Fact Check: Are the pictures of Jennifer Lopez without makeup real or fake? Viral images debunked

Pictures of singer-actress Jennifer Lopez without makeup recently went viral online, raising eyebrows about her looks. The pictures showed the 55-year-old looking older than she did in other photos.

Pictures of the Maid in Manhattan star were originally shared on X on September 3, 2024, by someone whose username is "Concerned Citizen." The person, whose handle is @BGatesIsaPsycho, shared a collage of two images of JLo, one a close-up of her face and the other a full-frame photo.

"What's the name of that stuff celebrities in Hollywood allegedly take that's allegedly in current short supply again please?" the post was captioned.

However, the post was fake. The reader's context under Concerned Citizen's post stated that the "images have been digitally altered to make Jennifer Lopez appear more aged than she is." It also provided a link to a Daily Mail UK article from October 2019 where the original photos were first published.

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The “fake” Jennifer Lopez makeup-less photos first arose in 2023

An X user who goes by the name Concerned Citizen and the handle @BGatesIsaPsycho shared a collage of Jennifer Lopez's photos. The user claims that they are a "conspiracy realist/coincidence analyzer” in their bio.

The pictures showed Jennifer Lopez without makeup, wearing a GUESS black sweatshirt, blue Adidas track pants, black socks, and a pair of matching sandals. Concerned Citizen's pictures of the singer also showed her hair in a high top knot. However, the Atlas actress appeared more aged than usual.

However, the images were fake, and it was revealed that they were edited digitally by adding aging effects, like wrinkles on the actress' face. Snopes reported conducting a TinEye reverse image search, which revealed that the pictures were “manipulated to artificially age Lopez’s face.”

It is worth noting that the original images were circulated in October 2019 and showed Jennifer Lopez in a makeup-free look and casual attire. However, the images didn't have the aging elements.

According to the Daily Mail UK link provided under Concerned Citizen’s post, the pictures were taken after a day of shooting her movie Marry Me. JLo starred in the 2022 movie with Owen Wilson. The article’s title read, “Jennifer Lopez, 50, shows off her youthful good looks as she goes make-up free in NYC after a busy day of filming rom-com Marry Me.”

Notably, the same computer-altered images were also shared on TikTok where fans pointed out how she looked “very different” without makeup. However, those also turned out to be fake.

This is not the first time Jennifer Lopez’s supposed aged look has garnered traction online. They went into circulation in late 2023 and earned over 3.1 million views, as per Snopes. The outlet reported that they resurfaced once again in July 2024.

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JLo reportedly looking to "rebrand herself" after filing for divorce

JLo filed for divorce from her husband, Ben Affleck, in August 2024, after two years of marriage. In the wake of the news of the split, Lopez is reportedly "rebranding herself," according to an insider source's statement to Page Six.

The source told the outlet that Lopez was “looking to make over her image” and was “open to listening to new voices of those around her.” The source reportedly said that the singer needed advice from new people to "add a new layer" and get newer suggestions.

The singer canceled her tour and is taking some time off to spend with her kids, family, and close friends. She also posted pictures of herself on social media in a swimsuit and a t-shirt with R.H. Sin’s quote, “She’s in bloom and unbothered out of reach and at peace.”