Inside Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship, 2nd Split
It’s the news heard around the world: Bennifer has officially come to an end… again. Yes, it is now the second time that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting divorced, and fans are just as heartbroken as the first time.
Bennifer, the nickname for pop star Lopez and actor Affleck, have been an iconic couple in Hollywood for nearly two decades. They were first engaged in 2002 after they met on the set of their movie, Gigli, but it wasn’t long before they became one of the biggest Hollywood duos.
The two eventually split in 2004 before walking down the aisle, only to reunite in 2021, sparking rumors of a rekindled romance. By July 2022, the couple was (finally) married and it seemed like they might go the distance.
So, what really happened between the two stars and why couldn’t they make a second go of it? Take a look at everything the former flames have said about their relationship and understand what really happened between them.
What Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have said about rekindling their relationship
Gotham / Contributor / Getty
Of course, nobody could have expected a Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck divorce in their early dating days, especially with their adorable red carpet photos and online proclamations of love for each other.
Lopez shared the news of their marriage in her newsletter, On the JLo. “It's a beautiful outcome that this has happened in this way at this time in our lives where we can really appreciate and celebrate each other and respect each other,” she wrote. “We have been in the game in the public eye long enough to know who we are as people and what really matters and what doesn't matter.”
In a later newsletter, Lopez shared more about their wedding. She wrote, “Some old wounds were healed that day and the weight of the past finally lifted off our shoulders." Lopez continued, "Full-circle — and not at all the way we planned it. Better.”
Affleck spoke about their connection in Lopez’ new film, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. He said, “I did really find the beauty and the poetry and the irony in the fact that it’s the greatest love story never told, and if you’re making a record about it — that seems kind of like telling it.”
Were there signs of a breakup all along between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck?
Arturo Holmes / Staff / Getty
While they were both very candid about how great it was to be back together and really know what’s important now, there were some red flags that may have led to Lopez and Affleck’s untimely split.
In that same documentary, Affleck explained that he had one condition for their relationship. “Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media.’ And then I sort of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask… We’re just two people with kind of different approaches, trying to learn to compromise.”
Affleck shared that he wanted some walls up between his relationship and the press, but Lopez might not have had those same feelings. “I had a very firm sense of boundaries initially around the press while Jen I don't think objected to it in the way I did.”
While these statements were made nearly six months before their split, they could be seen as the first signs of tension in the relationship. By May, speculation around a possible split began and in June, it was revealed they were living separately.
Where do Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck stand now?
Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck, the news hitting the headlines on August 20, 2024. The couple, who married in July 2022, only had two years of marriage under their belts. Although their divorce filing was just announced, the couple has been spending their summer solo, with Lopez celebrating her 55th birthday minus her estranged husband. But even though their romance is over as of now, as we’ve seen, rekindled relationships seems to be Bennifer’s thing.
Keep reading for more entertainment!
'Sex and the City' Real-Life Relationships: Learn About the Cast’s Love Lives IRL
