Inside Keke Palmer and Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Dope’ Friendship After ‘Hustlers’

Keke Palmer and Jennifer Lopez hit it off from the beginning.

Throughout a current go to to SiriusXM’s Smith Sisters Stay podcast, the 31-year-old actress, singer and creator of the brand new guide Grasp of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, opened up about her bond with Lopez, 55.

“I’ve at all times cherished J. Lo, proper since Selena. I do not know what it’s. Like, I am not Mexican American, however y’all know Black American people, we reside for Selena down,” Palmer informed hosts Lauren, Rachel and Mariah Smith of Lopez’s 1997 film about Selena Quintanilla.

In 2019, Palmer and Lopez starred collectively within the acclaimed film Hustlers, primarily based on the true story of New York strippers who swindled clients out of money. 

“After I met her and I labored together with her, I simply bear in mind us having lots of moments the place she actually was opening herself up outdoors of being ‘J. Lo the star,’ which is one thing I did not count on,” mentioned Palmer.

“We developed a friendship. And so it was certainly one of these items the place she form of was at all times like, ‘My door is open to you,’ you recognize what I imply? Like, I do not know why, you recognize, we simply had that form of vibe the place she was like, ‘I am right here for no matter you want. Come on to the home. Like, here is my crew. What can we do? How can we produce extra with you?’ ” continued Palmer. 

The Password host says when Lopez approached her about showing in her movie This Is Me…Now: A Love Story, which debuted earlier this 12 months, she was all in.

“When the film occurred, I used to be instantly like, ‘Yeah, lady, no matter you want,’ ” mentioned Palmer. Within the high-concept movie, Palmer performs Scorpio, a member of the Zodiac Council, an astrological group that discusses Lopez’s love life within the film.

After filming wrapped, Lopez provided to point out it to Palmer in a “particular manner,” Palmer mentioned. “When she confirmed it to me, she was like, ‘I wanna present it to you in a particular manner, as a result of I really need you to see like, you recognize what you’re doing on this film.’ ”

“She rents out this theater. She makes certain that me and my son, the whole lot, are, like, so comfy. It was actually fabulous, honey,” continued the mother of 21-month-old child Leo. 

“Then I see the film, I watched the film on this personal theater on my own, and I name her afterwards. I am like, I like her. I am in love. She’s like, ‘I simply need you to see simply how a lot of a star you’re, you recognize, to me and to the world.’ And she or he was like, ‘I like you Keke, and I hope you loved it.’ I am identical to, ‘I like Jennifer.’ You already know, she’s dope. Not simply in the way in which of who she is as a expertise, however as like a boss,” added Palmer.

Earlier this 12 months, the previous youngster actress informed PEOPLE that Lopez is certainly one of her greatest cheerleaders: “[She’s] truly a private particular person in my life that has at all times inspired me and actually at all times given me a chance to shine,” Palmer mentioned.