Jennifer Lopez has spoken out about her divorce from Ben Affleck for the first time, sharing candid and heartbreaking truths about their relationship.

The "Bennifer" relationship has captivated fans of the two stars for over two decades - making them one of Hollywood's most talked about couples.

The pair first met on the set of their movie Gigli in 2002, sparking a whirlwind romance that quickly made headlines. An engagement in November 2002 swiftly followed.

However, their engagement was called off in January 2004, leaving fans stunned.

Following their split, both Lopez and Affleck went on to marry other people and have children. But fate had other plans and it would seem that Lopez and Affleck would become the ultimate celebrity symbol for second chances.

In 2021, the couple reunited, reigniting their love and surprising fans everywhere. Their second engagement led to their marriage in a small, private ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2022 (followed by a luxurious wedding party in Georgia on August 20, 2022).

And it all seemed like happily ever after.

However, back in August of this year, it was reported that Affleck and Lopez had split once again.

The 'Let's Get Loud' hitmaker reportedly submitted the divorce papers herself in Los Angeles County Superior Court and listed April 26, 2024, as the date of separation, as reported by TMZ.

According to Page Six, 55-year-old Lopez cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for her split, with a source telling PEOPLE: "She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken...

"The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”

Both parties have been relatively quiet about the split in the public eye - until now.

Speaking out about their breakup in an interview with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview Magazine, the 'On The Floor' singer went into detail about the couple's rift, and what she hopes will come of their future.

Lopez compared the eventual breakdown of their marriage to a house burning down - and stressed that she is trying to find ways to avoid such heartache in the future.

She said: "When your whole house blows up, you’re standing there in the rubble going, ‘How do I not ever let that happen again?'

“And then you start examining it little by little saying, ‘OK, I did this, this was my part in it, this was what I should have seen early on, this is what I didn’t look at.’ Those things are what really are the lessons."

Opening up about the need to be on her own, Lopez added: "You have to be complete, if you want something that’s more complete. You have to be good on your own.

"I thought I learned that, but I didn’t. And then, this summer, I had to be like, 'I need to go off and be on my own.' I want to prove to myself that I can do that."

"Everything that I’ve done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I f***king do when it’s just me flying on my own … what if I’m just free?" Lopez asked.

Lopez admitted that she was finding the experience "f***** hard" and "lonely, unfamiliar, scary", but added: "When you sit in those feelings and go, ‘These things are not going to kill me,’ it’s like, ‘Actually, I am capable of joy and happiness all by myself.'"

"Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself," she continued. "I used to say I’m a happy person, but was still looking for something for somebody else to fill, and it’s just like, ‘No, I’m actually good.’"

Featured image credit: Hector Vivas / Getty

Well, well, well, it's just like we're back in 2002!

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (endearingly known as "Bennifer") sparked reconciliation rumours after they were spotted driving in a car together in Montana over Mother's day weekend — fresh off the back of the singer's split from Alex Rodriguez.

J.Lo and Affleck, of course, were the darlings of the noughties paparazzi scene after they started dating, but it wasn't to be, and the pair split in 2004. Now, 18 years after their break-up, the pair seem to be rekindling some kind of relationship.

So, in honour of their purported reconciliation, we look back at Bennifer throughout the years...

How did it all start?

Lopez and Affleck first met on the set of the rom-com, Gigli, back in 2002, which bombed terribly at the box office.

At the time, Lopez was married to her second husband, dancer, Chris Judd, but the chemistry between the pair was undeniable. They went public with their relationship not long after the pop star's divorce from Judd.

Speaking at the time to People, Lopez said of meeting Affleck: "I felt like… 'Okay, this is it'."

Then, just a few months later, the couple announced that they were going to film another movie together, titled Jersey Girl, in September of 2002.

The proposal

Ben proposed to Lopez in November of 2002 with the ring of every girl's dreams: a 6.1-carat pink solitaire.

J.Lo told Diane Sawyer that the ring was "the most magnificent thing I've ever seen. I still look at it and kind of marvel at it. He’s like, 'I just wanted you to have something that no one else would have'."

She added that the proposal was "traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course Ben would do it … it was very, very beautiful," before calling Affleck "brilliantly smart, loving, charming, affectionate."

She also detailed that they both had "the same kind of upbringing" and that "my mother loves Ben."

Jenny from the Block

In the same month as the pair announced their engagement, the Good Will Hunting actor starred in the music video for Lopez's iconic song, Jenny from the Block.

His appearance in the video caused a huge reaction at the time as he featured in the film kissing the pop star's derrière – perhaps not the best move for an actor hoping to be taken seriously in Hollywood.

After the pair broke up, Affleck admitted he regretted taking part in the video.

The star said of his relationship with Lopez: "If I have a regret, it was doing the music video. But that happened years ago. I've moved on."

The Gigli premiere

J.Lo and Affleck appeared loved up as they attended the premiere of Gigli — posing and smooching for the cameras.

However, the movie went on to bomb at the Box Office, which went on to take a toll on the couple's relationship.

Reflecting on the film's failure, Affleck would later hint at his embarrassment and blame the bad press on the publicity surrounding his relationship with Lopez.

He told TimesTalk: :It could have been a bad movie no one cared about. Angelina Jolie had a bad movie [Beyond Borders/Tomb Raider] that year and nobody cared.

"But because I was dating Jennifer Lopez that made it a big f***ing deal, you know? And not only is it a bad movie but: 'They're dating each other in the bad movie!'"

Rumoured infidelity

According to The Daily Mail, following the release of Gigli, a stripper spoke out against Affleck in August of 2003, claiming that the actor had "cavorted" with her and three other lap dancers behind Lopez's back.

"It's a night I'll never forget and I'm sure one he'll want to forget," a then-29 Tammy Morris alleged. "He had this little boy look on his face. His hands were all over two girls at the same time."

She also said that Affleck gave the strippers large tips and told them to "keep this just between us".

According to the article, the claims were seriously damaging to Bennifer's relationship and resulted Lopez removing her engagement ring, reportedly telling friends that the relationship was finished. "It's over. He's made me a laughing stock," she allegedly said.

The Get Right singer's ex, Chris Judd, was not very sympathetic. "Jen is getting back what she gave," he is alleged to have stated. "It's bad karma coming back at her. She's getting a taste of her own medicine. I hate to see her hurt, but I was devastated when I found out about her and Ben, and now she knows how it feels. It's payback time for Jennifer and I guess, in a way, she is getting what she deserves."

Cold feet...

Despite Affleck's alleged infidelity making international news in August 2003, the couple did not break up and were still planning to exchange vows the following month.

However, just weeks later, the pair announced that their wedding was off just days before Lopez was du to walk down the aisle.

A joint statement released by the pair read: "Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realized that something was awry.

"We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends."

The split

Four months after calling off their wedding, Bennifer confirmed that they had officially split in January of 2004.

J.Lo's representative released a simple statement at the time that read: "I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck.

"At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy."

The aftermath

Lopez and Affleck both agreed on the fact that all the press attention resulted in the breakdown of their relationship.

Speaking about the split in 2008, per the Irish Examiner, the actor said that he and J.Lo were too "accessible" during their two years together: "I think Jen and I made a mistake in that we fell in love, we were excited and maybe too accessible. I don't think either of us anticipated the degree to which it would take on a world of its own."

Then in 2014, Lopez said that her split from Affleck was her "first big heartbreak". A year later, she told HuffPost Live that "the worst, probably lowest point was the whole 'Gigli' era."

She added: "It was a very badly reviewed film. I was in a high-profile relationship at the time that fell apart in a really bad way, and so the kind of mix of those two things and the tabloid press had just come into existence at the time, so I was like a poster child for that moment. I was in the tabloids every other week about how my life was falling apart. It was a tough time."

Lopez also said that she had "no regrets" about her time with Affleck, stating: "I would do it all over again, I think. I really would. Even the relationship part. I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you're willing to look at it, and I'm willing to look."

Affleck moves on quickly

In October of 2004, just a few months after his split from Lopez, Affleck made his first public appearance with Jennifer Garner. The couple were photographed at the World Series, where the Boston Red Sox were playing.

Affleck actually said that he fell in love with Garner when they were working on Daredevil in 2002 — while he was still with J.Lo.

"We met on Pearl Harbor, which people hate, but we fell in love on Daredevil," he later said during an interview with Playboy. "By the way, she won most of the fights in the movie, which was a pretty good predictor of what would happen down the road — my wife, holding swords and beating the living sh*t out of me."

They got engaged a year later, and married in June of 2005 — before divorcing in 2015. They share three children together: Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9.

And so does Lopez

Lopez went on to marry the singer Marc Anthony in 2004, and welcomed twins Max and Emme, 13, in 2008. They split in 2014.

In her book, True Love, she wrote of the relationship: "Marc came back into my life three days after I should have been at the altar saying 'I do' to another man.

"Thinking back, maybe deep down I knew that this was a Band-Aid on the cut, that my wound hadn’t been stitched or healed. But I pushed all that to the back of my mind."

Lopez and Affleck are on good terms

Lopez and Affleck appeared to be on good terms following their relationship, and especially of late.

In February of 2020, the actor told the New York Times that J.Lo should have been nominated for an Oscar for Hustlers. "She should have been nominated. She's the real thing. I keep in touch periodically with her and have a lot of respect for her. How awesome is it that she had her biggest hit movie at 50? That's fucking baller."

And then, earlier this month, the 48-year-old complimented the singer, saying: "She remains, to this day, the hardest-working person I've come across in this business. She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I'm so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves."

Just days later, the pair were seen out together following Lopez's split from Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod), and then that Montana trip happened.

Stay tuned...

Feature image credit: Alamy

Jennifer Lopez has opened up about her dating life since the break-up with her ex-husband Ben Affleck.

The 'Jenny From The Block' singer, 56, was first in a relationship with Ben, 53, from mid-2002 until early 2004 when they broke off their engagement.

The couple went their separate ways for two decades, with Ben marrying Jennifer Garner and having three children together, while JLo married Marc Anthony and welcomed twins together.

However, Bennifer fans were delighted when the pair decided to get back together almost 20 years later when they were both single once again, rekindling their romance in early 2021.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reunited after 20 years but their marriage was short-lived. Credit: Steve Granitz / Getty Images

They announced their second engagement and then got married in July 2022 in Las Vegas, however, their union was set to be short-lived.

Jennifer filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, citing April 26, 2024, as the date that they separated, with their divorce being finalized in January 2025.

The singer has now opened up about life post-Bennifer, and how she feels about dating now that she's single again.

In an upcoming interview with Juju Chang on Nightline, Jennifer admitted she was in no rush to meet someone new after their split.

When asked whether she is "dating up a storm", Jennifer responded: "No! No I'm not! God forbid, I don’t want to ruin anything!

"It’s so nice right now! I’m so happy! It’s the best. I just feel really good right now.

"And that was a scary thing for me when I was younger. I didn’t know if I could do that. I was always really afraid to be alone."

She also addressed how she dealt with the break-up, including cancelling her 'This is Me...Live' summer tour.

"I had to stop everything and I took a year off," she explained. "I canceled tours and just decided to be home and sit in what had happened without running away from it through work, through another person, through anything. Just sit."

The host reminded her that she'd said her life "exploded" that year, with JLo admitting: "It did. It did feel that way. I needed to be home with my kids and that was the priority at that time.

"I was just at a point where I was like, what is going on with you? Because I couldn't blame anybody else because I don't think that's where the lesson is. I really wanted to figure myself out."

Jennifer revealed that the period of healing worked wonders, adding: "I'm in my happy era! For the first time in my life, I feel I'm free, I'm on my own. It feels really good.

"I didn’t really know what that felt like since I was in my early 20s and even before that, I always had boyfriends. There was always someone in my life, and so many other things that I felt like were out of my control.

"I’ve gotten to the point where I really trust myself and appreciate myself a little bit more, instead of being so hard on myself all the time and always trying to prove myself."

Featured image credit: Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images

It seems as though the flame between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck never did burn out after all.

The Hollywood stars have been spotted reportedly rekindling their romance during a getaway in Montana - 17 years after calling off their engagement.

New images showing the A-listers in a car together have plunged the Twitter world into meltdown, and it's fair to say that fans can't get enough of 'Bennifer'.

According to TMZ, the Batman actor and Jennifer were at the Big Sky Resort in Montana, an area close to Yellowstone National Park.

The publication first reported Ben drove the car while the singer sat in the passenger seat during their time together - pictures later circulated online showing the former lovebirds together.

In photos obtained by Daily Mail, Lopez and Affleck can be seen driving together in Montana.

The pair famously dated between 2002 and 2004 and were hailed as an iconic Hollywood couple.

However not long after Affleck popped the question, the pair's romance crumbled and resulted in a break-up just four days before their wedding.

Affleck went on to date actress Jennifer Garner, whom he married in 2005. The pair went on to welcome three children together before their divorce in 2018.

Meanwhile, JLo went on to marry Marc Anthony in 2004 - which was her third time walking down the aisle. She and Marc went on to welcome two children, before their divorce in 2014. The pair have remained on good terms.

JLo has been open about her past romance with Affleck, telling HuffPost Live in 2014 that she has "no regrets" over their relationship.

She told the publication: "No. No regrets. I would do it all over again I think. I really would. Even the relationship part.

"I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you're willing to look at it, and I'm willing to look."

Naturally, the return of Bennifer sparked a massive social media frenzy as fans rushed to Twitter to share their excitement over the rumored romance.

One fan wrote: "Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez getting back together is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Another added: "I find myself legitimately thrilled that ben affleck and jennifer lopez may actually be back together and i don’t understand why. [sic]"

While a third wrote: "Learning @BenAffleck and @JLo may be back together may be all I need for 2021."

Another added: "@JLo and @BenAffleck are BACK TOGETHER!!? OMG IM RELIVING MY CHILD HOOD."

Affleck and Lopez's rumored romance comes just two weeks after TMZ reported Jen's split from retired Baseball star Alex Rodriguez after four years of dating.

The pair's relationship endured rocky moments after Arod was accused of cheating. This resulted in the couple undergoing therapy after allegations that he cheated on her with Madison LeCroy.

She told Allure magazine at the time: "It has been actually really good. We got to work on ourselves. We did therapy. I think it was really helpful for us in our relationship."

Their relationship stood a further test when they were forced to postpone their wedding a total of three times during the pandemic.

Opening up about having to push back their big day, Lopez previously told the publication: "It was a big deal. We had been planning for months and months and months, and it was overseas. Maybe that wasn't the right time. You start thinking of all of these things — how everything has its kind of perfect, divine moment."

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck officially tied the knot in Las Vegas on Saturday (July 16).

The Hollywood couple's marriage comes 18 years after they canceled their wedding in the early 2000s and three months after they confirmed their engagement.

The 52-year-old 'Jenny From The Block' singer shared a statement in her On the JLo newsletter on Sunday (July 17), writing: "We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient."

Lopez said that she and the 49-year-old Gone Girl actor flew to Vegas and stood in line for their license with four other couples.

"All of us wanting the same thing," she said. "For the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage."

The 'I'm Real' singer thanked the venue Little White Wedding Chapel for staying open for them and for letting her "use the break room to change" while Affleck changed into his wedding suit in the men's room.

"So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives," Lopez continued.

"They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end, it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible, and one another) at very, very long last.

"When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving, and good to one another. We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives," she concluded.

Lopez also revealed in her newsletter the classic dress she wore for her special day, writing: "I've had this dress for so many years, and I've just been saving it, saving it, saving it, and now I'm wearing it on my wedding day."

Her hairstylist, Chris Appleton, also posted a sweet clip on his Instagram of the musician's wedding look with the caption: "Last minute feelings before the wedding."

Following the wedding, Lopez shared a picture on her Instagram which showed her wallowing in her post-bridal joy in bed, with her extravagant wedding band on full display.

She captioned the snap: "Sadie! #iykyk Go to OnTheJLo for all the deets," referencing Funny Girl's 'Sadie, Sadie' lyrics.

The celebrity couple first met on the set of the movie Gigli in 2002 and got engaged in 2003 before postponing their wedding just days before their planned ceremony and split.

This wedding is the fourth marriage for Lopez and the second for Affleck, who was previously married to actress Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children with - Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10.

Lopez has 14-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Featured image credit: REUTERS / Alamy