EXCLUSIVEAlex Rodriguez Began Dating Jennifer Lopez As A 'Career Move,' But Is Now 'Begging' Singer 'To Not End' Their Engagement: Insider
Mar. 17 2021, Updated 9:20 a.m. ET
After Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez confirmed they are still engaged and working through their issues amid rumors that the two called it quits, OK! has learned that initially the former New York Yankee was more concerned about his career than finding a wife — but all that changed once he met Lopez.
“When they first got together, four years ago, Alex asked friends if they thought dating Jen would help or hurt his career,” a source exclusively tells OK!. “In the beginning, it seemed that getting together with Jen was more of a business move for him. But clearly over time, he fell in love, although it should be pointed out that dating her was also the best career move for him ever.”
The couple issued a joint statement shutting down the rumors that they broke up. But a pal close to the duo is telling OK! that A-Rod is the one “begging Jen to not end the engagement,” adding that J.Lo “has literally changed his life.”
The source continued: “Because of Jennifer he is meeting with Presidents at inaugurations and walking red carpets at the Met ball. Alex was rich and famous before Jennifer, but now he is more famous than he has ever been — and richer, too. He is more powerful when he is attached to her, while Jennifer’s power wouldn’t diminish if he went away.”
As OK! previously reported, Lopez and Rodriguez are dedicated to fighting for their relationship. "They never officially broke up and talked about it but are still together,” a source said. “They hit a rough patch. But were not broken up," noting that the tough time had nothing to do with the recent allegations that Rodriguez cheated on Lopez with Southern Charm’s Madison LeCroy.
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“This was not caused by a third party,” said a separate insider. “Madison [LeCroy] or anyone else. They are working through things.” With the “Dance Again” songstress in the Dominican Republic working on a film, and the athlete currently in Miami, “it's tough seeing each other especially with quarantining and COVID,” a source added, “but they want to try to stay together.”
Over the weekend, J.Lo took to social media to clear up the rumors that she’d split from A-Rod. A curated video montage showcased the singer’s sexy moves and major career accomplishments. The clip contained footage from her music videos and movies — including Hustlers and Selena. Also included were her appearance at President Joe Biden's inauguration in January, screenshots of past social media posts and headlines that claimed she and the athlete had called off their engagement.
After the headlines of the alleged split were displayed, the video then shows a one-second clip of J.Lo saying, "You're dumb."
Lopez and Rodriguez began dating in 2017 and got engaged in 2019. The pair were planning their wedding in early 2020 but were forced to cancel their nuptials twice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lopez was previously married to latin artist Marc Anthony, choreographer Cris Judd and actor Ojani Noa. She shares twins Emme and Max, 12, with Anthony.
Rodriguez was previously married to Cynthia Scurtis and shares two children as well: Natasha, 16, and Ella, 12.
