Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s swoon-worthy love story took a heartbreaking turn as the couple announced their split amidst months of swirling divorce rumors. Their rollercoaster romance, marked by multiple public breakups and reconciliations spanning over two decades, has captivated fans for years.
Here’s the complete inside scoop on the now-infamous Bennifer divorce.
What Led To Ben Affleck And J.Lo’s Divorce?
January 2004: The First Heartbreak
After dating for nearly two years starting in mid-2002, Lopez and Affleck experienced their first split on January 22, 2004. The couple officially ended their relationship and called off their engagement.
The Jenny From The Block singer released a statement through her representative, confirming the sad news. The spokesperson told the media,
“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”.
Decades later, in 2022, Lopez finally addressed the first split from Affleck in a candid interview with Zane Lowe on The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music.
Reflecting on the breakup, she revealed,
“It was so painful after we broke up. Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die…”
May 2024: First Signs Of Trouble In Paradise
Jennifer and Ben rekindled their romance 17 years later in 2021, and this time it seemed their relationship was stronger than ever. The couple even sealed their commitment with a private wedding ceremony in July 2022.
However, less than two years later, on May 17, 2024, reports of their separation began to circulate online. These speculations were sparked as the couple had not been seen together for over 47 days.
Their last public appearance was on March 30, 2024, when they were photographed holding hands during a casual outing in New York City.
May 2024: Bennifer Living Under Different Roofs
After rumors of their separation began swirling, multiple anonymous sources close to the couple made a startling revelation on May 17, 2024.
Speaking exclusively to People magazine, they revealed,
“Ben has not been staying at the couple’s Los Angeles home. He is instead staying at one of their other properties…”
May 2024: J.Lo Refuses To Address The Divorce Rumors
As the swirling rumors gained momentum, fans eagerly awaited a response from the couple. In hopes of getting some clarity, a curious reporter brought up the divorce rumors during a press conference on May 22, 2024, while Lopez was promoting her new film Atlas in Mexico City.
However, the actress refused to address the situation. She expressed her frustration and shut down the question, saying,
“You know better than that”.
June 2024: Marital Home Up For Sale
The couple’s decision to sell their marital home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, further fueled speculation about their impending divorce.
The mansion was listed for sale on June 11, 2024, with a staggering asking price of $68 million. However, reports suggest that the sale would likely result in little to no profit for Ben and Jennifer, given the high cost of the property.
After putting their house up for sale, the songstress took an Italian getaway with some friends. Meanwhile, Affleck quickly settled into his new apartment in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
This development further fueled speculation about the couple living separately, with their L.A. mansion on the market.
July 2024: Separate Wedding Anniversary Celebration
On what would have been a day of shared joy, Ben and Jennifer’s second wedding anniversary was marked by separate celebrations, on July 16, 2024. Two years ago, this date marked their secret Las Vegas marriage to each other.
The actress was spotted enjoying a solo bike ride in the Hamptons, wearing oversized beige overalls, brown sandals, large silver hoops, and a loose, messy bun.
Meanwhile, Affleck was seen running errands in Los Angeles, dressed in a classic black business suit. In one of the photos, the actor was holding a black duffel bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Though his destination remained undisclosed, the formal attire and the visibly wide grin on his face added an air of intrigue to the captured moment.
The couple’s decision to spend time apart on such a significant day further hinted at underlying issues in their relationship.
July 2024: Ben Skips Wife’s 55th Birthday
On July 24, 2024, as Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday, Ben was noticeably absent.
To mark her milestone birthday, Lopez threw a lavish Bridgerton-themed party in the Hamptons, surrounded by close friends and family, while Affleck spent time alone in Los Angeles.
The Marry Me actress shared a rare video clip from her exquisite celebration on Instagram. But her cryptic caption made no mention of her estranged husband or any indication of his absence.
She wrote in the caption,
“Dearest Gentle Reader… And a splendid evening was had by all”.
August 2024: Bennifer Moving On
On August 6, 2024, an anonymous source revealed new details about the Bennifer couple’s ongoing marital issues. The insider told People magazine that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had not seen each other for weeks and appear to be moving forward separately.
The source shared,
“They’re moving on separately. Jennifer is trying to find a new home to start fresh. Considering everything that’s going on… She’s been off and able to focus on what’s next… She always has a good attitude even when things are not perfect”.
August 2024: Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Split
Two years after a dreamy wedding in Georgia, Lopez and Affleck officially split on August 20, 2024. The shocking news came exactly on what would have been their second wedding anniversary.
In a surprising turn, J.Lo pulled the trigger on their failing marriage as she filed for divorce in a Los Angeles court. The sudden declaration stunned many, as the couple had remained tight-lipped during their recent months of speculation.
After the divorce filing, a source close to the singer revealed the emotional toll of her heartbreaking decision. They said,
“She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken…”
August 2024: First Sighting Post Divorce
Following Jennifer’s divorce filing, the Good Will Hunting star was spotted by paparazzi on August 20, 2024, heading into an office building in Los Angeles. This sighting, shortly after the news broke, seemed to signal a definitive end to Bennifer 2.0, as Affleck was seen without his wedding band.
The actor sported a gray T-shirt with a lightning bolt graphic, a subtle nod to the dramatic turn in his life, paired with baggy dark denim jeans and black-tinted sunglasses. Despite the large sunnies covering his eyes, a subtle, smug expression was evident on his lips.
August 2024: J.Lo Returns To Social Media
On August 23, 2024, J.Lo shared a now-deleted stunning selfie on her Instagram Stories. This was the Ain’t Your Mama singer’s first social media post following her separation from Affleck.
Lopez looked radiant, with a full face of makeup and her honey blonde hair styled in voluminous curls. She wore a fuzzy, pale pink sweatshirt and had a lit-up Christmas tree visible in the background.
Page Six uncovered that the throwback selfie was a repost of a fan account, from a December 2020 makeup and hair session with renowned stylist Chris Appleton.
August 2024: Jennifer And Ben Had A Mutual Divorce
A surprising twist emerged in the Bennifer divorce tale on August 23, 2024, as an anonymous source exclusively revealed to US Weekly that Lopez and Affleck had mutually agreed to part ways.
The source claimed that Affleck was informed of his wife’s decision to divorce well in advance of the legal proceedings initiated by J.Lo. They shared,
“[The couple] had gone through all the details… They had already agreed to the terms before she filed… That was their agreement that she would file, and she was the one who ultimately made the decision”.
August 2024: Affleck Caused The End Of Bennifer 2.0
On August 24, 2024, an anonymous source close to the couple revealed some intriguing details about their split.
Speaking exclusively to the People magazine, the insider suggested that Affleck’s erratic behavior played a significant role in the demise of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez.
They revealed,
“The truth is there was a great deal of love but also unfortunately what became clear were Ben’s erratic mood swings that he couldn’t hide from the press… They were trying to work through it… but who he said he was and who he turned out to be were two different people”.
August 2024: Ben Affleck’s Fresh Start
Just days after his wife filed for divorce, reports emerged on August 24, 2024, of the Gone Girl star spending increasing time with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s daughter, Kick Kennedy.
Some sources exclusively told Page Six that the two were frequently seen together at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills and other high-profile spots around Los Angeles.
Neither Jennifer Lopez nor Ben Affleck have publicly addressed their separation yet.
With rumors suggesting Affleck as the primary cause of the songstress’ marital woes, fans are left wondering- is there more to this heartbreaking story than they’re letting on?