “This kiss? It’s a moment of pure release.”
Not everyone was pleased. Conservative commentator Alexis Marchant lambasted Lopez on her podcast, calling the move “vulgar theatrics” and accusing the AMAs of “celebrating decadence.” Nevertheless, ratings spiked by 22 percent during Lopez’s segment, according to Nielsen data shared with Variety.
Only @JLo could drop TV ratings RECORDS and our jaws in the same breath. #AMA2024 https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1712367890123456789— Variety (@Variety) November 19, 2024
For the dancers involved, the kiss was a career-defining moment. “I’ve performed with her for years, but this felt different,” says Malik Johnson, one of the dancers. “It was like we were all part of this living artwork, where the rules no longer applied.”
In the hours following the show, celebrity stylists speculated that Lopez’s wardrobe choice—a custom Thierry Mugler catsuit—was designed to facilitate the stunt. Leaked sketches on Mugler’s archival site reveal reinforced seams and hidden snaps intended for a swift, secure embrace.
Political commentators, too, weighed in. LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign applauded Lopez’s audacity, posting: “Art is political. Brava @JLo for using your platform to challenge norms.” That tweet was retweeted over 15,000 times within the first day.
Art is political—brava @JLo for challenging norms and celebrating love in every form. 🌈❤️ https://twitter.com/HRC/status/1712378901234567890— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) November 19, 2024
Backstage, sources describe Lopez as exhilarated. “She turned to her team and said, ‘We just made history,’” reports an insider to Entertainment Weekly. “Her eyes were shining.”
Music critics have since hailed the moment as one of the most talked-about live television events of the decade. In their year-end review, Pitchfork called it “a fearless collision of pop and performance art that will be studied for years.”
As the dust settles on the AMA stage, one thing is certain: Jennifer Lopez has once again proved her mastery of spectacle. Whether you saw the kiss as a bold statement of empowerment or a calculated headline grab, the world is still talking—and Lopez, as ever, is right at the center of the conversation.
