Jennifer Lopez said Monday that she
felt a responsibility to record Love Make the World Go Round,
which honors the victims of a mass shooting in Orlando.
Forty-nine people died and dozens were
injured last month when a lone gunman opened fire in Pulse, a gay
nightclub.
Lopez collaborated on the song with
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is best known for writing and starring in the
Broadway musical Hamilton.
All
proceeds from Love Make the World Go Round will
benefit the Hispanic Federation's Proyecto Somos Orlando, which,
according to the group's website, will “provide bilingual
culturally-competent social services to impacted families and the
broader community.”
The
duo
performed the song live Monday on NBC's Today.
“I
had this song, Love Make the World Go Round,
for eight months and because of what happened in Orlando I heard the
song in a totally different way,” Lopez
told NBC News. “Yes, it was in a gay club; I have gay family
members. It was Latino night there at the club; I am Latino.”
“I was thinking,
this song needs to come out right now.”
Lopez added that
she felt a responsibility to contribute.
Miranda agreed,
calling the idea “smart,” because Lopez's music was likely
playing in the nightclub on that night.