Jennifer Lopez is sparking debate after making a bold claim about who can call themselves a New Yorker.
The Bronx-born actress recently appeared on Kareem Rahma’s video series Subway Takes. Lopez was promoting her new Netflix romantic comedy Office Romance. However, it was her definition of a New Yorker that ended up generating discussion online.
Jennifer Lopez Draws A Hard Line
Rahma opens each interview with a simple question: “So what’s your take?”
You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker!! @JLo pic.twitter.com/20WoZlMxmc
— SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma (@SubwayTakes) June 5, 2026
In a video clip that quickly went viral, Lopez appeared ready with her answer. “You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker,” she said. “Everybody wants to claim our city, but you have to be born in New York. You have to be born in one of the five boroughs to be a New Yorker.”
Playing into the bit, Rahma pushed back. He explained that when he moved to the city in 2012, he was told that after 10 years he could call himself a New Yorker.
Lopez laughed and replied that if that was the rule, she “didn’t get the memo” and “didn’t sign the petition.”
What About Someone Who Lives There For Decades?
The lighthearted exchange took on a bit more complexity when Rahma presented a hypothetical scenario. If someone has lived in New York for 50 years and is now 90 years old, but wasn’t born there, should that person still say they aren’t a New Yorker?
Atlas. Jennifer Lopez as Atlas Shepherd. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix ©2024.
READ: ‘How to Train Your Dragon: Flight Academy’ Has Come to Philadelphia
After a brief pause, Lopez stood by her position. “You live in New York,” she said. “You take on the characteristics of New Yorkers, probably by that time. You have a New York sensibility.”
“I pay New York taxes,” Rahma interjected.
“When you’re born in New York, you’re really a New Yorker,” Lopez insisted.
The exchange highlighted the distinction Lopez was making between living in New York and being a native New Yorker. While she acknowledged that longtime residents can adopt the city’s culture and attitude, she maintained that birthplace remains the defining factor.
Debate Quickly Spills Online
Lopez’s comments quickly came under scrutiny online. Many users pointed out that New York has long been a destination for immigrants and newcomers from around the world. Some also noted the irony that “Jenny from the Block” is herself the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants. Others argued that many of the city’s most influential cultural figures were not born in New York, yet still became synonymous with the city and its identity.
Jenny from the Block music video – Jennifer Lopez, YouTube
READ: Epic Universe Mac and Cheese Cones Surpass 500,000 Sales in First Year
Still, some commenters agreed with Lopez’s take, suggesting that only recent transplants were offended by the remark. Many lifelong residents view being a New Yorker as something tied to birth and upbringing rather than simply residency.
Others expanded the conversation beyond the city itself. One user on X responded by asking Lopez, “So, do you have to be born in America to be an American?”
So, do you have to be born in America to be an American @JLo ?
Because Americans are being robbed of their birthrights by foreigners.
— AIAM Eagle (@aiameagle) June 5, 2026
A Debate Bigger Than New York
Ultimately, Lopez’s comments may have struck a nerve because they touch on questions of identity and belonging that extend far beyond New York City.
The Mother. Jennifer Lopez as The Mother in The Mother. Cr. Ana Carballosa/Netflix © 2023.
READ: ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Beaten by YouTube Series Fathom Event in Third Weekend Box Office
For some people, being a New Yorker is a matter of birthplace and shared experiences. For others, it is an identity earned by choosing to build a life in one of the most demanding cities in the world. Some observers argued that the same questions raised by Lopez’s comments also apply to broader debates about what it means to become an American.
Whether people agree with Jennifer Lopez or not, her remarks have reignited one of New York’s oldest debates: Is being a New Yorker something you’re born into, or something you become?
Do you agree with Jennifer Lopez that you have to be born in New York City to be a New Yorker? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: The Last of Us Season 3 Filming Paused for Unknown Reason
