Jennifer Lopez is opening up about how her divorce from Ben Affleck fundamentally changed her life, revealing she deliberately stopped everything to process the split that ended their second attempt at love.
The 56-year-old singer and actress told “Good Morning America” anchor Juju Chang that she took an unprecedented year off from work after filing for divorce from Affleck in August 2024, canceling her planned summer tour to focus on healing and self-reflection.
In a preview of her upcoming “Nightline” interview that aired Wednesday, Lopez described putting her entire career on pause. She explained that she canceled tours and “just decided to be home and sit in what had happened” rather than running away from the pain through work or another relationship.
The decision marked a dramatic shift for the perpetually busy entertainer, who announced in May 2024 that she would cancel her “This Is Me… Live” tour to spend time with her children, family and close friends.
Lopez shares 18-year-old twins Maximilian David and Emme Maribel Muñiz with ex-husband Marc Anthony. The teenagers, whom Lopez affectionately calls Max and Emme, recently turned 18 in February and are heading to college, making them her top priority during the tumultuous period. Lopez told Chang that she “needed to be home” with her kids, describing them as her “priority at that time.”
The pause allowed Lopez to confront patterns she had carried throughout her adult life. The actress admitted she had never truly been single, always moving from one relationship to another without taking time to understand herself. She told Chang she reached a point where she asked herself what was going on, recognizing she couldn’t blame anyone else because “that’s not where the lesson is.”
Lopez and Affleck, 53, married in Las Vegas in July 2022, nearly two decades after their first high-profile engagement ended in January 2004. The couple had rekindled their romance in 2021, giving fans hope that their love story would have a different ending the second time around.
The divorce was finalized in February 2025, concluding their two-year marriage. Affleck was previously married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 until their divorce finalized in October 2018. He shares three children with Garner: Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.
In a September 2025 interview with “CBS News Sunday Morning,” Lopez called the divorce “the best thing that ever happened to me.” She explained that filming “Kiss of the Spider Woman” during the breakup presented stark contrasts between her professional joy and personal struggles.
Affleck served as executive producer on the film through his company Artists Equity. Lopez credited him with making the movie possible, noting that he financed the project after she told him it was the role she was born to play.
The film, directed by Bill Condon, features Diego Luna as political prisoner Valentin Arregui and newcomer Tonatiuh as his cellmate Molina, with Lopez playing classic screen actress Ingrid Luna.
Now fully embracing single life, Lopez told Chang she has no interest in dating. When asked if she was “dating up a storm,” the star laughed and dismissed the idea, saying she didn’t want to “ruin anything” because things feel so good right now.
The response marks a significant departure from her past patterns. Lopez acknowledged she had “always had a boyfriend” and described being single as something that once terrified her. She admitted she didn’t know if she could handle being alone and was always afraid to try.
Now, Lopez describes herself as happy, healthy and grateful. She balances multiple roles as a mother preparing to send her children to college, an entertainer, actress and entrepreneur. She recently launched a new Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace as she returns to work.
“I am happy, and I am healthy, and I’m grateful. That’s who I am today. And I’m surrounded by love, which is the best part,” Lopez said.
Affleck addressed the split in a March 2025 interview with GQ, calling it “pretty adult” despite sensational media coverage. He emphasized there was “no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue,” describing the truth behind their breakup as “much more quotidian” than people might believe. He praised Lopez, saying he has “nothing but respect” for her.
The actor noted that the truth of their breakup would likely bore most people, lacking the drama and scandal that tabloids suggested.
Lopez’s journey through divorce has transformed her perspective on relationships, success and self-worth. The year of introspection allowed her to build trust in herself and develop self-appreciation rather than constant self-criticism. She reflected that she has reached a point where she really trusts and appreciates herself more, rather than being so hard on herself all the time.