Considering the official separation of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, their on-and-off romantic bond has attracted attention worldwide.
On their second wedding anniversary, August 20, the singer/actress initiated the divorce process, marking the end of the Bennifer era for the second time.
Commencing their relationship during the filming of the 2003 romantic comedy Gigli, the pair initially got engaged nearly two decades ago but postponed their wedding plans the following year due to excessive media scrutiny.
Following their split in 2004, they reignited their love and exchanged vows in a sudden Las Vegas ceremony in 2022. Shortly after, they held a gathering for loved ones at a Georgia estate purchased by Affleck at the start of their two-decade-old relationship.
When they eventually reunited and Affleck proposed for the second time, Lopez expressed, “I feel incredibly fortunate, content, and proud to be by his side. Our second chance is a beautiful love tale.”
In 2024, Lopez unveiled The Greatest Love Story Never Told, a documentary unraveling the narrative of her self-made album This Is Me… Now and her enduring journey towards self-appreciation. Affleck notably motivated her to undertake this project.
Recounting their conversation, she disclosed, “I initially hesitated, stating ‘I’m not a writer, I can’t do this.’ but he reminded me, ‘You possess these abilities – writing, directing, producing, choreographing – embrace them and acknowledge who you truly are.’”
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at the premiere of “The Flash” held at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on June 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty
In the documentary, Affleck confessed his initial discomfort with Lopez’s desire for public scrutiny of their relationship but acknowledged the importance of “compromise.”
Rumors of their split began swirling in May 2022 when the couple had not been seen together for almost two months. Neither Lopez nor Affleck addressed the rumors of their allegedly ‘fraught’ relationship at the time. Furthermore, when questioned by a reporter about the speculations during a press event in Mexico for her Netflix movie, Atlas, in May, the Jenny from the Block singer simply responded, “You should know better.”
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are seen out and about on March 30, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)When reports emerged that he missed her birthday celebration and had reportedly relocated his belongings from their shared residence, the deteriorating state of their relationship became apparent.
Now, following the news of Lopez and Affleck’s divorce, Lopez’s former partner, retired MLB athlete Alex Rodriguez, posted an enigmatic statement on Instagram Stories on Tuesday, prompting speculation about its intended recipient.
He shared, “You must make a decision when faced with choices; it’s better to take charge of the direction yourself.”
Reports suggest that Rodriguez’s post was coincidental and had no direct correlation to Lopez, according to a source cited by People.
“We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects,” they said in a joint statement at the time. “We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support.”
Shortly after concluding her relationship with Rodriguez, the singer was seen maintaining a close bond with Affleck.
