Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck File for Divorce After 2-Year Marriage

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a relationship spanning two decades, featuring two engagements and two weddings, Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.

The filing on Tuesday in Los Angeles brings to a close a star-studded relationship that captivated the public and made countless appearances on tabloid covers. Known as “Bennifer,” the couple’s relationship has been a fixture in pop culture.

Court records indicate Lopez filed her petition in Los Angeles Superior Court. TMZ, which first broke the news, reported that Lopez listed their date of separation as April 26, 2024, and did not mention any prenuptial agreement.

Lopez and Affleck initially met and got engaged in the early 2000s. They co-starred in 2003’s “Gigli” and 2004’s “Jersey Girl” but eventually parted ways, citing public pressure as part of the reason.

In a surprising twist, they rekindled their romance two decades later and married twice in 2022.

“Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” Lopez wrote, announcing their first, quick Las Vegas wedding in July, signing off as Jennifer Lynn Affleck.

She went on to describe the spontaneous nature of their Vegas wedding, detailing how they lined up for a marriage license alongside four other couples. Their brief ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel was accompanied by a Bluetooth speaker playing their march down the aisle. Lopez fondly called it the best night of their lives.

A month later, they held a more lavish celebration at Affleck’s estate in Georgia, surrounded by friends and family.

Both Lopez and Affleck have had previous marriages. Affleck, 52, was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, with whom he shares three children.

Lopez, 55, has been married three times before. Her marriages to Ojani Noa and Cris Judd were brief, while her decade-long union with singer Marc Anthony produced 14-year-old twins. After her relationship with Anthony, Lopez was engaged to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez until they called it off in 2021.

Lopez has often been more open about their relationship. When asked whether the high profile of her relationships made her harder on herself, she agreed.

“Oh yeah. 100%. It’s made me doubt myself and really feel bad about myself at times. Made me feel like I wanted to quit at times. But at the end of the day, I feel like you kind of have to do this thing where you learn how to navigate it,” she told The Associated Press.

Affleck, conversely, has praised her resilience, agreeing with the premise that Hollywood has not fully known how to utilize her many talents.

“I think she’s in her prime,” Affleck said, crediting her for taking control of her career.

Lopez is set to star in “Unstoppable,” produced by Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity. Recently, she starred in Netflix’s “Atlas” but later canceled her 2024 North American tour, citing personal reasons.

Lopez explained that she was “heartsick and devastated” about canceling the tour but felt it was necessary. The tour would have supported her first solo album in a decade, “This Is Me…. Now,” which also inspired a companion film.

Lopez revealed that the album drew inspiration from her rekindled relationship with Affleck, while the film explored themes of heartbreak and the pursuit of love.

In a poignant moment from the film, her character, The Artist, is caught in a motorcycle crash, symbolizing the challenging journey toward love.

“Not all love stories have a happy ending,” she says.

Source: AP, TMZ