Jennifer Lopez’s first husband Ojani Noa lashes out at the superstar for choosing career over love

JENNIFER Lopez may have broken a few hearts in her time, but it seems one particular ex-husband just can’t let go.

Jennifer Lopez split from first husband Ojani Noa way back in 1998, and he’s still talking about her. Picture: AFP/Valerie Macon

DESPITE splitting from Jennifer Lopez almost 20 years ago, the star’s first husband is still finding it hard to let go.

Ojani Noa, who has made a career talking about his famous ex, made headlines last year when he threatened to release a sex tape of the star whom he married in 1997 and who he split from barely a year later.

Jennifer Lopez with boyfriend, music mogul, Sean "Puffy" Combs at the Grammys in 2000. Picture: AFP

Jennifer Lopez and first husband Ojani Noa split in 1998 after being married barely a year. Picture: AFP

And while the sex tape never publicly materialised, the former waiter is back on US television, still telling all and sundry about that time he was married to Lopez.

Appearing on Million Dollar Matchmaker, Noa again lashed out at the New York-born superstar.

“That was my first love, my first marriage,” Noa tells host Patti Stanger.

“I was looking forward to being with her for the rest of my life. It didn’t happen,” Noa said.

“She made the choice of her career instead of me.”

The ‘Bennifer’ years. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez married dancer Cris Judd in 2001. They split less than a year later. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Lopez’s career did indeed skyrocket after she divorced Noa, who claims that their split destroyed him.

“My heart was broken in many pieces,” he told Stanger. “I was really hurt, it really hurt me.”

Still, Stanger had a crack at Noa for continuing to use Lopez for publicity.

“He lost the love of his life and now he protects himself by being a playboy,” she said.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart recently split after five years together. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony married in 2004 and split in 2012|. They are parents to twins Max and Emme. Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

In April 2006, Lopez sued Noa to prevent him from publishing a book about their marriage, contending that it violated their confidentiality agreement.

The following year, a court-appointed arbitrator issued a permanent injunction forbidding Noa from “criticising, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging” Lopez.

At the time she was awarded USD$545,000 ($720,000) in compensatory damages and Noa was ordered to hand over all copies of materials related to the book to Lopez.

A lawsuit regarding the alleged sex tape is currently ongoing.

Jennifer Lopez is currently appearing on our television screens on US crime drama Shades of Blue. Picture: Peter Kramer/NBC