Jennifer Lopez is officially stepping into her empty-nest chapter, and the latest family milestone came with plenty of emotions. The singer and actress was seen fighting back tears as her son, Max, celebrated his high school graduation, marking the family’s second graduation celebration in less than two weeks.
Photos from the ceremony obtained by The New York Post captured Lopez warmly embracing the 18-year-old after he received his diploma. Wearing a floral dress paired with a cardigan, the Office Romance star appeared deeply moved throughout the event. Family members in attendance included her parents, Guadalupe Rodríguez and David Lopez, longtime manager Benny Medina, and Max’s twin sibling, Oskar.
The graduation marks a particularly emotional moment for Jennifer Lopez, as both of her children are set to head off to college later this year. The entertainer recently shared that Max and Oskar were accepted into all five colleges they applied to and were each awarded scholarships. Lopez also opened up about the challenges they faced throughout their education due to ADHD.
“I watched how hard they worked,” Lopez said in a recent interview. “They have ADHD, and so they need to learn differently.” She added that beyond their academic success, what makes her most proud is that “they’re good people.”
Although the celebration focused on Max’s achievement, some observers noticed another familiar detail. Marc Anthony was not seen at the graduation ceremony. He was also absent from Oskar’s graduation celebration in late May, where Lopez attended alongside family members and Samuel Affleck, the son of her ex-husband, Ben Affleck.
That earlier graduation also attracted attention after Oskar, previously known publicly as Emme Muñiz, was referred to by a new name in a social media announcement about future college plans. The post revealed that Oskar will be attending Sarah Lawrence College to study theater and studio arts. While Lopez has not publicly addressed the name change, she has consistently expressed support for her children’s personal choices and aspirations.
