Jenny from the Block has found herself a new posse.
The multi-hyphenate superstar has inked a deal with the Firm to manage and brand her bootylicious assets in film, TV, music and related opportunities, per trade reports.
A rep for the Firm, a management company that also reps Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, would neither confirm nor deny the news.
Lopez also signed with a new talent agency, CAA, last Wednesday, just one day after firing longtime manager Benny Medina of Handprint Entertainment and leaving her agent of eight months, Patrick Whitesell at Endeavor. Two weeks ago, she also split with her publicist, Alan Nierob.
The most recent split was reportedly prompted by an ultimatum Endeavor gave Lopez over her high-maintenance manager Medina. In a surprising turn of events, the Bronx-born babe turned around and dumped them both.
It was a move that had gossip columnists speculating whether Lopez had completely lost it or was in fact engaging in a savvy act of spin control to keep her diva-like image in check.
"She obviously saw her image in crisis, and she is becoming known as the demanding diva. She wants to be recast as Jenny from the Block," said Jeannette Walls, gossip columnist for MSNBC.com.
Others pointed a finger at Lopez's beau, Ben Affleck, as the instigator of at least one of the controversial axings. Last Wednesday, the New York Post reported that Affleck demanded that J.Lo dump Medina because "Benny created this diva image of Jennifer."
In the wake of Lopez's departure, Endeavor released a statement that gave strength to the Medina accusations: "We were no longer able to work with [Lopez's] manager Benny Medina. We thought it best for Jennifer and Endeavor that we part company at this time."
Whitesell, who brokered two of Lopez's upcoming features, Shall We Dance opposite Richard Gere and An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford, will continue to rep Affleck.
Until recently, Medina had been credited with guiding Lopez to the top of the entertainment heap, from Fly Girl and secondary actress to international entertainment icon who commands $20 million a picture--her paycheck for Shall We Dance.
Now, the 43-year-old manager is being blamed for Lopez's most pampered demands, like her insistence on white lilies, white candles and room-temperature Evian wherever she goes (which seem relatively tame in comparison to Van Halen's stipulation that all brown M&M's be removed from the bowl).
Dubbed "The Mediva" due to his penchant for pricey things, Medina's no stranger to high-profile breakups. Medina inspired and executive-produced the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, based on his own rags-to-riches story. This led to a gig managing the series' star, Will Smith, until the two split under hostile circumstances.
By comparison, Lopez and Medina had nothing but nice things to say about each other in statements released last week.
"I wish Jennifer continued happiness and success in all of her pursuits," said Medina.
"Benny did a wonderful job for me over the years," said Lopez, "and I will be eternally grateful to him."
Kind of makes you wonder why they broke up?