J. Lo accuses former manager of fraud
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Ben Affleck, right, was allegedly bothered by Lopez's diva reputation, which may have led to the firing of Medina.
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 I look forward to the opportunity to have the world come to know the real Jennifer Lopez. 
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-- Benny Medina
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Many credit Jennifer Lopez's former manager, Benny Medina, with helping turn her into a one-name showbiz commodity, but now J. Lo wants to know exactly how he operated.
Attorneys representing the singer-actress and her production company, Nuyorican Productions, filed a petition Wednesday with California's Labor Standards Enforcement Department in San Francisco, accusing Medina of fraud and asking a judge to open the accounting books of the man many credit with her superstar status.
Lopez claims Medina, her manager for more than five years, was unlicensed as a talent agent, misappropriated funds that belonged to her, and generally acted in a manner detrimental to the performer's personal, professional and financial interests.
Medina said the allegation he misappropriated Lopez's funds is "both untrue and offensive."
In an angry statement released Wednesday night, Medina said Lopez is trying to add him "to the long list of people whom she has used and discarded after she took from them all she could get."
He wrote, "I look forward to the opportunity to have the world come to know the real Jennifer Lopez. I will defend myself against these lies and will collect from her every dollar for which I am owed. Others have stepped back in the face of her threats; I will march forward."
Lopez severed ties with Medina last month as part of a series of professional representation moves which included leaving her talent agency for another and axing her high-profile Hollywood publicist, Alan Nierob.
Upon parting ways with Medina, Lopez said she would be "eternally grateful" to him but, "For a variety of reasons, I needed a change."
Long-criticized for her startling backstage demands, Lopez has recently come under increasing attack for what is perceived as diva-like behavior.
Some Hollywood speculators say Lopez is unhappy with the image of being high-maintenance, and industry gossip columnists suggest Medina was behind her notorious demands. It is also widely reported that Lopez's fiance, actor Ben Affleck, was "bothered" by his future wife's reputation.
Lopez has now signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to represent her and Dan Klores Communications for her public relations.
