Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez‘s two decade love story came to an end on August 20 when Lopez filed for divorce after months of speculation about the couple’s estrangement.
Since then, however, the couple have kept us guessing with occasional outings together and a seemingly cordial relationship in the public eye.
Lopez and Affleck first met on the set of Gigli in 2002 — while Lopez was still married to her second husband Cris Judd in Sept. 2001. Affleck, at that time, was off-and-on dating Gwyneth Paltrow. Lopez filed for divorce and made her couple debut with Affleck soon thereafter.
In November 2002, they got engaged. For a moment, their romance dominated the news until, days before their September 2003 nuptials, they called off their wedding. In January 2004, the couple confirmed that they were going their separate ways. And five months later, Lopez married Marc Anthony in a secret ceremony.
Lopez and Anthony went on to welcome twins Max and Emme in 2008 before separating in 2011 and finalizing their divorce the following year.
Affleck, meanwhile, started dating ex-wife Jennifer Garner in August 2004 before marrying her in June the following year. They welcomed their first child, Violet, in December 2005, their second, Seraphina, in January 2009, and their third child, Samuel, in February 2012. In June 2015, amid Affleck’s addiction issues and allegations of infidelity, the couple announced their separation. They officially finalized their divorce in 2018.
In April 2021, shortly after Lopez’s split from ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez, Affleck and Lopez were spotted hanging out around Los Angeles. Thus marked the return of Bennifer: Bennifer 2.0.
After they reconciled in April 2021, they were seen smooching and cuddling at a bunch of their movie premieres. They didn’t care who was watching, they just wanted the world to know they were back and better than ever.
In April 2022, Lopez announced in a teary-eyed video to her web page that she and Affleck were engaged. On July 17, the two ended up eloping in Las Vegas before sealing the deal in a bigger ceremony later that summer.
However, breakup rumors started all over again in May 2024 and persisted for months until August 20 when Lopez finally filed for divorce. To take a look at their whirlwind relationships, scroll below.
Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck’s Relationship Timeline:
Early 2002: Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Meet
Lopez and Affleck met in early 2002 on the set of their movie Gigli. At the time, Lopez was still married to second husband Cris Judd, from whom she filed for divorce in June 2002. Affleck, for his part, was still in an on-off relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Shortly after filing for divorce, Lopez and Affleck went public with their relationship. Lopez told People in 2016, “I really felt like when I met Ben, ‘Okay, this is it.'”
November 2002: Affleck Appears in Lopez’s ‘Jenny From the Block’ Music Video
Amid the media frenzy surrounding their new romance, Affleck appeared in Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block” music video. The video, comprised of paparazzi-style shots of Affleck and Lopez pumping gas, hanging out on a yacht and going to dinner, poked fun at the attention on their relationship.
“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.”
She previously reflected on the attention in a 2010 interview on The Graham Norton Show: “We were on the cover of every magazine, every week, it was just a weird thing. … Our relationship, I think, did suffer because of that. That’s not the only reason … but I think it definitely played a part in the dynamic of our relationship.”
November, 2002: Lopez & Affleck Get Engaged
In November 2002, Affleck got down on one knee and popped the question to Lopez for the first time. Lopez, of course, said yes.
Speaking of the proposal to Diane Sawyer, Lopez said it was “traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course Ben would do it … it was very, very beautiful,” per People. She also described Affleck as: “brilliantly smart … Loving. Charming. Affectionate. And I just admire him in every way.”
February 9, 2003: Lopez & Affleck Attend ‘Daredevil’ Premiere
Affleck and Lopez couldn’t stop laughing at the Los Angeles premiere of Daredevil in early 2003.
March 23, 2003: Lopez & Affleck Go to Their First Oscars
Affleck and Lopez stole a kiss on the Oscars red carpet before going on as presenters at the show — and even though he’s pulling a Matt James with his open eyes, it’s one of our favorite photos.
March 23, 2003: Lopez & Affleck Pack on PDA at the ‘Vanity Fair’ Oscars Party
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez weren’t afraid to pack on the PDA at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
May 11, 2003: Lopez & Affleck Attend a Lakers Game
Just another casual couple sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Lopez looks fresh-faced and Affleck looks so at home.
August 1, 2003: ‘Gigli’ Is Released
The movie that started it all. Here’s Lopez and Affleck in Gigli, an action-comedy movie in which they play very different assassins.
Later, in a 2022 interview, Lopez explained exactly how she fell in love with Affleck during the filming of the flick. “I think what happened is, as we worked together, we became such good friends. We realised that we were crazy about each other,” the actress said, per Daily Mail. “I found myself kind of thinking about him after the movie was over. And having to take care of my own business, because I was coming out of a relationship at that time.”
July 27, 2003: Affleck & Lopez Attend ‘Gigli’ Premiere
The Gigli co-stars posed for a series of famous photos at the Westwood premiere of their 2003 movie.
September 10, 2003: Lopez & Affleck Postpone Their Wedding
Despite having a wedding date and venue all picked out for Sept. 14, Lopez and Affleck announced they were postponing their wedding four days earlier.
“Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date,” Affleck and Lopez said in the statement, per People. “When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry.”
“We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends,” they added.
January 2004: Affleck & Lopez Break Up
A few months after their almost-wedding, reports confirmed that Affleck and Lopez had called it quits.
“I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck,” a statement from Lopez’s rep said at the time, per MTV. “At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.”
March 26, 2004: ‘Jersey Girl’ Is Released
By the time Jersey Girl hit theaters, Affleck and Lopez were over, but this was their most romantic co-starring role yet — even if most of the movie takes place after Lopez’s character has died.
April 2021: Affleck & Lopez Rekindle Their Relationship
Almost 20 years after they called things off, rumors started swirling that they were back together. Reports claimed Affleck, who recently split from Ana de Armas, reached out to Lopez at the end of her relationship with Alex Rodriguez.
“They are friends,” a source told People at the time. “They have always been friends and they have seen each other through the years.”
Their romance was as good as confirmed when they were spotted on a getaway in Montana and photographed kissing in LA.
In September, they made their (second time around) red carpet debut at the premiere of The Last Duel during the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
“It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance,” Lopez told People in February 2022.
July 24, 2021: Affleck & Lopez Go Instagram Official
Confirming the rumors once and for all, Lopez went Instagram official with the actor on her 52nd birthday post. “5 2 … what it do …💗,” she wrote. In the last pic, a bikini-clad Lopez is seen sharing a passionate kiss with Affleck.
April, 2022: Lopez & Affleck Get Engaged
In April 2022, much like Lopez’s movie that same year, Affleck asked Lopez to “marry me.” Lopez shared the news with her close fans in her newsletter, On the Jlo.
“Did you ever imagine your biggest dream could come true?” she wrote, per Harper’s Bazaar. “Saturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed. I was taken totally off guard and just looked into his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again, I was quite literally speechless and he said, ‘Is that a yes?’ I said YES of course that’s a YES.”
July 16, 2022: Affleck & Lopez Get Married in Las Vegas
On July 16, 2022, Lopez and Affleck eloped in Las Vegas with their kids by their side. Lopez confirmed their marriage in her On the J.Lo newsletter the following day, calling it the “best night ever.”
“It’s a beautiful outcome that this has happened in this way at this time in our lives where we can really appreciate and celebrate each other and respect each other,” continued Lopez. “We always did, but we have even more of an appreciation because we know that life can take you in different directions.”
July 2022: Affleck & Lopez Go on Their First Honeymoon
Right after their Las Vegas wedding, Lopez and Affleck jetted off to Paris for their honeymoon. They went to so many places like Le Matignon, the art museum Musée d’Orsay with their kids, a gorgeous cruise on the River Sienne, and more.
August 20, 2022: Affleck & Lopez Get Married in Wedding #2
A month later, in August, the two married in a storybook wedding with their friends and family at their Atlanta compound. That event also followed another glamorous honeymoon.
February 5, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Attend the Grammys Together
The couple enjoyed a lavish date night out together at the 2023 Grammys. Lopez shared a video of herself with Affleck on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: “Always the best time with my love, my husband 🤍.”
February 12, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Co-Star in a Dunkin’ Donuts Commercial
During , Affleck completed a dream he didn’t even know he had: he starred in Dunkin’ Donuts’ Super Bowl commercial with Lopez. In the hilarious ad, Affleck becomes a Dunkin’ employee for the day and clumsily serves unsuspecting customers. At the end, Lopez comes through the drive-thru and says, “What are you doing? Is that what you do when you say you’re going to work all day?” We’ll be watching this one on replay!
February 12, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Buy a New Home
According to TMZ, Lopez and Affleck bought a Pacific Palisades home that was listed for $34.5 million in February 2023. The happy couple had been looking for a new home to settle their new family for a while so we were so happy their hunt was finally over!
February 14, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Get Matching Ink
Celebrating their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, Lopez and Affleck got matching tattoos together. Showing off their new ink on Instagram, it looks like Lopez’s new tattoo is of an infinity sign with the names “Jennifer” and “Ben” written in cursive and an arrow also going right through it. Affleck’s ink has a similar vibe with two arrows crossing one another with the letters “J” and “B” written around them. “Commitment ♾️,” Lopez wrote in the caption. “Happy Valentine’s Day my love 🤍.”
May 10, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Show Some PDA at ‘The Mother’ Premiere
This huge PDA moment at The Mother confirmed that these two were more in love than ever, despite claims that they’re fighting all the time!
June 12, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Look Incredible at ‘The Flash’ Premiere
While Lopez and Affleck looked amazing at the premiere of The Flash, many reports were still convinced they were fighting all the time.
November 4, 2023: Affleck & Lopez Attend the LACMA Art+Film Gala
Affleck and Lopez made yet another star-studded appearance, both dripping in Gucci, at the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala.
December 5, 2023: Affleck Supports Lopez at ELLE’s Women In Hollywood Celebration
Affleck and Lopez looked more in love, and happier than ever while laughing throughout the ELLE’s Women In Hollywood Celebration.
January 7, 2024: Affleck & Lopez Attend the 81st Golden Globe Awards
Affleck and Lopez turned every head at the 81st Golden Globe Awards!
February 13, 2024: Affleck Is Lopez’s Biggest Cheerleader at ‘This Is Me Now: A Love Story’ Premiere
Affleck was by Lopez’s side throughout the controversial “This Is Me Now” era, including at her movie premiere.
March 16, 2024: Affleck & Lopez Fuel Tension Rumors
Throughout the springtime, Lopez and Affleck made rare appearances, including this one at a Lakers game, all of which looked rather tense.
May 6, 2024: Lopez Attends 2024 Met Gala Solo
Breakup rumors continued to swirl when Jennifer Lopez, one of the co-hosts of the night, arrived at the 2024 Met Gala solo.
At the time, a rep for Affleck told People that his filming schedule for The Accountant 2 prevented him from attending the Met Gala with Lopez.
July 2024: Affleck & Lopez List Their Beverly Hills Home
In early July, Lopez and Affleck publicly listed their Beverly Hills home together and at the steep price of $68 million. The 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom residence was privately on the market since the beginning of June, but failed to attract a buyer, per Page Six. They bought the home in May 2023 for $60.85 million.
Then, shortly after, Affleck bought himself a Pacific Palisades mansion for $20.5 million, TMZ first reported. The home has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a den, walk-in closets, a media room, and a guest house, to name a few of the amenities.
August 1, 2024: Affleck & Lopez Are Allegedly Preparing to File for Divorce
With speculation of Lopez and Affleck’s split circling more than ever, a source reported to the Daily Mail that their divorce is not only imminent but is ready to be filed.
“[Affleck’s team] finalized the divorce papers with her a month ago, but are waiting for the right time to drop them,” the source said. “At that time, they will release a joint statement that will say how they have much love for each other and how they fought to make it work, but couldn’t.”
August 20, 2024: Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce
On August 20, 2024, aka what would’ve been Lopez and Affleck’s two-year anniversary of their Atlanta wedding, Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles, TMZ first reported. Per the outlet, the listed date of separation is months prior on April 26, 2024.
“She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken,” a source told People of her decision. “The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”
September 6, 2024: Lopez Attends Her & Affleck’s Movie Premiere Solo
Lopez stepped out alone at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of Unstoppable, which she starred in and Affleck produced. She also posed on the red carpet with Matt Damon, Affleck’s longtime friend and co-producer.
September 14, 2024: Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Go for Brunch After Divorce
In photos obtained by Page Six, the estranged couple were seen going for brunch together at the Beverly Hills Hotel alongside Lopez’s two children and two of Affleck’s three kids.
Per Page Six‘s source, Affleck and Lopez were “holding hands and kissing” while sitting at a separate table from their children.
Lopez wore her engagement ring and a “Jennifer” ring on her wedding finger.
October 9, 2024: Jennifer Lopez Speaks Out About Her Divorce
On Oct. 9, Interview magazine published their interview with Lopez, which took place shortly after she filed for divorce.
Lopez opened up about having a summer that felt “lonely, unfamiliar, scary” and discussed wanting a partner who could accept her flaws.
“Somebody who truly loves you will help you heal those parts of yourself,” she added. “That’s what I’ve learned about love, that it is a secure thing. You make me feel safe, and when I fall short of the glory, you understand me and you help me to grow to be better, because you have your boundaries and I have my boundaries.”
October 18, 2024: Affleck & Lopez Attend the Same Event Separately
Page Six obtained photos of Lopez and Affleck arriving separately to an undisclosed event in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
Affleck arrived alongside ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their child, Seraphina, while Lopez attended with her child Emme and some friends.
November 3, 2024: Affleck Praises in Ex-Wife’s Performance in ‘Unstoppable’
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Affleck offered a glowing review of Lopez’s performance in Unstoppable.
“Billy Goldenberg and Jennifer and Don Cheadle and Jharrel [Jerome], and Bobby Cannavale, all were really passionate about this film,” Affleck said in reference to his ex and her co-stars. “Jennifer is spectacular.“
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