Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck after two years of marriage. (Photo Credit: Evan Agostini)
Jennifer Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, ending their high-profile relationship that has captivated fans and the media for two decades. The couple, often referred to as "Bennifer," went through two engagements, two weddings, and countless headlines before reaching this point.
Court documents revealed that Lopez filed the divorce petition on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. TMZ was the first to report the news, noting that Lopez listed April 26, 2024, as the date of separation. The filing did not mention a prenuptial agreement.
Lopez and Affleck first met and fell in love in the early 2000s. Their relationship was heavily scrutinized by the media, especially after they starred together in the films "Gigli" (2003) and "Jersey Girl" (2004). The intense public attention contributed to their breakup in 2004. However, the couple rekindled their romance nearly two decades later, surprising many fans by getting married twice in 2022.
Lopez shared her joy with fans after their first wedding in Las Vegas, describing the event as the "best moment" of her life. The couple had a small, spontaneous ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel, just after midnight, with their children in attendance. A month later, they celebrated with a more elaborate wedding at Affleck's Georgia estate, surrounded by family and friends.
Both Lopez and Affleck had been married before. Affleck, now 52, was married to actress Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, and they have three children together. Lopez, 55, has been married three times. She was briefly married to Ojani Noa (1997-1998) and Cris Judd (2001-2003), and her longest marriage was to singer Marc Anthony from 2004 to 2014, with whom she shares 14-year-old twins. Lopez also had a high-profile relationship with former baseball player Alex Rodriguez, which ended in 2021.
Throughout their relationship, Lopez was often more vocal about their journey. She acknowledged the challenges of being in such a public relationship and how it made her question herself at times. Despite the difficulties, she remained resilient, learning to navigate the ups and downs of her personal life in the public eye.
Affleck, for his part, expressed admiration for Lopez's strength and talent. He believed she was in her prime and praised her for taking control of her career.
Lopez recently starred in the Netflix movie "Atlas" and was set to embark on her first North American tour in five years to promote her album "This Is Me... Now." However, she abruptly canceled the tour in May, citing the need to focus on her family.
Lopez had described her album as inspired by her relationship with Affleck, but the accompanying film was more about the journey of love and heartbreak. As Lopez herself noted, "Not all love stories have a happy ending."
