The video is also infamous for introducing a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez , who appeared as a backing dancer and had a spoken line in the video 's opening dialogue . Lopez credits Jackson as her inspiration to enter the entertainment industry , saying " When I saw the " Pleasure Principle " video it inspired me to get into this business , " and " I can also never forget the magnificent Janet Jackson as she is a big inspiration for all my dance and music videos . " Jackson 's previous video " Love Will Never Do ( Without You ) " was the " first inkling " of the contrasted image developed with the release of the '' Janet '' album and " That 's the Way Love Goes . " The transition is regarded as iconic and commended by many critics . Maureen Sajbel of '' The LA Times '' stated Jackson abandoned " the masculine clothes , " becoming " refined and softened to a model-perfect feminine image . " Sajbel wrote " Jackson 's svelte figure is poured into black bell-bottoms and crop tops . She wears silver hoop earrings and wide cream and silver chokers that have sent adolescents streaming into stores asking for " Janet Jackson necklaces . " '' Entertainment Weekly '' declared it Jackson 's earliest foray into being " not just a cherubic pop star but a confident , self-sufficient , and sexy grown-up , " calling the " slinky , body-revealing " video " the first volley . " '' PopMatters '' commended its choreography as " sinuous seduction " and praised its concept , saying " the video for " That ’s the Way Love Goes " once again showcases Janet and her friends , but this time the portrait is much more sensual and relaxed . When this video was released , Janet had been out of the public eye for several years . The video gave hungry fans a fresh eyeful of a radiant , sexy-looking Janet , murmuring a tribute to the joys of physical love . " '' Idolator '' also applauded Jackson 's evolution , exclaiming " Ms. Jackson had finally shed her bulky " Rhythm Nation " uniform in exchange for a midriff baring top and a choker , long before anyone would associate her name with the words " wardrobe malfunction " . The clip was thought to be " the most accessible version of the star the public had ever seen . " Foster Kamer of '' Complex '' declared it a " really simple formula " and " decidedly lo-fi " in comparison to Jackson 's " high-tech repertoire . " Described as " just a bunch of ladies , kicking it in Janet 's loft , dancing around to music " , the clip was praised as " all at once golden " for Jackson 's " power of seemingly limitless charisma , especially when metered out and not unleashed full-force . " The publication concluded " And yet : Janet oozes sexuality as she dances with the ladies around the apartment , leaning on walls , looking up at the ceiling , possibly thinking thoughts about her then-husband René Elizondo Jr. " Robert Christgau considered it among Jackson 's videos which displayed " a gender equality that 's almost progressive by video 's pitiful male-chauvinist standards " due to Jackson 's dominance over her male counterparts , in which two male dancers compete for her and seven female dancer 's attention . '' The LA Times '' stated the clip 's premise of " Jackson lounging with her pals " succeeds at " seeming offhandedly sexy in a very shrewd way . " '' MusicOMH '' considered it " a sultry start " into Jackson 's new image , with Jackson seen dancing " up against a pillar . " Feminist website '' Jezebel '' considered Jackson " loud , fierce and mouthy " in the video , in contrast to Jackson 's " usually so soft-spoken " persona . '' The New York Times '' observed " the bump " dance to resurface among youth and clubs " now that Janet Jackson does it in her new video . " Jackson performed a medley of " That 's the Way Love Goes " and " If " at the MTV Video Music Awards . The song was performed along with " Because of Love " on MTV 's New Year 's Eve special . It was also performed on Top of the Pops and French entertainment show Les Années Tubes . Jackson later performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show during promotion for '' 20 Y.O. '' and Good Morning America upon the release of her tenth album '' Discipline '' . It has been performed on each of her following tours , including the janet . Tour , The Velvet Rope Tour , All for You Tour , Rock Witchu Tour , Number Ones : Up Close and Personal , Unbreakable World Tour , and State of the World Tour with elements of Rock the Boat by Aaliyah . It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson : Metamorphosis
MTV Video Music Awards
1993 MTV Video Music Awards
That's the Way Love Goes (Janet Jackson song)