Jennifer Lopez Returns to Social Media Amid Ben Affleck Divorce
Originally appeared on E! Online
This is Jennifer Lopez…healing.
Three days after filing for divorce from Ben Affleck, the Hustlers star has proven she’s doing well with a post on social media.
The 55-year-old returned to Instagram on Aug. 23 to reshare a fan's throwback photo of J.Lo posing for a selfie in front of a Christmas tree. In the snapshot—which Jennifer didn't caption—she smized at the camera while dressed in a fuzzy pink robe following a glam session.
The original pic seems to date back to December 2020, when hairstylist Chris Appleton shared similar shots with the caption, "Deluxe Glam Barbie- Ending the year with a bang."
The “Let’s Get Loud” singer's new era comes after she filed to end her marriage with the Good Will Hunting star at L.A. County Superior Court Aug. 20—exactly two years after the couple’s lavish Georgia wedding ceremony in 2022.
J.Lo—who shares twins Max and Emme, both 16, with ex Marc Anthony—waived her right for any spousal support and asked the Los Angeles judge to refuse Affleck the right as well, according to legal documents viewed by E! News. Jennifer—who filed the papers in person, and did not have a lawyer do it on her behalf—listed the couple’s date of separation as April 26.
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For his part, Ben—who shares Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with ex Jennifer Garner—has not addressed the breakup. In fact, on the day the Maid in Manhattan star filed the paperwork, the 52-year-old was busy moving his eldest daughter into Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, for her freshman year of college, before flying home to LA.
And while Ben and J.Lo’s marriage was already a reignited flame from their early aughts romance and engagement, things had been rocky between the pair for months leading up to their official split. The couple first started fueling breakup rumors back in May, when J.Lo attended the 2024 Met Gala—at which she was a co-chair—without Ben by her side.
Shortly after, rumors began to emerge that the pair was living separately—and the sale of their $68 million Beverly Hills mansion in July only added to the speculation. Even as Ben and Jennifer continued to appear together at family events—including a graduation party for Samuel in June—and make public appearances with their wedding rings on, cracks in their relationship were evident.
Indeed, Ben and J.Lo had been open about being on different pages in some regard throughout their marriage. In February, the Justice League star had noted that they fundamentally disagreed when it came to showing off their romance in the public eye—even on their second time around the block.
“Getting back together, I said, 'Listen, one of the things I don't want is a relationship on social media,'” he explained in the The Greatest Love Story Never Told documentary. "And then I sort of realized it's not a fair thing to ask. It's sort of like you're gonna marry a boat captain and you go, 'Well, I don't like the water.' We're just two people with kind of different approaches trying to learn to compromise.”
While J.Lo and Ben were not able to get on the same page, keep reading for a look back at their romance.
December 2001: Filming Gigli
The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.
October 2002: Spotted in Beverly Hills
The two are spotted in the city.
November 2002: Filming Gigli and Engagement
The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.
November 2002: Filming Jersey Girl
The two film the movie in New York City.
November 2002: Leaving MTV's TRL
Is there anything more '00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?
December 2002: Red Carpet Debut
The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.
January 2003: Sundance
The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
March 2003: Oscars
The two attend the Academy Awards together.
May 2003: Basketball Game
The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
July 2003: Canada Trip
The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.
July 2003: Gigli Premiere
The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.
August 2003: Gigli Is Released
...it flops at the box office.
September 2003: Wedding Is Off
The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.
October 2003: Baseball Date
The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben's favorite.
January 2004: It's Over
The two end their engagement.
September 2021: Red Carpet Royalty
They're baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel.
September 2021: Look of Love
There's no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one!
September 2021: Back to the Stage
Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.
September 2021: Met Gala Debut
The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.
October 2021: PDA at Premiere
Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.
April 2022: Engaged Again!
Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.
July 2022: Married!
On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
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