"I Was the Pioneer": Ex-Miami Waiter Reflects on Being Jennifer Lopez’s First Husband

Jennifer Lopez may be known worldwide for her high-profile relationships, but behind the glitz and glamour of her Hollywood romances is her little-known first husband, Ojani Noa. A former Miami waiter, Noa recently opened up in a candid interview about his time with the global superstar, offering a glimpse into the early days of Lopez’s rise to fame and his role as her first husband.

“I was the pioneer,” Noa said, reflecting on his whirlwind marriage to Lopez in 1997, before her career exploded. The two met while he was working as a waiter at a popular Miami restaurant, just as Lopez’s breakthrough role in *Selena* was turning her into a household name. According to Noa, their connection was instant, and within a year, they were walking down the aisle. However, their marriage was short-lived, lasting just 11 months.

Despite the brevity of their union, Noa remembers those days fondly. “She was grounded back then,” he shared, adding that Lopez, although ambitious, was still navigating the early stages of her career. “She wasn’t ‘J.Lo’ yet. She was still Jenny from the block, figuring things out.”

While their relationship was largely out of the public eye, Noa became a part of Lopez’s story, standing by her side as she transitioned from an up-and-coming actress to an international superstar. In the years since their split, Noa has occasionally made headlines, particularly when attempting to release a tell-all book or behind-the-scenes footage from their marriage, which led to legal battles with Lopez. However, he maintains that his memories of their time together are more about love than litigation.

“I never wanted fame or money from her,” Noa explained. “I was in love with Jennifer. That’s all I cared about.” He went on to describe their marriage as a pivotal moment in both their lives, with Lopez’s career soon skyrocketing after their split. “She was always destined for greatness,” he added. “I was just there at the beginning.”

Despite their marriage ending in divorce, Noa insists there are no hard feelings between him and Lopez, though they’ve had little contact since. "I’ve moved on, and I know she has too," he said. "But I’ll always be proud that I was part of her journey, even if it was just at the start."

As Lopez has gone on to marry and date other high-profile figures, from Ben Affleck to Alex Rodriguez, Noa’s chapter in her life has largely been overshadowed. Still, the ex-waiter from Miami will forever hold the unique title of being Jennifer Lopez’s first husband, a distinction he wears with a sense of pride and nostalgia.