Jennifer Lopez sparked debate by saying on an internet talk show that only people born in New York can call themselves New Yorkers.
Her definition would exclude iconic figures like Spike Lee and Fran Lebowitz, as well as Harlem Renaissance leaders who migrated north.
The debate reflects deeper tensions over gentrification, housing costs and who has the right to claim the city's identity.
AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.
Jennifer Lopez, a popular entertainer whose main residence is in Los Angeles, appeared on the internet talk show “Subway Takes” last week, sitting on a New York City subway train, to offer her opinion about geographical identity. “You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker,” Lopez proclaimed.
