Jennifer Lopez Had A 'Long, Deep Conversation' With Ben Affleck's BFF Matt Damon Amid Divorce
Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon reportedly engaged in a deep, 20-minute conversation at the "Unstoppable" afterparty following its TIFF premiere.
Due to their ongoing divorce, the famous singer appeared at the event without her estranged husband and co-producer, Ben Affleck.
For the premiere, Jennifer Lopez made a bold statement by donning a daring dress that showed off her statuesque figure.
Jennifer Lopez And Matt Damon Were Engaged In A 'Deep Conversation' At 'Unstoppable' Afterparty
#AboutLastNight??? “Unstoppable” World premiere gala at TIFF! Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle and Matt Damon walk the red carpet at the @AmazonMGMStudio film presentation #TIFF24! #JenniferLopez #JharrelJerome #MattDamon #Unstoppablemovie… pic.twitter.com/7zjU12mCfD
— Critics Choice Awards (@CriticsChoice) September 7, 2024
A source who spoke to People Magazine revealed that Lopez and Damon were spotted having a meaningful discussion at the afterparty for their movie "Unstoppable," which followed its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The actors reportedly spent over 20 minutes chatting at the EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, and according to the insider, the "Atlas" actress was with Damon's wife Luciana Barroso and co-star Don Cheadle when Damon joined their table.
The source noted that Lopez and Damon, who is best friends with her estranged husband, Affleck, "had a long, deep conversation," laughing and discussing more serious topics, even holding hands during their conversation.
Notably, Affleck, a co-producer of the movie, was missing from both the premiere and the afterparty.
The premiere of "Unstoppable" served as Lopez's first major public appearance since filing for divorce from Affleck on August 20 after two years of marriage.
Sources had previously confirmed that Lopez and Damon would attend the TIFF event, while the "Gone Girl" actor would not be present.
The Actress Was Praised At TIFF For Her Performance In 'Unstoppable'
The film "Unstoppable," produced by Affleck and Damon's company Artists Equity, tells the inspiring story of wrestler Anthony Robles, who, despite being born with one leg, won an NCAA national championship in 2011.
Lopez co-produced and starred as Judy Robles, Anthony's mother, and her performance received a standing ovation at the film's TIFF premiere.
During the post-screening Q&A, Lopez emphasized her commitment to faithfully portraying Judy Robles.
She stated, "I think it was my job really to help her feel safe. Both of them, Anthony and Judy, to feel safe and kind of put this in our hands and trust us with all the information that they could give us and know that we wouldn't misuse it in any way, but only use it to tell their story in the best and most beautiful way that it deserved. Because it is one of the most beautiful, most inspiring stories I think I've ever seen on screen."
"Unstoppable" is set to hit select theaters in December and will be available on Prime Video soon.
Jennifer Lopez Looked Stunning At The 'Unstoppable' Premiere
View this post on Instagram
At the premiere, Lopez dazzled on the red carpet in a striking silver gown by Tamara Ralph featuring high splits and oversized black velvet bows.
She paired the dress with a metallic Judith Leiber clutch, Dolce and Gabbana platform heels, and Hassanzadeh jewelry, posing alongside Damon and cast members Don Cheadle, Jharrel Jerome, and Bobby Cannavale.
On the same day, Affleck was also spotted wearing a navy suit and sunglasses in Los Angeles.
The Toronto premiere of "Unstoppable" took place just two days after Affleck and Lopez were seen arriving separately at the same Los Angeles building where they both have offices.
The "Argo" star was spotted leaving about 30 minutes after Lopez's arrival.
The Singer Filed For Divorce From Ben Affleck Without A Lawyer
Lopez and Affleck married in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022, followed by a second ceremony with family and friends in Georgia the next month.
The singer filed for divorce on the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding without the aid of a lawyer, citing "irreconcilable differences."
Legal expert Marilyn Chinitz spoke to People about Lopez's decision to handle the filing "pro se."
She said, "I think that she most likely just wanted to get this done, [that] there was a lot of hesitation and hemming and hawing back and forth, and it's a statement, 'I'm moving forward, I'm filing, and I'm doing it on my own.'"
Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Are Moving Forward
According to People, the Oscar winner and the "Jenny From The Block" singer are choosing to focus on the positives as they move forward with their divorce.
A source close to Affleck told the news outlet that he is "doing well" and "slowly moving into his new home," which he bought for $20.5 million last month.
"He's where he wants to be: close to his kids and in a neighborhood that he loves," the source noted. "He enjoys working too and is very focused on the positives."
Another source close to Lopez disclosed that "she still feels very fortunate" with her life even though she feels "some bitterness" about the split, adding that the actress "tried so hard to make things work, and it didn't matter to Ben."
"She's surrounded by family, friends, and her kids," the insider shared. "She always manages to have a positive outlook. The divorce is difficult for her, but she always finds a way to move forward."