Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's relationship first captured the world’s attention in the early 2000s. The couple, dubbed "Bennifer" by the media, became a sensation after they began dating in 2002. Their whirlwind romance included an engagement in 2002, making headlines for their public displays of affection. However, their relationship was constantly under the microscope, which eventually took its toll. In 2004, just days before their wedding, they called it off, citing the overwhelming media attention. Both stars moved on to other relationships—Lopez married singer Marc Anthony, while Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner—but their connection never fully disappeared.
In 2021, after nearly two decades apart, Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance. Their reunion shocked the world and was embraced by fans who had never forgotten their early romance. Their rekindled relationship seemed to be a more mature, grounded version of their younger love, with both stars having lived through different experiences in the years since their breakup. By 2022, they married in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony, signaling that the couple was ready for a second chance at happiness together. Their highly public relationship seemed to have found a new balance, and many believed that this time, their love was meant to last.
However, despite their efforts to make it work, the couple's relationship ended in divorce. On August 20, 2024, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, citing April 26, 2024, as the date of their separation, according to Harper's Bazaar. Despite their split, Lopez opened up in an October 2024 interview with comedian Nikki Glaser, discussing how the painful experience of divorce led her to embrace independence and self-growth. In March 2025, Ben Affleck addressed the breakup in a candid GQ interview, noting that there was no scandal behind their separation and explaining that sometimes relationships simply don’t work out. Though their marriage ended, the two stars have remained on friendly terms and continue to support one another, especially when it comes to their children.