The love story of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has come to an end. The Puerto Rican singer filed for divorce from the American actor in a Los Angeles court in California, according to court documents accessed by media outlets such as the LA Times and Variety magazine. The couple, known in the Hollywood industry as “Bennifer”, had given love a second chance by marrying two years ago, after starring in one of the most popular romances of the early 2000s. The BBC unsuccessfully sought comment from the legal representatives of both artists. This is the fourth marriage for the actress and singer, while for the 52-year-old actor, it was his second nuptials.
The couple met in 2002 on the set of the film Gigli. They became a media sensation when they started dating and soon after announced their engagement, showing off a large 6.1-carat pink diamond ring. Although they already had a date for the wedding in 2003, everything was delayed until they announced their breakup early the following year. This caused countless covers and headlines in the media around the world.
Lopez and Affleck started a second chapter of their romance in 2021. “It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance at,” Lopez said in an interview after photos surfaced of the two enjoying themselves as a couple. Wedding plans were made again. They announced their engagement in April 2022 and finally chose the city of Las Vegas for a quick wedding in July of that year. The formal ceremony took place at a well-known estate in the state of Georgia, in the southeastern US. The party lasted three days and was attended by major celebrities. Later, the couple purchased a US$60 million home in Los Angeles in 2023.
In recent months, the press began to publish news about the couple’s alleged marital problems. It was reported that Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday last month without Affleck. And the TMZ site claimed that they had sold the property they bought in Los Angeles. They also reported that Affleck had moved into a luxurious bachelor apartment. According to People magazine, the relationship between the two became tense due to their different approaches to fame. “She likes to open her heart to her fans and the world”, while “he’s more introspective and private. It’s been difficult day to day,” a source told the publication. According to TMZ, the date of separation that appears in the divorce documents is April of this year. Lopez was previously married to actor Ojani Noa, dancer Cris Judd and singer Marc Anthony, with whom she had twins Max and Emme. Affleck was married to actress Jennifer Garner, with whom he had three children: Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.
A Second Chance, but Not the Right One
Lopez and Affleck’s divorce is the latest chapter in a Hollywood love story that has captivated the public for decades. The couple initially met on the set of the 2002 comedy Gigli, where they played criminals caught in a job and formed a real-life friendship that blossomed into a relationship. However, over the years, both married other people. “Bennifer” fans rejoiced when Bennifer 2.0 was born following their reconciliation in 2021. The couple even seemed extremely happy.
‘It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance at’
“You know, one of the things that I really appreciate in all facets of my life now is that it was handled in a way that reflected that,” Affleck told The Wall Street Journal in December 2021. “My life now reflects not only the person I want to be, but the person that I actually feel like I am, which is not perfect, but somebody who’s trying really hard and cares a lot about being honest and authentic and responsible. It’s hard to say who benefits more, without going into specifics.”
The couple initially got engaged in November 2002 after Affleck proposed with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring from Harry Winston. He also appeared as Lopez’s love interest in the music video for her 2002 single “Jenny from the Block,” which featured a storyline that addressed the paparazzi’s treatment of their relationship. Days before the couple was set to marry in September 2003, they postponed their nuptials, citing the “excessive media attention” surrounding their wedding. Sources told CNN at the time that the couple was “taking a break”. In January 2004, they officially split.
So it seemed like a fairy tale when the couple made their reconciliation official on Instagram in July 2021, months after Lopez ended her engagement with baseball legend Alex Rodriguez. “I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him,” Lopez told People magazine about reuniting with Affleck weeks before he proposed to her for the second time in April 2022. “It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance at.”
Why It Didn't Work Out
In 2024, Lopez released “The Greatest Love Story Never Told”, a documentary chronicling the story of her independent production album and her decades-long search for self-love. In the film, Affleck said he learned to “compromise” with Lopez about her desire to be more public about their private lives. “She likes to open her heart to her fans and the world”, while “he’s more introspective and private. It’s been difficult day to day,” a source told the publication.
The couple married in Las Vegas in July 2022 and held a larger wedding ceremony in August of that year at Affleck’s estate in Georgia. It was the fourth marriage for Lopez and the second for Affleck. Lopez has two children with singer and ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children with actress and ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Though the news of their divorce comes as a surprise to some, it's important to remember that relationships are complex and personal. It's not always easy to reconcile past hurts and move on with a second chance, especially when navigating the complexities of Hollywood fame. Ultimately, it's their personal decision, and we should respect their privacy during this time.
