As Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are officially parting ways, their on-again, off-again relationship has made headlines across the globe.
The singer/actress filed for divorce on their second wedding anniversary, August 20, and Bennifer stopped being a thing for the second time.
The couple first started dating while filming the 2003 romantic comedy Gigli. They were first engaged almost two decades ago, but decided to postpone their wedding the next year, citing the overwhelming media attention.
After they split in 2004, they rekindled their romance and tied the knot in a surprise wedding held in Las Vegas in 2022. A month later, they hosted a celebration for family and friends at a Georgia mansion that Affleck had originally bought when they first began dating some 20 years ago.
When they reunited and Affleck proposed for the second time, Lopez said, “I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance.”
In 2024, Lopez introduced The Greatest Love Story Never Told, a documentary that detailed the story of her self-produced album This Is Me… Now and her long-standing quest for self-love. Affleck was the driving force behind her decision to execute the project.
“I was like, ‘I don’t write, I don’t do this.’ He was like, ‘You do, you write, you direct, you produce, you choreograph, you do all the things,’ ” she recalled their conversation. “‘Start stepping into that, start owning a little bit of who you are.’”
In the documentary, Affleck confessed he wasn’t fond of Lopez’ desire to have their relationship under the spotlight, but learned to “compromise.”
When he missed her birthday party and was said to have moved his belongings from the home they shared, it was obvious their relationship had taken a wrong turn.
Now that the news of Lopez and Affleck’s divorce came to light, Lopez’ ex, retired MLB player Alex Rodriguez, shared a cryptic quote to Instagram Stories on Tuesday which made many question whether it was aimed at Lopez.
“You either go one way or the other, you might as well be the one deciding the direction,” he posted.
According to People, a source claimed that Rodriquez’s post was purely coincidental and “has nothing to do” with Lopez.
Lopez and Rodriguez were together for four years.
“We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects,” they said in a joint statement at the time. “We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support.”
The singer was seen being close with Affleck not long after her separation from Rodriguez.