Inside Keke Palmer and Jennifer Lopez's 'Dope' Friendship AfterHustlers: 'We Just Had That Kind of Vibe'

Mar. 15, 2025

Keke Palmer and Jennifer Lopez at the ‘Hustlers’ premiere in 2019.Photo:John Parra/Getty Images for STXfilms / Alexander Wang

John Parra/Getty Images for STXfilms / Alexander Wang

Keke PalmerandJennifer Lopezhit it off from the start.

During a recent visit toSiriusXM’sSmith Sisters Livepodcast, the 31-year-old actress, singer and author of the new bookMaster of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, opened up about her bond with Lopez, 55.

“I’ve always loved J. Lo, right sinceSelena.I don’t know what it is. Like, I’m not Mexican American, but y’all know Black American folks, we live forSelenadown,” Palmer told hosts Lauren, Rachel and Mariah Smith of Lopez’s 1997 movie about Selena Quintanilla.

In 2019, Palmer and Lopez starred together in the acclaimed movieHustlers,based on the true story of New York strippers who swindled customers out of cash.

“When I met her and I worked with her, I just remember us having a lot of moments where she really was opening herself up outside of being ‘J. Lo the star,’ which is something I didn’t expect,” said Palmer.

Lili Reinhart, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer and Constance Wu in ‘Hustlers.'.Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

“We developed a friendship. And so it was one of these things where she kind of was always like, ‘My door is open to you,’ you know what I mean? Like, I don’t know why, you know, we just had that kind of vibe where she was like, ‘I’m here for whatever you need. Come on to the house. Like, here’s my team. What can we do? How can we produce more with you?’ ” continued Palmer.

Jennifer Lopez and Keke Palmer in 2019.Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

ThePasswordhost says when Lopez approached her about appearing in her filmThis Is Me…Now: A Love Story, which debuted earlier this year, she was all in.

“When the movie happened, I was immediately like, ‘Yeah, girl, whatever you need,’ ” said Palmer. In the high-concept film, Palmer plays Scorpio, a member of the Zodiac Council, an astrological group that discusses Lopez’s love life in the movie.

After filming wrapped, Lopez offered to show it to Palmer in a “special way,” Palmer said. “When she showed it to me, she was like, ‘I wanna show it to you in a special way, because I really want you to see like, you know what you are doing in this movie.’ "

Keke Palmer on May 6, 2024.John Shearer/WireImage

John Shearer/WireImage

Earlier this year,the former child actress told PEOPLEthat Lopez is one of her biggest cheerleaders: “[She’s] actually a personal person in my life that has always encouraged me and really always given me an opportunity to shine,” Palmer said.

source: people.com