The global media spotlight is on Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck following the announcement of their divorce. The pair, widely referred to as “Bennifer,” had revived an earlier relationship in 2021 and got married in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2022. A grander ceremony took place in Riceboro, Georgia on August 20, 2022. Now, just two years later, their marriage has dissolved, with Lopez stating irreconcilable differences as the cause for their separation.
Lopez, aged 55, lodged her divorce papers in Los Angeles County Superior Court, indicating April 26, 2024 as their official date of separation. The documents also revealed the absence of a prenuptial agreement, which could complicate the division of their assets, including their Beverly Hills mansion estimated to be worth $68 million.
Several insiders provided some insight into the divorce. According to one source who spoke to “Page Six,” the divorce timing carries significance for Lopez. “Jennifer said she was tired of being humiliated by Ben and she waited until the two-year anniversary because she wanted it to sting,” the source stated. The same source also suggested that Affleck, 52, had emotionally moved on. “He’s been done for a long time and deep down she knows this. He let her have this so that she wouldn’t look like the villain.”
Another source confirmed this sentiment, portraying the divorce timing as a clear message to Affleck. The couple had been living apart for some time, with Affleck buying a new property valued at $20.5 million. Meanwhile, Lopez had been concentrating on her career and family. She attended the Met Gala in New York City alone in May, heightening speculations of a troubled marriage.
Despite the surprise for some, the couple’s split wasn’t entirely unforeseen. The pair had been grappling with significant issues, including divergent attitudes towards fame and public life. Affleck, a father of three from his previous marriage with Jennifer Garner, reportedly struggled with the intense media attention that came with his relationship with Lopez. A source disclosed to “People” magazine, “Ben was uncomfortable with how much of their private life was being shared publicly, especially in Jennifer’s documentary where she shared his private love letters.”
Lopez made attempts to salvage their marriage, but the discord became too much to overcome.
This marks the second time the couple has split up. Their first engagement began in 2002 and was called off in 2004 due to excessive media attention. Both went on to marry others and start families before getting back together in 2021. The rekindling of their relationship was met with widespread media interest and public curiosity, with many hoping that their second chance at love would prove successful.
Despite their separation, indications are that Lopez and Affleck intend to maintain a positive relationship for their children’s sake. Lopez shares 16-year-old twins, Emme and Max, with her ex-spouse Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children, Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with his ex-wife Garner.
While the specifics of their divorce settlement are yet to be decided, it’s evident that both Lopez and Affleck are prepared to move on. As the world watches the final chapter of Bennifer, it remains to be seen how the pair will manage their post-divorce relationship, especially regarding co-parenting and their future professional collaborations, if any.
Currently, Lopez is focusing on her work and children, while Affleck has moved into his new home. Their decision to separate may have let down fans who were rooting for them, but as Lopez once said, “We’re older now, we’re smarter, we have more experience, we’re at different places in our lives, we have kids now, and we have to be very conscious of those things.”