Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's 22-year love story is bittersweet. They seem to love each other but just can't work it out because of timing, pressure from the press, and other factors fans can't know because they happen behind closed doors. Everyone was rooting for them.
After months of speculation, divorce papers have been filed after two years of marriage. Here's what you need to know about this doomed love affair. There's a lot of history here.
This ill-fated romance first began in 2002. Jennifer and Ben met on the set of the movie Gigli. A friendship grew and after Jennifer filed for divorce from Cris Judd, the pair started dating. The movie didn't do well but Jennifer and Ben became Hollywood's new "it" couple. The nickname Bennifer was born.
Engagement & Breakup Round One
In November 2002, Ben proposed to J.Lo for the first time with a pink diamond custom Harry Winston ring. The following year, the couple delayed their wedding because all of the media attention. By 2004, the wedding was off completely.
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Other Relationships
After the broken engagement, Jen and Ben moved on to other relationships. Jennifer married Marc Anthony in 2004. The couple welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008. Marc and Jennifer filed for divorce in 2011.
Ben married another Jennifer in 2005. Jennifer Garner and he share three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.
Signs of Affection in the Press
There were signs that Jennifer and Ben were open to a round two of their love affair as early as 2016. Jennifer told People that there was a “genuine love” between the two. “I think [a] different time, different thing, who knows what could’ve happened,” she mused.
Ben praised his ex several times in the press as well. In April 2021 he told InStyle how proud he was of her. “She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I’m so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves,” he gushed.
Back Together
In April 2021, Jennifer and Ben started hanging out again. Rumors began circulated they were getting back together. The couple confirmed this with a hard Instagram launch on July, 24, 2021, which happened to be Jennifer's 52nd birthday.
The following year they had two weddings. The first was a small ceremony in Las Vegas in July. The second was the big one in Savannah, Georgia in August.
Albums & Documentaries
Jennifer used her rekindled romance and marriage with Ben in her art. She recorded an album called This Is Me… Now celebrating the relationship. She also made a visual companion to the record, a film by the same name. This was not the first time Ben inspired Jennifer. She also used her real-life experiences for her 2002 album This Is Me…Then. Her hit single "Jenny from the Block" is on this album.
In February 2024 Jennifer and Ben released a documentary of their love story called Greatest Love Story Never Told. This Amazon film was produced by Arts Equity, Ben's buddy Matt Damon's production company.
Signs of Trouble
The first signs of trouble came around March of 2024. The couple stopped appearing in public together. In May, internet sleuths noticed Jennifer liked a post about unhealthy relationships. Ben moved out shortly after the discovery. Paparazzi hounded the couple, trying to get shots of their ring fingers for a clue on how the couple was really doing. Rumors abounded.
Official Filing
On August 20, 2024, Jennifer officially filed for divorce. She did it on the couple's second wedding anniversary. Court documents stated the couple actually separated back in April.
Prenup?
Jennifer filed without a lawyer which is known as pro se. She isn't asking for any spousal support. The couple also did not have a prenup. This means that community property and money earned during the marriage will have to be spilt. This could become a big legal battle.
The Kids
Part of the reason Jennifer and Ben waited so long to file was because of their children. They had become a blended family and they knew this would be hard on everyone. A source told Entertainment Tonight that the filing delayed until everyone was “comfortable with the transition and where they are living, etcetera. They don’t want to make it feel like they’re pulling the rug from underneath their children. They’re making a mutual effort to ensure that this transition is as healthy and easy as possible.”
