Jennifer Lopez Files to Divorce Ben Affleck: Report

As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Hollywood, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for Jennifer Lopez. Her love story with Ben Affleck, fondly known as Bennifer, is a rollercoaster that has captured the hearts of millions. Their journey from co-stars to best friends, to lovers, and back again, is a testament to the complexities of human emotions.

The rumors are true: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are over…again.

One of Tinseltown’s well-known power couples, previously embroiled in a split, have gone their separate ways again. On August 20th, Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court, marking the second anniversary of their elaborate wedding in Georgia, which followed a surprise Las Vegas elopement in July 2022. According to People, Lopez has stated April 26, 2024 as the date they separated, although the filing was made today. Representatives for both Affleck and Lopez have been contacted by The Hollywood Reporter for comment, but neither party is expected to speak out about their relationship status in recent times. The news was initially broken by TMZ.

The news follows a whirlwind period of approximately three months filled with gossip magazine headlines and breaking stories from TMZ, focusing on their sale of a $65 million mansion, various outings (some with wedding rings, some without), and conjecture about the cause of strife in one of the most widely publicized celebrity unions in contemporary times.

Looking back now, there were definitely signs. The gossip magazines were buzzing with stories – like how Lopez enjoyed a solo summer getaway to the Hamptons (and Italy earlier), while Affleck stayed put in LA, supposedly moving out of our shared home and into a rental in Brentwood. It was just me at the premiere of my Netflix movie “Atlas”, much like that other big event I attended in May – the Met Gala – where I graced the red carpet without a plus-one. And let’s not forget about my 55th birthday party, an elegant Bridgerton-themed affair, where Affleck was nowhere to be found.

In April 2021, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reconnected, following her split from baseball legend Alex Rodriguez and Affleck’s breakup with actress Ana de Armas. A year later, Affleck proposed to Lopez during a bubble bath moment. Their intimate Las Vegas wedding took place in July 2022, followed by a grander, traditional ceremony at Affleck’s Georgia estate in August. This second event was officiated by life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty and featured in Vogue. Lopez donned a custom Ralph Lauren wedding gown, while guests like Matt Damon, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and Affleck’s long-term agent Patrick Whitesell of WME were present.

In their union, Affleck and Lopez combined their families; he had three children from his long-term marriage to Jennifer Garner, while she had twins from her marriage to music legend Marc Anthony. Over the past two years, they’ve made numerous high-profile public appearances together at movie premieres, awards shows such as the Grammys. Events like the night of music’s biggest awards or the premiere of Lopez’s show “The Mother” generated headlines about various topics, including Affleck’s supposed grumpy demeanor and a rumored red carpet argument. However, they consistently communicated that everything was going smoothly in their rekindled relationship.

2021 proved to be an exhilarating journey for me, a dedicated fan, as Jennifer Lopez unveiled an incredible trifecta of projects that truly captivated us all. First came her album titled “This is Me… Now“, followed by the musical film bearing the same name and showcasing tracks from the album itself. Lastly, we were treated to a documentary titled “The Greatest Love Story Never Told“, which delved into the making of the musical film. Throughout this magical trio, Lopez’s romance with Ben Affleck took center stage, beautifully portraying their long-awaited fairy tale coming to life. In numerous interviews, she openly praised Affleck as the driving force behind these works and shared heartfelt stories about him.

“After rekindling our relationship and getting married, I feel like I have a contribution to make. This upcoming work will serve as the final piece in wrapping up this phase of my life so I can embark on the next, she shared with Variety. In another conversation, she admitted that Affleck wasn’t entirely at ease with all the projects. ‘He isn’t particularly comfortable with it,’ she said, ‘but he loves me, understands my artistic nature, and will support me in every way possible because he knows I can’t be stopped from creating the music I do…he doesn’t want to hold me back. However, that doesn’t mean he feels easy being the inspiration.'”

He acknowledged that a public romance wasn’t his most comfortable environment. “When we got back together,” he explained, “I stated, ‘Let me clarify, one aspect I don’t desire is a relationship displayed on social media.’ However, it dawned on me later that it’s not really reasonable to demand this. It’s somewhat like saying, you’re going to marry a boat captain and you complain about the water.”

It appears that using their relationship as the foundation for an album and generating extensive media attention caused a bit of friction. He once remarked, “I’ve always viewed private matters as sacred and special because they’re private. This was quite an adjustment for me.”

The story of Bennifer traces back to 2001. They crossed paths during the filming of the Martin Brest movie, “Gigli,” which hit theaters in 2003 but failed at the box office and became notorious. Despite this, their relationship blossomed, and they got engaged in 2002 when Affleck presented Lopez with a 6.1-carat diamond ring from Harry Winston. That same year, Affleck made a guest appearance in Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block” music video, which was part of her “This is Me… Then” album.

“Jennifer Lopez shared in an interview that during their collaboration on the film ‘Gigli’, they developed a strong friendship. Over time, they both recognized their feelings for each other. After the movie wrapped up, she found herself thinking about him frequently. As she was handling her own personal matters following a previous relationship, she acknowledged this growing attraction. It wasn’t an immediate realization, but rather something that grew over several months. They couldn’t act on these feelings due to certain restrictions, but eventually, she knew he was the one she wanted to be with.”

However, the relationship did not reach its intended conclusion at the altar. The couple split up mere days before a grand wedding ceremony. As Lopez has admitted, their breakup occurred four days before the wedding, which had been meticulously planned with 14 ushers and bridesmaids. Just three days prior to the event, they succumbed to the mounting pressure. “Ben and I broke up just days before our wedding, and it was a huge affair, with 14 ushers and bridesmaids,” Lopez once confessed about the heartache that took time to heal. “For years after, it was difficult because I didn’t just feel like I lost my romantic partner, but also my closest friend. For many years, I found it hard to express myself, and that was the most challenging part.”

Lopez had three previous marriages: one with Ojani Noa from 1997 to 1998, another with Cris Judd from 2001 to 2003, and a third with Marc Anthony from 2004 to 2014. During a four-year relationship, she was also engaged to Rodriguez. Affleck, on the other hand, was married to Garner from 2005 until 2018.

Although the journey for Bennifer might have come to an end, there’s always room for another fairytale conclusion in Hollywood. As Lopez shared back in 2011 with Vanity Fair, “Sometimes things don’t pan out — and that can be disheartening.” However, she remains a steadfast believer in the power of love. For her, love continues to be the ultimate dream.

Jennifer Lopez Files to Divorce Ben Affleck: Report

2024-08-21 02:55

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