Jennifer Lopez hits back at fans criticizing her for launching new cocktail brand

Jennifer Lopez has hit back at fans who have slammed her for launching a cocktail brand, insisting that she enjoys a tipple from time to time.

Back in April, Lopez announced that she'd be launching a cocktail branch, which led some criticism from some fans, with a few branding the business move as a 'moneygrab', as she'd been vocal in the past about abstaining from alcohol.

And now the singer has responded to the criticism:

Responding in a Instagram video, the 53-year-old singer said: "You know what, I know that a lot of people have been talking about, 'Oh, she doesn’t even drink, what’s she doing with a cocktail line?'

"And to tell you the truth, for a long time I didn’t drink."

"Years back, as you will see from several photos of me out, over the past 10, maybe 15 years, I have been, you know, having the occasional cocktail.

"I do enjoy the occasional cocktail. I do drink responsibly, I don’t drink to get s**tfaced.

"I drink to be social and to have a nice time and just relax and let loose a bit, but always responsibly."

Talking about her preferences, the 'Jenny from the Block' singer said: "I have to tell you, I’ve tried a lot of different things, cocktails.

"I was into White Russians at one point, I was into rosé, but I never found anything that I really loved, like, 'OK, that’s what I love, this is what I like to drink when I have a drink'."

And that's where her brand, Delola, comes into the picture.

Instagram/Jennifer Lopez

Lopez explained: "And so like anything else in my life, I made it myself.

"I created Delola and Delola is really about a healthier way, something that fit my lifestyle to drink the way that I would drink, the way Jennifer drinks."

She also said her brand has 'lower calories', 'natural flavours' and is also gluten-free.

The Hustlers star said: "Beautiful spritzers that I came up with, ready to be poured over ice, super easy, something that fits my lifestyle, not something that is gonna have to be belabored and I have to work on to get the right flavor and so that’s what I created."

Some fans still weren't buying her explanation, however.

Instagram/Jennifer Lopez

One said: "Just give me a break!!! Now you drink , BS, just anything to make money!" whilst another wrote: "Nope I guess the acting roles have dried up so you're following others in liquor business as well."

While some also mentioned her husband Ben Affleck's history with alcohol addiction.

In a 2021 interview with TODAY, Lopez spoke about the launch of alcohol-free mixers, saying: "I don’t drink because I don’t like the effects of alcohol, but I like being social.”

UNILAD has previously reached out to Lopez's representatives for comment.