After a relationship spanning two decades, two engagements, two weddings, and countless headlines, Jennifer Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.
The filing, made on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, marks the apparent end of a high-profile celebrity relationship that captivated the public, particularly during its second chapter. Known as “Bennifer,” the couple’s relationship was one of the first to inspire a popular portmanteau.
According to court records, Lopez listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024, and did not mention any prenuptial agreement. The news was first reported by TMZ.
Lopez and Affleck originally met, fell in love, and got engaged in the early 2000s, starring together in 2003’s infamous “Gigli” and 2004’s “Jersey Girl” before parting ways, citing the intense pressure of public scrutiny.
“Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” Lopez wrote when announcing their first, quick Las Vegas wedding in July, signing off as Jennifer Lynn Affleck.
The couple’s initial wedding took place at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, where they lined up for their marriage license with four other couples and were wed just after midnight. Lopez described it as the best night of their lives. A month later, they hosted a grander celebration at Affleck’s house in Georgia, surrounded by friends and family.
Both Lopez and Affleck had been previously married. Affleck, 52, was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, with whom he shares three children. Lopez, 55, had been married three times before, including a decade-long marriage to singer Marc Anthony, with whom she shares 14-year-old twins.
Throughout their relationship, Lopez has been more vocal about their journey. Earlier this year, she admitted that the high-profile nature of her relationships made her doubt herself at times. Despite the challenges, she expressed a strong sense of self-awareness and resilience.
Affleck has also praised Lopez’s talent and determination. Last year, he told the Associated Press that he believed Hollywood had struggled to fully recognize her wide-ranging abilities, but that she was now in her prime, taking charge of her career.
Lopez is set to star in the upcoming film “Unstoppable,” produced under Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity banner. In May, she starred in the Netflix movie “Atlas,” but later canceled her 2024 North American tour, citing the need to take time off to be with her family. The tour was intended to promote her first solo album in a decade, “This Is Me… Now,” which was inspired by her rekindled relationship with Affleck.
Reflecting on her journey, Lopez described the album as a tribute to love and resilience. However, as she poignantly noted, “Not all love stories have a happy ending.”
