American Idol 2011: Jennifer Lopez and P Diddy put any awkwardness behind them

By
Sarah Bull
Last updated at 9:35 AM on 11th March 2011

They split in 2000 after dating for two-and-a-half years, in a break-up labelled ‘ugly’ by Jennifer Lopez.

But last night the American Idol judge was reunited with ex-boyfriend P Diddy as he took to the stage on the TV talent show to perform his new single Coming Home.

However, Lopez appeared happy to see her former flame, applauding energetically after his performance with his group Diddy-Dirty Money.

Applause: Jennifer Lopez claps after ex-boyfriend P Diddy performed on American Idol last night

Emotional: Diddy performed his new song Coming Home with a background of photographs of his children

Lopez was also seen turning to fellow judge Steven Tyler after the performance, keeping it simple by just saying, ‘Nice!’

 

As well as performing his new track
on the show, Diddy also served as a musical mentor on the programme, and
said previously that he was impressed with how Lopez had conducted
herself as a new judge on the panel.

He
explained: ‘The way Jennifer handled coming after Simon, and even
myself from Making the Band and the way we were hard coaches – she’s
been like, a compassionate person.

Energetic: Diddy performed the track with his group Diddy-Dirty Money as the judges looked on

‘She’s made me cry like, twice, and she’s looked good doing it. And she’s made sense so, you know, I’m proud of her.

‘She’s a nice person so, you know, when you’re super nice, your emotions get the best of you.

‘It’s good though – it’s good to see that change in the competitive shows. I think she’s very refreshing.’

All out glamour: Lopez chose a white puff sleeve top with a mustard-coloured miniskirt as she joined fellow judges Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson on the stage

Lopez
and Diddy began dating in 1999 but the high profile relationship ended
two years later soon after they were both arrested over a nightclub
shooting in New York.

Former love: Lopez and Diddy split in 2000 after dating for two-and-a-half years

She revealed in a tell-all interview last year that the incident was one of her lowest moments.

‘That was one of the worst nights of my life,’ she said bluntly.

‘It was devastating for me to have lived through that.’

She says the relationship was never able to recover.

‘It started out as something very pure and innocent,’ she said.

‘But it did get ugly – it did get sordid.’

‘We did fall in love and we were very close. He became a mentor as well and he really nurtured me.

‘But my relationship with him was always something I knew would end.’

After their split Diddy admitted he was going to find it hard to cope after the break-up.

He said in 2001: ‘Jennifer is somebody I will always love.

‘It’s hard being a celebrity in a relationship. We will meet again some day. My heart is strong.’

Lopez is now happily married to Marc Anthony, with whom she has twins Max and Emme, while Diddy is a father-of-five.