Jennifer Lopez has a hot take about life in the Big Apple.
“You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker,” Lopez, 56, said during a Thursday, June 4, interview on the “Subway Takes” TikTok account. “Yes, I know everybody wants to claim the city.”
She continued, “Everybody wants to claim our city, but you have to be born in New York. You have to be born in one of the five boroughs to be a New Yorker.”
Lopez, affectionately known as “Jenny from the block,” was born and raised in the New York borough of the Bronx.
“Subway Takes” host Kareem Rahma, however, countered that he was told NYC residents can claim the city after a decade.
“When I moved here in 2012, everyone was like, ‘In 10 years, you can call yourself a New Yorker,’” Rahma, 39, pointed out in rebuttal. “Then, I stayed 10 years. … The New Yorkers used to have this as a rule.”
Lopez argued that she never heard about such a “rule.”
“That’s a rule? I didn’t get the memo,” she stated. “I did not sign the petition. … You live in New York, you take on characteristics of New Yorkers, probably, by [50 years here], you have a New York sensibility, you pay New York taxes, [but] when you’re born in New York, that’s when you’re a New Yorker.”
The Office Romance actress added, “I said what I said, and I meant it.”
Lopez’s position soon raised eyebrows from social media users.
“Ma’am you have lived outside of New York longer than you lived in it,” one TikTok commenter replied, referring to Lopez’s current residence in Los Angeles, as another chimed in, “Coming from J. Lo is kind of hilarious.”
Other social media users agreed with Rahma that a 10-year residency qualifies as “New Yorker” status.
“Carrie Bradshaw made this claim, 10 years qualifies as a New Yorker,” a TikToker wrote, referring to the Sex and the City protagonist. “I got 40 years in this town. I’m a New Yorker.”
A fourth noted, “I think if you lived in NY for [the]majority of your life you’re a New Yorker.”
Lopez, meanwhile, was backed up by a handful of supporters.
“You guys says ‘Coming from J. Lo…’ but shorty is literally from The Bronx,” a social media user replied, with another succinctly noting, “She’s right though.”
Lopez has not publicly addressed the backlash. Us Weekly has reached out for comment.
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