Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have left fans speechless after marking their first red carpet appearance since finalizing their divorce earlier this year.
The former A-list couple interacted warmly with one another at the Kiss of the Spider Woman premiere in New York City on Monday (October 6).
Footage shared online shows the 56-year-old 'Jenny From The Block' songstress speaking to her former beau, smiling as he leans in to whisper in her ear. At one point, the 53-year-old Gone Girl actor placed his hand on her waist to help her navigate the event, a gesture that seemed to signal mutual respect.
Lopez looked stunning in a brown floral dress with a black overlay, channeling the theme of the “Spider Woman,” while Affleck kept it classic in a navy blue suit.
Jennifer Lopez Credits Affleck for Making the Film Possible
Lopez stars in the musical film, directed by Bill Condon. She also serves as an executive producer for the project.
During an interview on the Today show, she gave a heartfelt shoutout to her ex-husband for his crucial role in bringing the film to life. “If it wasn’t for Ben, the movie wouldn’t have (gotten) made, and I will always give him that credit,” she said.
Affleck also spoke with admiration about Lopez’s dedication to the musical during the premiere, telling Extra: “She worked enormously hard...You get to see all of her many gifts. She really does it all in this movie!”
A Film That Helped Lopez Through Personal Struggles
Lopez and Affleck first got engaged in 2002 during their early 2000s romance, but broke up before walking down the aisle.
Nearly two decades later, they rekindled their relationship in July 2021 and married in Las Vegas in July 2022. A second ceremony followed the next month in Georgia, surrounded by family and friends.
However, court documents later revealed the pair had separated in April 2023. The 'On The Floor' singer filed for divorce in August 2024, and the proceedings were finalized by January this year.
In her Today Show interview, Lopez explained how working on Kiss of the Spider Woman provided an emotional escape during a turbulent period.
“The movie is about escapism. It’s about how movies and art save us in the hardest times of our lives. And doing this project was such a dream come true for me that it really got me through, to kind of survive a moment that was difficult in my personal life, as well,” she said.
The 'I'm Real' musician also reflected on the emotional toll of her divorce in an interview with CBS's Sunday Morning, revealing how it became an unexpected source of personal growth. “Because it changed me,” she said. “It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow.”
“It was a really tough time,” she recalled, adding: “Every moment on set, every moment I was doing this role, I was so happy, and then it was like, back home, it was not great. And it was just like, ‘How do I work inside of this?’”
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Lopez has since come to terms with the breakup, expressing that she is now in a “very happy” place. “She’s very happy and just grateful for her life,” a source close to the singer revealed in August, per PEOPLE.
For his part, Affleck has nothing but respect for his ex-wife. In a March interview with GQ, he reflected on their separation, saying that there was no dramatic root cause to their split.
“The truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting,” he mused, acknowledging the complexity of relationships. “But honestly, like I said, the truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting.”
“The truth is, when you talk to somebody, ‘Hey, what happened?’ Well, there is no: ‘This is what happened,'” he continued. “It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.”
Kiss of the Spider Woman hits theatres on October 10.