J.Lo: New Guy, New Drama

HOLIDAY IN HAWAII!

There’s the traditional way to spend Thanksgiving-stressing about travel plans, weather and inevitable family squabbles-and then there’s the Jennifer Lopez way. First, hop a private plane to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Then, settle into a rented oceanfront villa big enough to hold your entourage of friends and family. Finally, spend the holiday hanging out on the beach with your 3-year-old twins and your hot, new-and much younger-boyfriend. “Jen looked very happy and relaxed,” an onlooker says of Lopez, who watched from a cabana as her dancer beau, Casper Smart, chased her children Max and Emme in the sand. “Casper was acting like a big kid, and Jen’s kids were screaming with laughter,” adds the onlooker. “They all seemed to enjoy the day.”

One person who isn’t so thrilled about it? Her estranged husband, Marc Anthony, from whom she’s been separated since July. Though things had been, according to a Lopez insider, “calm” of late between the pair, the American Idol judge’s romance with Smart, 24, has created new drama with the Latin music star-especially after he learned the dancer was spending time with their children. “He absolutely flipped out,” says the insider, explaining that Lopez, 42, has received “several nasty phone calls and text messages” from Anthony, 43. “Marc thinks Jennifer has been very indiscreet about her hookups, and he has been acting very jealous lately.”

But two people close to Anthony say it’s not jealousy; it’s concern. “He’s very protective of his kids and the idea of a stranger spending time with them would upset any parent,” says one source. “He made his point clear to Jennifer that this is just not right for the kids.” According to a music source, he’s also moved on, having dated several women over the past few months. “Sure, he doesn’t like to see a woman he loves with someone else, but if she wants to date he would rather she pick someone more her equal,” says the music source, adding, “Marc thinks her new guy is [too] wild. He doesn’t think Casper is a good choice.”

This isn’t the first time Lopez dipped into the dancer pool: Her ex-husband Cris Judd was also in her backup crew. Yet Smart’s appeal is more than smooth moves and a six-pack. “He’s very sweet to her,” a source in Lopez’s camp says of the dancer-choreographer, who has appeared on Glee and worked with Beyonce (see sidebar) and who peeled off a layer of Lopez’s clothes during her sexy performance at the American Music Awards Nov. 20. Though the couple originally met months ago, it took a while before they began to mix business with pleasure. “She was in the mood to let loose and have fun, and Casper definitely offers that,” says another source close to the star.

As for that 18-year age gap, the Lopez insider explains that the dynamic offers her a level of emotional protection: “She is in charge, and she knows she won’t get her heart broken with him. It’s just a fun fling.”

Whatever it is, she’s doing little to keep the romance under wraps. She kissed Smart and danced seductively for him at her AMAs afterparty and-shades of Bennifer!-let him drive her around Los Angeles in her Bentley. What’s surprising is that she’s allowing him to spend time with her kids. Back in October, while she was linked to Bradley Cooper, she said she wouldn’t even discuss her dating life because it would be “confusing” for them. “As a mom and having children right now, they are my first priority,” she told Entertainment Tonight, “and because of them I wouldn’t even comment on anything to do with men unless I am in a serious relationship.” According to several sources, that isn’t how anyone is categorizing her romance with Smart. “Jennifer just likes the attention-for now,” says the insider. “It makes her feel good that she has a younger guy that likes her.”

So Lopez isn’t dwelling on Anthony’s issues with her new romance. “Jennifer hasn’t seemed too bothered,” says the insider. “She’s extremely good at ignoring Marc when he has his jealous outbursts now.” Counters the Anthony source: “[Her behavior] puts everyone in a very uncomfortable position. The trust is definitely affected when you go over ground rules in the beginning of the split and then they’re violated.”

Lopez won’t be able to ignore him for too long: The pair-who have yet to file for divorce-are expected to shoot more footage together for their upcoming international talent show Q’Viva! The Chosen (see box). In the wake of their split, they had been filming separately around Latin America, but in early November they decided to shoot together in Puerto Rico-a move that benefited their family as well as the show. “Marc was very happy he was able to spend time with Jennifer and the kids,” says the Lopez insider. “They also spent solo time together and seemed very happy to be together again. When Marc is on his good behavior and doesn’t cause drama, Jennifer still has a soft spot for him.”

But now that she is enjoying her sexy single life, the odds of a reconciliation grow ever slimmer. “Marc always thought Jennifer would come crawling back to him, and instead she’s doing great without him,” says the insider. Indeed, for Lopez-and her Mr. Right Now-things couldn’t be better. “Jennifer is very happy,” says the insider. “It seems nothing will bring her down. Jennifer doesn’t care that Marc is mad, and she will continue to do whatever makes her happy.”

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