Alex Rodriguez’s new HBO docuseries, “Alex vs ARod,” has sparked discussion due to its notable omissions. Premiering in November 2025, the three-part series explores the former baseball player’s career and personal challenges but does not address his four-year relationship with actress Jennifer Lopez.
Directors Gotham Chopra and Erik LeDrew explained their choice to concentrate on Rodriguez’s baseball achievements and his use of performance-enhancing drugs, rather than providing a comprehensive biography.
A source informed Closer that Lopez had anticipated being included in the series, as the topic was discussed between them for months. Her absence from the documentary reportedly surprised her.
The source further stated that omitting her from the narrative and excluding her from his life story was seen as disrespectful and emotionally disturbing.
Rodriguez and Lopez began dating in 2017 after reconnecting at a restaurant; they first met at a Yankees game in 2005. They got engaged in March 2019 during a trip to the Bahamas, with Rodriguez giving Lopez a 16-carat emerald-cut diamond ring.
During their relationship, the couple frequently appeared on red carpets and social media, merging their families and supporting each other’s business pursuits. In April 2020, they attempted to buy the New York Mets baseball team, planning to invest around $300 million personally.
Their relationship encountered difficulties in early 2021 due to rumors about Rodriguez’s communication with “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy. LeCroy confirmed phone conversations but denied physical meetings. In April 2021, Lopez and Rodriguez announced their split, saying, “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so.”
Though Lopez is not in the series, Rodriguez’s ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis appears prominently, discussing their marriage from 2002 to 2008 and describing Rodriguez as “so stunted when it came to the natural development of a person” and “so entrenched in baseball.”
The documentary includes interviews with Rodriguez’s brother, former manager Lou Piniella, former teammates Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr., Scurtis, Yankees announcer Michael Kay, and sportswriter Mike Francesa.
The documentary’s release coincided with a challenging time for Lopez. Her divorce from Ben Affleck was finalized in February 2025 after she filed in August 2024. They had rekindled their romance in 2021 after her split from Rodriguez and married in 2022.
Lopez also ended her association with record label BMG in 2025 due to poor sales of her 2024 album “This Is Me… Now.” Her 2024 North American tour “THIS IS ME… LIVE” was cancelled, with representatives citing a need for family time.
In February 2024, Lopez released a documentary called “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” focusing on her journey to self-love and renewed relationship with Affleck. Like Rodriguez’s series, it did not cover her previous high-profile engagements, including with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez told The Hollywood Reporter that he prefers to keep his private life to himself, saying, “one of the things that has served me well is having a little bit more low profile of a life.”
The documentary centers on Rodriguez’s baseball career, highlighting his three MVP awards, 14 All-Star appearances, and the 2009 World Series win, as well as the controversies, especially his suspension over performance-enhancing drugs.
Currently streaming on HBO Max, “Alex vs ARod” provides an in-depth look at a polarizing figure in baseball, focusing on his career achievements rather than his personal life that frequently captured media attention.