We all love a celebrity romance, but there’s something even more fascinating about old flames reuniting. That’s exactly why fans more or less lost it when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck went Instagram official with their rekindled relationship in July 2021, confirming months of speculation that they’d reignited their legendary love story. The rumours began fresh from JLo’s split with Alex Rodriguez in April 2021, and it seems Ben wasted no time in winning her back.
Now, the ultimate “exes getting back together romance” has ended. The news that Bennifer is over has caused pain in the hearts of some on the marie claire team, so, we’re taking a walk down memory lane.
A Recap On J Lo and Ben Affleck’s Relationship
If you’re not familiar with the whole story, we cast our eyes back to 2002 when the pair first met. From here, we’ve covered all the major events over the last 22 years to catch you up to speed. It starts with a movie set meeting in 2002 of Gigli and ends with an adorable blended family outing in 2023. Now, we’ve seen solo Bridgerton-themed birthdays and devastating mohawks, and there are signs J Lo and Affleck might be wrapping things up.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bennifer.
1. J.Lo and Affleck Meet On A Movie Set
Ben and JLo met on the set of a movie called Gigli in 2002. At this point they were both rising stars in their own right and Jennifer was married to her second husband, Cris Judd.
Unfortunately, the movie bombed at the box office but the sparks between the two were undeniable. Jennifer’s divorce from Cris was finalised in the same year and it wasn’t long before she and Ben went public with their relationship.
JLo spoke to People where she reminisced on her first encounter with Ben, “I felt like… ‘Okay, this is it.'”
2. ‘Bennifer’ Is Born
Unsurprisingly, the world collectively lost its mind when the couple went official. Their high-profile relationship sparked widespread media coverage, leading to the creation of their celebrity couple name, Bennifer.
The pair went on to make their first red carpet debut in December 2002, at the premiere of Lopez’s film Maid in Manhattan.
3. The ‘Jenny From The Block’ Music Video
This iconic music video has gone down in popular culture history, and it’s not hard to see why. Filmed in October 2002, the video featured a range of steamy shots of JLo in a pink bikini and Affleck in a white tank. The pair were seen canoodling on a yacht together and also addressed the paparazzi frenzy they had been experiencing.
The video made a few digs toward the tabloid frenzy, including surveillance footage and pap photos. In later interviews, JLo has admitted the media frenzy did put a strain on their relationship, amongst other things. Despite all this, she maintains there was genuine love between them.
“We didn’t try to have a public relationship,” Lopez told People in 2016. “We just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids, and it was like ‘Oh my God.’ It was just a lot of pressure.”
4. The Engagement
Nobody can forget the spectacular pink engagement ring JLo debuted following the announcement of her engagement to Affleck. The singer confirmed the exciting news in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer in November 2002, saying, “It’s the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen.” In this same interview, she gushed over her then-fiancé, describing him as “brilliantly smart … Loving. Charming. Affectionate.”
The 6.1-carat pink diamond reportedly cost Affleck $2.5 million and was made by esteemed American jeweller Harry Winston.
To the surprise of everyone, just two days before the couple were set to tie the knot in September 2003, they released a joint media statement announcing the postponement of their nuptials.
“Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry. We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.”
5. The Break Up
By January 2004 (and to the devastation of everyone), the couple were officially over. The two ended their engagement, with JLo confirming the sad news through her spokesperson.
“I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck,” the statement read. “At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.”
Come September 2004, JLo married singer-songwriter and longtime friend Marc Anthony. The couple welcomed twins in 2008, daughter Emme Muñiz and son Max Muñiz. In 2014, the couple made the decision to separate.
In her 2014 book titled True Love, JLo reflected on this period in her life, hinting that it may have been an attempt to recover from her breakup with Affleck.
“Thinking back, maybe deep down I knew that this was a Band-Aid on the cut, that my wound hadn’t been stitched or healed,” she wrote. “But I pushed all that to the back of my mind. Because life takes unpredictable twists and turns, right? And you’ve just got to go with what you feel is best in the moment.”
As for Affleck, he went on to marry fellow actor Jennifer Garner in 2005, welcoming three children over the years daughters Violet and Seraphina Affleck, and son Samuel Affleck. The couple divorced in 2018.
6. New Rumours
Roll on 2021 and the pair were clearly not quite finished with each other. Rumours began swirling in April 2021 after JLo announced the end of her engagement to Alex Rodriguez and Ben Affleck split from Ana de Armas. It seems they both found themselves single at the same time.
It didn’t take long before the pair were spotted hanging out, with Page Six reporting that Affleck was seen visiting JLo’s LA home multiple times. The pair also went on a weeklong vacation to Montana following their appearances at Global Citizen’s Vax Live benefit concert.
Then, in late July 2021 all the rumours (and sheer hope from fans) was confirmed. On JLo’s 52nd Birthday, she shared a series of snaps from a sunny day out on a yacht. And lo and behold, the image we’d been waiting for: Ben and Jen sharing a kiss.
An insider reported to E! News that the two stars have kept in touch over the years and maintained a friendly relationship.
“They have been in touch here and there throughout the years. Ben reached out to her to see how she was doing and they had dinner together a few times within this last month. It’s natural between them and the chemistry is unreal. They picked up where they last left off and are enjoying each other’s company right now” the source said.
Now that we know their spark never quite faded and their relationship is out in the open, JLo and Affleck have certainly reignited our global obsession with them together, proving that even with the passing of time, some things never change.
7. PDA central
Their relationship now out in the open, J Lo and Affleck spared no moment to prove just how loved up they were. Whether it was a red carpet event or a casual stroll, the couple puckered up everywhere they went.
Speaking on Heart FM radio, in February 2022, Lopez revealed why she and Affleck were “all about” a PDA.
“I love public displays of romance,” she told the hosts. “I don’t know if I would love a proposal, I think that that’s a more intimate thing between two people. But I have no problem with PDA, like people say, I actually, I’m all about it! If you really feel it.”
8. Engaged again
In April, J Lo and Affleck revealed they were engaged, 20 years after announcing their first engagement.
Sharing the news in a video via her newsletter, On The JLo, she debuted a huge green diamond ring.
Wiping away tears of joy. “You’re perfect,” she said in a voiceover.
Later, the Marry Me star explained the sweet hidden meaning behind the ring.
“I always say the colour green is my lucky colour,” Lopez wrote. Then, in reference to her iconic green Versace dress from the 2000 Grammy Awards, she added, “maybe you can remember a certain green dress”.
She continued, “I’ve realised there are many moments in my life where amazing things happened when I was wearing green.”
9. Married, finally
In July 2022, Lopez and Affleck finally tied the knot in a last-minute Las Vegas ceremony. According to the official marriage documents, JLo changed her surname to Affleck, making her legally Jennifer Affleck.
Once again, she took to her newsletter to provide some insight on the big day, which included a late night ceremony, a borrowed blazer and pure, spontaneous fun.
“We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.”
“So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives.
“They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end, it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible, and one another) at very, very long last.
“Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive-through in Las Vegas at twelve-thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive-through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with,” Lopez concluded. “Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.”
Signing off, JLo simply wrote: “Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”
10. Blending families
The newlyweds have five children between them: JLo’s 14-year-old twins Emme and Mex, and Affleck’s three children, Violet (17) Seraphina (14) and Samuel (10).
Since tying the knot in July 2022, the newlyweds have spoken openly about the process of blending their two family units into one. “We moved in together. The kids moved in together,” Lopez said in an interview with TODAY. “It’s been, like, a really kind of emotional transition, but at the same time all your dreams coming true.”
Everything certainly seems to be going well for the newly blended family, who were spotted in January 2023 taking a family outing in LA. The loved-up couple, who were holding hands, were accompanied by kids Seraphina, Samuel and Emme.
Their married life looked like it was off to a perfect start.
11. Relationship Inspires New J.Lo Album
In November 2022, J.Lo fans had Affleck to thank for a new album. Ahead of the release of This Is Me… Now and in honour of the 20th anniversary of her third 2002 album This Is Me… Then, Lopez spoke with journalist Zane Lowe for Apple Music. Lopez is one to wear her heart on her sleeve, and during the conversation, she said that, just like in 2002, her relationship with Affleck had inspired her to get back in the studio. “This Is Me… Then really captured a moment in time where I fell in love with the love of my life…. It was just every day going from the set to the recording studio, doing the thing, being in love, him coming to the studio.” She added, “When he came back into my life, again the same thing happened where I felt so inspired and so overtaken with emotion that it was just pouring out of me. When I feel good, I write music.”
Lopez said that when the pair initially broke up “it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I went into a spiral for the next 18 years where I… just couldn’t get it right. But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending. It has the most, would-never-happen in Hollywood ending.”
12. Affleck Goes Viral For Being Grumpy At The Grammys
Affleck’s resting despondent face has provided the internet with plenty of memes; and in February 2023 his appearance at the 65th Grammy Awards went viral. While J.Lo and Affleck looked every part a Hollywood couple, Affleck went viral for looking less than pleased to be there following an interaction with host Trevor Noah.
The moment received so much coverage Affleck addressed it with The Hollywood Reporter: I saw [Noah] approach and I was like ‘Oh, God. They were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling. I leaned into her [Lopez] and I was like ‘As soon as they start rolling I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor.’ She goes, ‘You better f—ing not leave.'” Affleck insisted he had a good time on the night. ” An Entertainment Weekly reporter backed up Affleck’s claims that he wasn’t miserable during the event. “…he was generally having a good time. He seemed a little out of his element during the performances, but we’ve all seen that daad at the concert who doesn’t know exactly what to do with himself.”
13. J.Lo Is Candid About Raising A Blended Family
During an appearance on Live With Kelly and Mark the singer shared the challenges of raising a “blended family.” “There’s almost five teenagers. The youngest is 11, so he’s not quite a teen but preteen.” She added, “The teenage years are tough. they start challenging you and everything.. all of a sudden they’re like, ‘get out of my room.”
16. February 2024 Ben Affleck Is Learning To “Compromise” In Their Relationship
In February 2024 Affleck’s comments in Lopez’s documentary Amazon Prime The Greatest Love Story Never Told raised alarm bells for some fans. Affleck discussed their initial breakup and said they have since learnt to compromise. He said that in 2021 when they got back together, he asked Lopez not to share their relationship on social media. “Getting back together I said ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media,” he recounted. “Then I sort of realised it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like, you’re going to marry a boat captain and you go, ‘Well, I don’t like the water” seemingly referring to Lopez’s fame and, propensity to share her life on Instagram.
17. May, 2024 Separation Rumours Start
By May 2024, separation rumours had started to rumble when the pair hadn’t been seen in public together in 47 days. Affleck and Lopez made an appearance at a school kid’s school play. While Affleck was spotted opening the car door for Lopez and the couple seemed calm, suggestions that Affleck had moved out of their shared home were rife, and the couple did not respond to People‘s request for comment.
18. Affleck Attributes Relationship To “Fever Dream” According To Sources
On the 21st of May
18. May 17, 2024, Affleck Spotted Not Wearing His Wedding Ring
Affleck was spotted not wearing the weekend while staying at other properties filming The Accountant 2. Multiple sources reported to People that Lopez and Affleck were living under different roofs.
19. May 20, Affleck Attributes Relationship To “Fever Dream” Is Reported As Accepting Divorce Is “Inevitable”
On the 20th of May Page Six reported sources close to the couple saying Affleck had resigned himself to the relationship ending. The source said Affleck had “come to his senses,” adding, “If there was a way to divorce on the grounds of temporary insanity, he would. He feels like the last two years was just a fever dream, and he’s come to his senses now and understands there is just no way this is going to work.”
20. They Spend 4th of July 2024 Apart
While Affleck and Lopez were spotted attending a movie with their kids back in May, they spent 4th of July on opposite sides of the country. Lopez vacationed in the Hamptons and Affleck remained in LA. Asked if Lopez was okay, a source told People “she seems fine.”
21. July 20, Ben Affleck Skips Jennifer Lopez’s 55th Birthday Celebrations
If the couple had been hoping to quell rumours they were on the rocks, Affleck’s non-appearance at his wife’s birthday didn’t help matters. Lopez shared photos of an opulent Bridgerton-themed birthday bash in the Hamptons surrounded by close friends and family. But Affleck was absent without explanation. Affleck had also not showed for the Met Gala or the premier of J.Lo’s film Atlas. Both instances and his relocation to a Los Angeles rental were attributed to his The Accountant 2 shoot schedule.
22. August 3rd, Affleck Spotted Sporting “Faux-hawk”
On August 3rd, Affleck, father of three, seemed to already be gearing up for an ill-advised post-breakup haircut when he was spotted out in LA with a faux hawk and Red Hot Chilli Peppers t-shirt while riding a motorcycle in LA.
23. Jennifer Lopez Goes House Hunting
Leo season was not going well for everybody’s favourite Leo couple; and days after Affleck reportedly purchased property in Los Angeles, Lopez was spotted house hunting. A source told People Lopez “hasn’t seen Ben for weeks.”
24. Jennifer Lopez Blows Off Affleck’s Birthday
J.Lo and Affleck are both Leos, which means birthdays are important to them (the gregarious sun sign loves any chance for a moment in the spotlight). So, it’s a major move that Lopez chose to repay the favour and skip out on Affleck’s birthday. It seems like J.Lo had a conflict in her schedule on August 15th; and the singer chose to spend the evening attending a Bruno Mars performance instead of celebrating her husbands 52nd birthday. According to The Cut, the star was spotted hanging out with Ashton Kutcher at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, in a flawless pair of sunnies and a “Jennifer” nameplate necklace. She looked like she was living her best life, and we’re glad for our girl.
25. Jennifer Lopez Files For Divorce From Ben Affleck
Bennifer is finally over, with J.Lo filing for divorce from Affleck in the L.A County Superior Court on August 20th. She listed the date of their separation April 26th, 2024.
The Daily Mail had reported that the couple were “pushing ahead with the divorce after a final attempt at reconciliation in recent weeks failed.”
According to TMZ Lopez waived spousal support and requested the judge deny Affleck spousal support. Both Affleck and Lopez are yet to release official comments.
Related Posts:
- Jennifer Lopez Has Filed For Divorce From Ben Affleck
- Why Am I So Sad About The End Of Bennifer 2.0?
- Jennifer Lopez Kicked Off Leo Season With A Lavish ‘Bridgerton’ Themed Birthday Party
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
