Everyone, including Jennifer Lopez’s close friends, was surprised on Friday when they learned that Jennifer had filed for divorce from husband of seven years, Marc Anthony. Now that things have settled a bit, however, many are admitting that they saw tensions growing between the once tight-knit couple.

According to Huffington Post, many things may have contributed to the breakup, but ultimately, work had created a wedge between them.

“We knew something was going on when Jennifer took her mother, Guadalupe, to meet the Royals at the BAFTA gala in Los Angeles instead of Marc,” an insider tells me. “Jennifer and Marc see themselves as the king and queen of Latino culture so this would been the perfect opportunity for one royal couple to be seen hanging with another.”

Lopez’s decision to make mama her plus one also signaled more than a few red flags that there may be trouble in paradise.

“Whenever she breaks up with a man she surrounds herself with family,” a friend of the “American Idol” Judge tells me. “After her split from her fiancé, Ben Affleck, and before that Diddy, Jennifer flew her mom in to be by her side.”

But what actually lead the couple, who secretly wed at their Beverly Hills estate in 2004, to split?

“Work is what ultimately is the blame,” a friend tells me.

Marc has spent the summer filming the TNT drama, “Hawthorne,” while also maintaining his live performance scheudle and Lopez has never been busier — she’s taping “Idol” and releasing her new album, “Love?” Additionally, the couple is working on a new reality show, “¡Q’Viva! The Chosen,” in which they will search all over the world to find extraordinary talent.

“I don’t know any relationship that could survive the juggling of schedules of both Jennifer and Marc,” an industry insider tells me. “Angelina and Brad years ago agreed that while one of them was working the other took time off. Unfortunately, knowing both Jen [and] Marc, I can tell you that neither of them is capable of putting their career on hold when a great or big paying opportunity comes along.”

I think divorce is incredibly sad, especially when – if this article is true – work gets in the way of a happy marriage. They put more value on their careers than they do on their marriage/family. And that’s just heartbreaking!

If you listen to other sources, though, Jennifer may have stepped out on her marriage. According to TMZ, JLo is defending herself against infidelity claims today. Sources say Jennifer may have cheated on Marc with her “I’m Into You” music video costar.

The hot piece of man meat who starred as Jennifer Lopez’s shirtless romantic interest in her steamy “I’m Into You” music video claims he’s NOT dating the singer nor did they have sex … despite reports to the contrary.

The guy at the center of the affair rumors is telenovela star William Levy — aka the Cuban Brad Pitt — who recently separated from his wife AFTER shooting the music video (see below) with Lopez.

But Levy’s rep tells TMZ William and J.Lo are NOT an item … saying, “The only relationship there was or is, is a professional relationship. That’s all there’s ever been.”

After seven years of marriage, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have separated, their rep tells Us Weekly.

“We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to amicable conclusion on all matters,” they said in a statement. “It is a painful time for all involved, and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.”

The couple are parents to three-year-old twins Max and Emme.

I am so shocked!!! I don’t know why, I just didn’t see this one coming!  They were spotted together on the red carpet less than a month ago!

Jennifer Lopez is about to shake up her good-girl image in two red-hot new movies. Life & Style has learned that the 41-year-old mother of twins — who hasn’t bared her body in a film since Out of Sight in 1998 — is set to go topless in the movie adaptation of the popular pregnancy book What To Expect When You’re Expecting. According to the script, Jennifer’s character, Holly, bares her breasts to help convince her hubby, played by hunky Rodrigo Santoro, that they need to adopt a baby boy. The sultry star will also be sexing it up with Transporter star Jason Statham, 43, in the crime flick Parker. According to the script exclusively obtained by Life &Style, Jennifer plays Leslie, a real-estate agent who strips down in front of Statham.

Source, Photos (Fame): Jennifer Lopez at the BAFTA black tie event at the Belasco Theatre.

Jennifer Lopez stepped out this afternoon with her mom, Guadalupe and her twins, Emme and Max. The ‘American Idol’ judge was surrounded by a group of bodyguards at all times.

Photos: INF

Jennifer Lopez only signed a one year contract with American Idol, which was probably an incredibly smart thing to do. After being paid a reported $12 million for the first season, Jennifer may be holding out for more money for her second season. “I don’t know. I haven’t been forced to make a decision and I’m glad about that because honestly I’m very on the fence about it.” She told BBC Radio 1.

She went on, “You get to know [the contestants]. You get to know their hopes and their dreams on camera, off camera. You’re helping them off camera, you’re helping them on camera and it’s this crazy ride you go on together. You definitely get involved, I definitely get involved. I am very emotional as you can see from the show. That’s just how I am.

I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it but I have a lot other things happening, and it’s going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year and we’re not really at the breaking point of “You have to make a decision right now!” I’m just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing.”

Hmm could “waiting and seeing” mean – “see what Fox will pay me for season 2″? Of course it does.

After all – Fox paid Simon Cowell a shocking $35 million per season. PER SEASON!

Lopez’s current salary: a reported $12 million. How high could her demand ultimately go? Another $23 million, if the Simon Cowell budget is your barometer.

That’s right, Idol’s top-earning judge for eight years running commanded $35 million per season at the end of his tenure, or about $642,201 per hour, using season 9’s total airtime. And while Lopez is a proven entity with some box office cachet and a current hit on the Billboard charts (thanks, in large part, to its premiere and multiple plugs on Idol), is her contribution to the show really worth that much?

Let’s consider: The Bronx beauty has the crabby Brit beat in the looks department, as viewers tuned in just to see what Lopez was wearing or how her hair was done, but when it came to commenting on the performances, it took all season for her to work up the courage to be anything less than fawning. Were it not for Casey Abrams’s surprise peck and the occasional cooing “baby” that she would bestow on a contestant, and, dare we say, J Lo sometimes bordered on dull.

With that in mind, who’s really getting more out of this relationship? True, Fox was able to avert a season 10 ratings disaster by enlisting Lopez for a year on the panel (judge Steven Tyler is signed on through season 11), and the numbers stayed flat, but after nine months of work plus that hefty paycheck, J Lo also walked away with a resurrected career and a radio smash (”On the Floor”) on her hands – her first in nearly a decade.

Source

Jennifer Lopez appeared in a strange snakeskin getup for the Capital Radio Summertime Ball, at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (June 12) in London, England.

The 41-year-old American Idol judge and entertainer finished her look with over-the-knee Louboutin boots!

J.Lo arrived in London on a private plane with her little ones, Max and Emme, on Thursday.

Later in the week, she performed “On The Floor” on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance.

I’m not a fan of this outfit at all…. I could have handled the dress – without the boots, or the boots without the dress. But put them together – and it’s just too dang much snake!

Photos: Fame, Source

LOVE Jennifer’s dress! Also pictured below, Demi Moore.

Photos: Fame