Jennifer Lopez thanks followers for ‘caring’ on her fifty fifth birthday

Jennifer Lopez thanked fans for ‘caring’ about her as she turned 55 on Wednesday — after husband Ben Affleck skipped out on her birthday party amid divorce rumors.

The On The Floor hitmaker told her 251million Instagram followers that she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the outpouring of love she has received from around the globe.

Later in her post, Lopez admitted to being ‘fragile’ and declared her fans as her ‘biggest gift.’

She included two makeup-free portraits of herself checking out her incredible cake while dressed in green silk pajamas.

‘I’ve been seeing all of your birthday wishes, beautiful videos, and posts all last night and this morning from all over the world,’ Lopez began.

She was particularly ‘moved’ by a happy birthday billboard that went up in Times Square on Wednesday in her honor — a gesture orchestrated by her devout fanbase.

‘I have laughed, smiled, shed some tears, and when I saw the billboard in Times Square, I was completely overwhelmed.

‘I really do have the best, most amazing fans in the world. I could never express how moved I am or how incredibly blessed I feel to have all of you be a part of my life. Thank you sooooo very much,’ she continued.

Lopez then reflected on her over 30 year career in showbiz and how fans have watched her blossom into an A-list star.

‘It’s hard to believe we have spent all this time together. It’s funny as I sit here contemplating on the most extraordinary journey I still feel like the same girl starting out so full of energy and bravado, so ready to take on the whole world on the outside and yet so tender, fragile and sometimes frightened but always full of love on the inside.

‘I have so much love for you. I want you to know on my birthday that YOU are my biggest gift. Besides my family and friends, you have always been there for me in the good times and in the tough times. I can always count on you. And I want you to know that you can always count on me.

‘Thank you for your caring, your understanding, your loyalty and most importantly your love. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you… Always, Jennifer,’ the Hustlers star concluded.

To honor her milestone birthday, Lopez threw a royal-themed early birthday bash in the Hamptons, New York over the weekend.

For the soiree, Lopez channeled Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte, and held court in her very own throne.

In a video montage shared to the superstar’s Instagram, she stunned in an elaborate blue corset ball gown, with embroidered gold details that sparkled in the dark.

She completed her regal look with sheer white gloves, a dainty golden necklace, and wore her caramel-toned tresses in a voluminous updo. 

The attendees all wore similarly appropriate opulent and stylish costumes from the Regency era.

Later in the evening, the Love Don’t Cost a Thing hitmaker changed into a stunning mint green off-shoulder dress, with golden lace detailing.

Lopez’s IG video was set to orchestral music from the Netflix historical romance series, and showed a number of moments from her special night, including a white horse-drawn carriage coming to pick her up.

‘Dearest Gentle Reader… And a splendid evening was had by all,’ she captioned the post, which was shared Wednesday. 

Her 251M followers and fans were thrilled with the imaginative birthday party idea, with one writing, ‘Queen JLo’s Bridgerton-themed birthday soirée was clearly the social event of the season!’

‘Oooh… There’s a new Bridgerton Queen in town! You look very royal and splendid, your majesty,’ another added.

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEEN Lady Whistledown will have a lot to write about in her next issue,’ another humorously added, referencing the anonymous author of a gossip column in the Bridgerton series.

‘Can someone get @shondarhimes on the phone? We need JLo on the next season!!!’ another commentator added.

Lopez had her closest family and friends by her side, including mom Guadalupe Rodríguez, her longtime manager Benny Medina, 66, and her 16-year-old twins Max and Emme, at Saturday’s party.

But Affleck was ‘not in attendance’ amid ongoing split rumors between the pair, who have not been pictured together in two months, as confirmed by PEOPLE.

The Argo director was spotted in Los Angeles with his children over the weekend.

He shares Violet, 18, and Fin (formerly Seraphina), 15, and son Samuel, 12, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52.

The couple have spent much of summer apart, including their second wedding anniversary on July 16.

The last time they were seen together was in early June at his son Samuel’s basketball game.

The pair, affectionately known as ‘Bennifer,’ got engaged at the end of 2002 but broke it off a year later before calling quits on their relationship for good in 2004.

They reunited in July 2021, and finally said ‘I do’ the following year, first in Las Vegas and then again in August at Affleck’s Georgia mansion, though in recent months their marriage has been hit by divorce speculation, after Affleck moved out of their Beverly Hills mansion.

They have since listed their martial home for sale for a whopping $68million after trying to sell it off-market in June.

A source told Us Weekly earlier this month that the couple are ‘in a rush to sell it’ as Ben ‘wants to be done with the house.’ They also claimed that the Argo star ‘was never happy there.’

Ben is currently living in a $100,000-per-month rental home in Brentwood located near his ex-wife Garner. 

There have been claims that neither Jennifer nor Ben have filed for divorce because they are quietly behind the scenes trying to work out their relationship.

Recently, a source claimed their marriage is ‘strained,’ but added ‘there is also a deep love for each other.’

‘They just have to find what got them back together in the first place and there is definitely a chance that three will be a charm when and if that happens,’ they said.

‘They aren’t throwing in the towel. They are taking it day by day and they don’t want to get divorced.’

The duo have also continued to wear their wedding rings amid the speculation.

 They’ve also been photographed not wearing them on occasion.