Allegations from a backup drag dancer who performed at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show in Miami have resurfaced, adding fuel to longstanding criticism of Jennifer Lopez’s behavior toward her employees.
Mia Starr, a 40-year-old “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performer whose real name is Mikey Pesante, has described her preparation for the Super Bowl performance as the worst professional experience of her career — a striking statement from someone who has worked with Rihanna and Britney Spears. Despite recognizing Lopez’s artistic abilities, Starr declined an opportunity to collaborate with the 56-year-old singer again, saying the behind-the-scenes environment made her feel “icky.”
Criticism During Choreography Preparation
The allegations center on events during the second day of rehearsals, when Starr says Lopez scrutinized dancers’ physical appearances rather than focusing solely on choreography. Starr said Lopez instructed her to take off her shirt, then addressed the entire group with the directive: “Guys, I need you to elevate yourselves. I need you to go to the gym and take care of yourself.”
According to Starr, what came next was a nine-hour rehearsal session conducted without a shirt, which she compared to hazing. She felt Lopez displayed visible disgust at her body, making no attempt to conceal her reaction. In an “Entertainment Weekly” interview, Starr said Lopez’s expression conveyed outright repulsion, leaving her questioning why she had subjected herself to the situation.
Pointed Gestures and Repeated Remarks
The tension escalated the next day when Lopez brought in an elephant ear truck and an ice cream truck for the dancers. Starr responded by deliberately walking to the front of the line, making direct eye contact with Lopez, and offering a sarcastic thank you. Lopez then repeated her “elevate yourselves” comment to the group, which Starr interpreted as targeted at her specifically.
Starr shared these experiences during a YouTube conversation with fellow drag performer Mistress Isabelle Brooks, which gained wider attention in coverage published recently. When Brooks asked whether Starr considered herself a Lopez fan, the dancer responded, “Team Shakira all day.” Brooks also weighed in, declaring permanent loyalty to Mariah Carey and directing a pointed message at Lopez.
Mounting Scrutiny for the Superstar
The renewed claims arrived at an inopportune moment for Lopez, coinciding with a viral resurgence of mockery related to the Four Seasons hotel incident that has damaged her public image. Last month, Lopez faced online backlash for a viral hotel exit at the Four Seasons hotel in New York City. Fans and critics mocked her after a video showed her standing in the lobby, waiting to clear the path of other guests so paparazzi could capture the perfect shot of her departure. The combination of old grievances and new accusations has reinforced a reputation for difficult behavior that has proven remarkably persistent.
Lopez, who has expanded into entrepreneurship with her JLo Beauty brand and recently starred in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” has not publicly addressed Starr’s claims. Critics have noted the contradiction between a star who markets messages of confidence and self-acceptance while allegedly undermining a dancer’s self-image in front of colleagues.
Starr, who later competed on season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” after her years as a professional dancer, maintains that the Lopez experience was unlike anything else in her career. As the story continues circulating across entertainment media, Lopez’s silence on the matter is becoming increasingly conspicuous.
