Global headlines have been dominated by the announcement of Jennifer Lopez filing for divorce from Ben Affleck on August 20, 2024. The couple, known as “Bennifer,” rekindled their relationship in 2021 and wed in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2022. They later held a grander celebration in Riceboro, Georgia on August 20, 2022. However, after two years of marriage, Lopez has cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.
The divorce documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court indicate that Lopez, 55, listed April 26, 2024 as the date of separation. The paperwork also discloses that the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, a fact that might complicate the division of their assets, including their Beverly Hills mansion worth $68 million.
Those close to the couple have offered various views on the reasons behind the separation. A source said that the divorce’s timing was significant for Lopez. “Jennifer said she was tired of being humiliated by Ben and she waited until the two-year anniversary because she wanted it to sting,” the source stated. The source also suggested that Affleck, 52, had emotionally moved on: “He’s been done for a long time and deep down she knows this. He let her have this so that she wouldn’t look like the villain.”
Another source supported this view, suggesting the timing of the divorce was a calculated move by Lopez against Affleck. The couple had lived separately for several months, with Affleck buying a new property worth $20.5 million and moving out of their shared residence. Meanwhile, Lopez focused on her career and family, attending the Met Gala in New York City alone in May, which sparked speculation about their relationship.
Despite the surprise for some, the split wasn’t entirely unforeseen. The couple encountered significant difficulties in their relationship, including their differing attitudes towards fame and public life. Affleck, father of three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, reportedly found the intense media attention accompanying his relationship with Lopez challenging. According to another source, “Ben was uncomfortable with how much of their private life was being shared publicly, especially in Jennifer’s documentary where she shared his private love letters.”
Lopez attempted to salvage the marriage, but the differences proved too great to overcome. This marks the second time the couple has separated. Their first engagement began in 2002 and ended in 2004 due to excessive media attention. Both married other people and started families before reuniting in 2021. Their revived romance attracted considerable media attention, with many hoping that their second chance at love would endure.
Despite the end of their marriage, sources suggest that Lopez and Affleck intend to maintain a positive relationship for their children’s sake. Lopez is the mother of 16-year-old twins, Emme and Max, from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony. Affleck is the father of Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, from his marriage to Jennifer Garner.
While the specifics of their divorce settlement are yet to be determined, it appears that both Lopez and Affleck are prepared to move on. As the world observes the conclusion of Bennifer, it remains to be seen how the pair will navigate their post-divorce relationship, especially regarding co-parenting and potential future professional collaborations.
Presently, Lopez is concentrating on her career and children, while Affleck has moved into his new residence. The couple’s decision to separate may have let down fans who had hopes for their relationship, but as Lopez once remarked, “We’re older now, we’re smarter, we have more experience, we’re at different places in our lives, we have kids now, and we have to be very conscious of those things.”
