Jennifer Lopez faced backlash during her 2025 Up All Night Live tour in Spain for speaking to the audience in English, despite being fluent in Spanish. Fans in cities like Malaga and Madrid expressed their frustration by shouting for her to switch languages. This situation sparked online debates and memes. Although Lopez can speak Spanish fluently, she continued to address the crowd in English, which led to accusations of being out of touch with her audience.
Lopez kicked off her tour in Pontevedra, but criticism began to mount during her subsequent shows. At her concert in Fuengirola, Malaga, she opened with “On the Floor” but communicated with the audience in English. Attendees near the stage shouted, “You came here to speak Spanish!” Similar concerns were raised in Madrid, where fans pointed out her choice to speak in English despite being aware that she could speak Spanish.
Mira que nos cae mal Jennifer López resulta que está de gira por España ya que en EE.UU. tuvo que cancelarla porqué no iba ni el tato a verla y el otro día en Fuengirola (Málaga) se dirige al público en inglés cuando sabe hacerlo perfectamente en español 🤦🏻♂️ patética es poco. pic.twitter.com/Wi2nNFn5J4
— David (@Davidmanoffire) July 13, 2025Her tour faced other setbacks, like a venue change in Malaga. Yet, the language choice drew the most ire. Lopez has spoken Spanish in past interviews, but avoided it here.
Social media was filled with criticism following the event. One user commented, “He addresses the audience in English, despite knowing how to do it perfectly well in Spanish.” Videos surfaced showing fans booing and shouting in Spanish. Many felt this behaviour demonstrated a lack of cultural respect, particularly in Spain. While some defended the decision by highlighting her global appeal, the backlash underscored the expectations placed on bilingual artists.
#Viral 🎤 || En su presentación en Fuengirola, Málaga, Jennifer López se dirigió a los asistentes en inglés, lo que generó molestia entre algunos presentes. Al escucharla, comenzaron a reclamarle: “Aquí se viene a hablar en español”. La artista se encuentra de gira por varias… pic.twitter.com/SvtqQ4KeuS
— Cinco Radio Oficial (@laredcincoradio) July 14, 2025Lopez’s Spanish skills vary. In a 2025 interview, she admitted to feeling “shamed” about her accent. Earlier that year, a viral moment during “Mi Gente Latino” generated laughs due to her awkward phrasing. Despite this, she has included Spanish in her songs and events. Her tour continues with stops in Barcelona and other locations. However, Lopez’s decision to use only English in Spain sparked debate, highlighting the importance of language in connecting with fans. Future shows may address this issue.
You are wrong. She did speak spanish a number of times and sang several songs completely I spanish.