Lopez's first marriage was to Cuban-born Ojani Noa on February 22, 1997. Lopez met Noa while he worked as a waiter at a Miami restaurant. They divorced in March 1998. Lopez later employed Noa as the manager of her Pasadena restaurant Madre's in April 2002, but fired him in October 2002. After Noa sued Lopez over the termination, they drew up a confidentiality agreement.  In April 2006, Lopez sued to prevent Noa from publishing a book containing personal details about their short marriage, contending it violated the confidentiality agreement.

She then had a two-and-a-half-year relationship with Sean Combs. On December 27, 1999, Lopez and Combs were at Club New York, a midtown Manhattan nightclub, when a gunfire erupted between Combs' entourage and another group. Lopez and Combs were being driven away from the scene when they were chased and stopped by the police. A stolen gun was found in the front seat of their vehicle. Lopez was charged with felony gun possession, but the charges were dropped, as she was riding in the back seat at the time. Lopez terminated her involvement with Combs shortly thereafter, and Combs reconciled with Kim Porter, mother of his three children.