Taking the stage on Sunday at Los Angeles' Barker Hangar to accept her golden popcorn trophy, the 52-year-old actress and singer said, “I want to thank all the people who gave me this life. I want to thank the people who gave me joy, and the ones who broke my heart.”
“The ones who were true, and the ones who lied to me,” Lopez continued. “I want to thank true love, and I want to thank the way that I lied to myself, because that’s how I knew that I had to grow.”
The star went on to thank “disappointment and failure for teaching me to be strong,” and her children, 14-year-old twinsMax and Emme, “for teaching me to love,” as she teared up and cheers rang throughout the crowd.
“I want to thank all the people who told me, to my face — or, when I wasn’t in the room — that I couldn’t do this,” Lopez added, through tears. “I really don’t think I could’ve done it without you. And I know I couldn’t have done it without the fans who saw the movies.”
“You are the reason that I am here and that I have been here, and I love you!” she said.
Jennifer Lopez.Rich Polk/Getty
The Generation Award — which Lopez accepted after winning best song earlier in the night — “celebrates beloved actors whose diverse contributions to both film and television have turned them into household names,” according to a release.
Past recipients includeScarlett Johansson,Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,Chris Pratt,Will Smith,Reese Witherspoon,Robert Downey, Jr.,Mark Wahlberg,Sandra Bullock,Jamie Foxx,Johnny Depp,Ben Stiller,Adam Sandler,Mike Myers,Tom Cruise,Jim Carreyand the entireFast & Furiousfranchise.
RELATED VIDEO:Jennifer LopezAccepts Icon Award at iHeartRadio Music Awards asBen AffleckBeams: “Just Getting Started”
Lopez has a movie career spanning decades. Some of her most memorable roles are as the titular music legend in 1997’sSelena, 2019’sHustlers, as well as several romantic comedies over the years includingThe Wedding Planner,Maid in Manhattanand the recentMarry Me.
Back in March, the multi-hyphenate staraccepted the Icon Awardfor her music career at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she said in part during her emotional speech, “I’m just getting started.”
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source: people.com
