Jennifer Lopez's Former Publicist Speaks Out: Jennifer Picks Her Career Over Men!

Everyone but Jennifer’s former publicist Rob Shuter is shocked with the announcement of J. Lo & Marc’s split. But Rob reveals that as soon as her career took off again, the marriage was doomed!

If you’re thinking Jennifer Lopez‘s split from her hubby of seven years Marc Anthony is due to some salacious cheating scandal, think again. HollywoodLife.com spoke with HuffPo Celebrity‘s Naughty But Nice Rob Shuter, who was Jennifer’s publicist in 2004 when she broke up with Ben Affleck and a few months later married her longtime friend and former boyfriend Marc, and he says it’s something else entirely!

For those that think Jennifer cheated on Marc — not so fast.

“There was a time when people were calling her a ‘Desperate Housewife of Long Island,’” Rob says. “Then what happened? American Idol! JLo was back, L’ Oreal commercials, then her new record – she’s hot again. Jennifer’s career is back and Idol is a huge hit again because of her. Jennifer’s lover and infidelity is her career. I argue that part of the reason they split is that old Hollywood story of schedules.”

Jennifer began seeing Marc again in 2004, just a few months after she and Ben Affleck ended their engagement. Jennifer and Marc were married just five months later at her home on June 5.

“Jennifer always loved Marc and when she started to date him again in 2004, she really loved him,” Rob says. “Their marriage worked primarily because of timing, she went back to him when she was hurt and publicly humiliated after Ben. Mark was safe, a man, and a controlling gentleman. Marc took Jennifer away from all the craziness and moved her to Long Island in a fantastic mansion and they had a beautiful life.”

”We have decided to end our marriage,” Jennifer and Marc announced July 15 in a joint statement. “This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved.”

“People’s level of surprise that they are divorcing has taken me by surprise,” Rob tells us. “Jennifer has been married three times. I think the reason we are surprised was because the last seven years they’ve been that couple next door. Her career started to take a nose dive. She seemed very happy being a mother, wife, and living on Long Island.”

Jennifer has a history of picking her career over men and this is what Rob believes happened again.

“If you look back over her history she’s always picked career over relationships,” he says. “She got rid of Diddy really fast after the club incident, the moment Gigli started to go down, Ben was gone and now she’s enjoying the second wings of fame. I can tell you from representing top celebrities, once they’ve tasted fame, it’s the most powerful drug in the world.”

Was Marc too controlling in their marriage?

“Mark really enjoyed Jennifer being at home and being the wife,” Rob says. “Marc is a very Latino gentleman. When I was working with Jennifer, and I was her publicist, Marc was calling the shots. He is a super star in Latin America and Jennifer took a second place to him for a while.”

Rob points out that Jennifer’s career dictates the type of men in her life: “As Jennifer’s career changes, what she needs out of men changes. There was a time she needed Diddy as a boss to tell her what to do with her music. Then when she did Gigli she wanted to feel like movie star so she got with Ben. Chris Judd, was when she needed someone to be in the background.”

Marc was heard joking at a concert in Colombia over the weekend “everyone keeps saying I’m single” and blowing kisses at women while on stage.

“Marc is taking control of the situation and Jennifer is flying under the radar,” Rob says. “This is what Marc does to regain control. Jennifer doesn’t have a big gaggle of girlfriends — she keeps her cards very close. The only two people who know what is really going on are Jennifer and Marc.”