Jennifer Lopez Breaks Down In Tears On The Red Carpet After Brie Larson Says: ‘Selena Made Me Want To Be An Actor’

Brie Larson and Jennifer Lopez warmed the hearts of fans with their touching viral encounter on the 2024 Golden Globes red carpet. During the event earlier this month, Larson, 34, expressed her admiration for Lopez, 54, as a performer and mentioned how Lopez’s starring role in the 1997 movie Selena inspired her to pursue a career in film.

The Hustlers star was visibly moved by the Captain Marvel alum‘s words and wiped away tears during the wholesome moment. A few days later, Lopez sat down with Zane Lowe for an interview on Apple Music 1 to talk about the significance of Larson’s kind gesture and why it deeply affected her.

Jennifer Lopez Opens Up About Viral ‘Moving’ Red Carpet Moment With Brie Larson

At the January 7th award ceremony, Larson was in awe when she met Lopez, whose work has been a great inspiration for her acting career. The Oscar winner was caught off guard during a viral red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight when she noticed the Marry Me star approaching her from behind. Overwhelmed with emotion, Larson started tearing up at the sight of Lopez walking directly towards her. “Oh my God. I’m gonna cry,” Larson said while closing her eyes. “I can’t deal with J. Lo.”

Although Larson was seen fanning herself and momentarily speechless, she managed to successfully handle the encounter with the “On the Floor” hitmaker and even started off by showering Lopez with compliments. “You mean to much to me,” the Room alum told the Shotgun Wedding star while introducing herself.

After the two women hugged, Lopez then told the Marvel superstar she was “such a huge fan” of her as well. “I saw Selena and it made me want to be an actor. And you’ve always meant so much to me,” Larson gushed. Lopez replied, with tears in her eyes: “Oh my God, don’t make me cry.” Larson explained: “Your work ethic is so important. Thank you. I’ve been wanting to say that to you for a long time so I’m really — I didn’t think it was going to be right now. OK. I’m gonna have to go do a shot of tequila or something.”

The "If You Had My Love" singer then joked: "I just did one" as she waved to Larson's mother who was waiting for her daughter off to the side on the carpet. Soon after this interaction went viral and touched many fans on social media, Lopez got candid with Apple Music 1 interviewer Lowe, 50, about its "overwhelming" significance.

"It brings tears to my eyes now because it's very moving, because you give your heart and soul to this when you're an artist," she said, adding: "I remember being a little girl and watching West Side Story and seeing Rita Moreno and knowing what that meant for me."

Lopez went on: "When I was looking at Brie and I saw her and I was just staring in her eyes because she was so locked in with me and just [was] like, 'I have wanted to tell you this for so long.'"

At the Globes, Larson was nominated for two awards for her performance in the 2023 period drama series, Lessons In Chemistry. These accolades included 'Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film' and 'Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film.'

Lopez notably told Lowe that Larson's film and television contributions have left an impression on her, too. "I don't think I ever imagined that I would have an experience like that with somebody who is so talented and who I watch their movies and who, is kind of in a way, my contemporary," Lopez gushed. She then praised Larson's gesture, adding: "It was a very kind thing that she did, and it meant a lot to me, probably even more than it did to her."