Jennifer Lopez’s Ex-Husband Ojani Noa Says Their Short-Lived Marriage Was Partly Diddy’s ‘Fault’

Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband Ojani Noa believes that her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs is partially to blame for their short-lived marriage.

“Part of that divorce was Diddy’s fault,” the Cuba-born actor, 50, said during a recent appearance on Despierta América.

Ojani and J. Lo, 55, were married from February 1997 to January 1998. When their relationship began, he was a waiter with plans to open a restaurant. Meanwhile, she was having her breakthrough moment starring as late singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the Selena biopic, which opened doors for her in both the acting and music worlds. She began working on her first album, On the 6, after the release of Selena — which is when Diddy, 54, came into the picture, and Ojani said their troubles began.

“When Sony came and paid her the millions she got, there was Puffy [Combs], who was going to be one of the producers of several tracks on the first album, On the 6,” the Eye See Me star told the Spanish outlet. “That’s where the deception, the lies, the separation started.”

Ojani continued, “I was in Los Angeles opening my restaurant and she was between Miami and New York working on the album. When I could, I would go to be with her. There, in that distance, in that separation, was where the deception started.”

Ojani also claimed that the publicity surrounding his divorce from J. Lo caused him to lose out on some work opportunities.

“I would ask Jennifer, ‘What did I do to you so that you have taken me to court, you have accused me, you have lied, you have created false things about me and you have called several companies to throw me out and different television networks not to give me work?’” he said. “‘Why, if I have not done anything to you?’ Let her tell the truth, let her tell everything that happened.”

J. Lo dated Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, on and off from 1999 to 2001. Details about their relationship have resurfaced following the rapper’s September 16 arrest on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. A grand jury alleged that Diddy had abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to “fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” according to the unsealed indictment obtained by In Touch at the time of his arrest.

Diddy pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied any wrongdoing. He is being held without bail at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, while awaiting trial. A judge ruled on October 10 that his trial would begin on May 5, 2025.

Prior to Diddy’s arrest and in the days since, several other abuse allegations have been made against the Bad Boy Records founder, including claims that he sexually abused minors, which were revealed by a Houston law firm representing 120 of Diddy’s alleged victims.

The rapper and his legal team requested to “prohibit” further claims and statements from prospective witnesses to ensure a “fair trial,” according to court documents obtained by In Touch on Monday, October 21.

“Several of these lawyers have made shockingly prejudicial and false allegations of sexual assault and abuse of minors, the details of which need not be repeated,” the filing read. “Each day that passes brings a fresh wave of publicity, often at the direction of accusers and their counsel, further prejudicing Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial. Therefore, we respectfully request that any response be filed on October 30, 2024.”