Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s relationship has been a whirlwind for over two decades, filled with drama and red flags. Today, we’re diving into all the ups and downs they’ve faced. But first, let’s snack! Our online concession stand at rrgsnack.com has delicious treats like Applewood smoked bacon jerky, butter toffee peanuts, and gummy sour peach rings. Let’s indulge!
Jennifer ended her relationship with Diddy on Valentine’s Day 2001, citing his infidelity as the cause. However, there were also rumors about guns, nightclubs, and police involvement. Just seven months later, she married backup dancer Chris Judd in 2002. While filming the movie ‘Gigli’ with Ben Affleck, Jennifer and Ben grew closer. Although they had met at parties before, it was on set that they truly connected.
Jennifer insisted that she and Ben were just friends while she was still married to Chris. Yet, the chemistry between them was undeniable. After filming wrapped, Jennifer and Chris celebrated the opening of her Pasadena restaurant ‘Madre,’ and Ben was also there. Two months later, Jennifer and Chris separated, and by July 2002, she filed for divorce after just 10 months of marriage.
In true Jennifer fashion, she quickly moved on and went public with Ben. Their relationship catapulted them to new heights of fame, with the media dubbing them ‘Bennifer’ and paparazzi following their every move. In November 2002, just four months after her divorce from Chris was finalized, Jennifer and Ben got engaged at his mom’s house in Boston. Jennifer certainly doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet!
By the summer of 2003, it was clear that things weren’t perfect between Ben and Jennifer when Ben was seen getting a lap dance at a Vancouver gentleman’s club. Despite this public embarrassment, Jennifer still believed they were headed for the altar. When their movie ‘Gigli’ came out in August 2003, it bombed at the box office, with critics calling it one of the
By the summer of 2003, there were signs of trouble when Ben was spotted getting a lap dance at a Vancouver gentleman’s club. Despite this public embarrassment, Jennifer remained hopeful about their future. When their film ‘Gigli’ was released in August 2003, it flopped, with critics calling it one of the worst movies ever made. For Ben, who was used to being Hollywood’s golden boy, the harsh criticism of both his relationship and his talent was too much to handle.
Jennifer later shared in an interview with Behind the Music, “I wasn’t one to care about that kind of thing, but some people do, some people can’t handle that kind of scrutiny or judgment.” With the media obsessing over their relationship, Ben’s desire for a low-key life, and the negative impact on his career, their relationship quickly fell apart. The day before their planned wedding on September 14, 2003, they released a statement saying they were postponing the ceremony due to the intense media attention. By January 2004, Jennifer announced they had ended their engagement. She explained that although Ben had a change of heart, the decision not to proceed was mutual. “I don’t think I had ever been heartbroken in that way before,” she said.
Amid rumors that the breakup was a publicity stunt, a source told US Weekly, “She’s not doing this for the media, she’s doing it for closure. It’s the relationship’s death certificate. He has demons that will never go away.” Though both moved on, Jennifer’s mom, Guadalupe Rodriguez, confessed on the Today Show that she prayed for Jennifer and Ben to reunite. “Dear God, nobody else is going to put up with my daughter’s crazy antics. Bring him back, I beg you, amen.”
Their film ‘Jersey Girl’ was released in 2004 and received mixed reviews, marking the end of the Bennifer era.
Just days after ending her engagement, Jennifer revealed that singer and actor Mark Anthony saved her. In her memoir, she admits that she was still heartbroken when she started dating Mark, writing, “I sought comfort in another person, trying to find someone who could make me feel loved and wanted in my loneliest hour.” They got married in June 2004 and had twins together.
Meanwhile, Ben married actress Jen Garner in June 2005, and they had three children. Despite being married, Ben reportedly kept every handwritten love letter and email Jennifer had sent him during their relationship.
Jennifer and Mark divorced in 2014. Ben’s marriage was falling apart as he battled alcohol addiction, seeking treatment multiple times in 2001, 2017, and 2018. In 2018, Jen, although estranged from Ben, drove him to the treatment center. However, Ben later blamed her for his addiction, saying, “If we were still at each other’s throats, I’d probably still be drinking. Part of why I started drinking heavily was because I felt trapped.” Their divorce was finalized in October 2018. Ben had a relapse in 2019 but has since stated he is sober.
As for Jennifer, she was linked to several men, including Drake and former baseball player Alex Rodriguez. She and Alex got engaged in March 2019 but broke up on April 15, 2021, amid rumors that Alex had been FaceTiming “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy. Around this time, TMZ reported that Ben had been secretly sending Jennifer loving emails while she was filming “Shotgun Wedding.”
Headline: Jennifer’s Rollercoaster Romance: From Breakups to Reunions and a Surprise Wedding
Was that another flop? Because I haven’t heard of that movie either. Just two weeks after announcing her split from Alex, Ben was seen frequently visiting Jennifer’s Los Angeles mansion. A source close to Jennifer told E! News they picked up where they left off and are enjoying each other’s company again. So, yep, Mama Guadalupe’s prayers came true. Hallelujah!
In an interview with People magazine, Jennifer revealed she had to face the hard truth about why her past romances never worked out. She said, “I was done blaming other people, he did this or he did that. And I said to myself, no, it’s you.” She admitted she worked with a therapist to learn how to have a successful relationship, realizing she needed to love herself and be happy on her own first. So she broke up with Alex, focused on her happiness for two weeks, and then got back together with Ben. Oh, okay.
In her documentary, Ben confessed that he initially didn’t want a relationship that would play out on social media, worried it would cause too much stress and pressure like before. But then he had a change of heart. He said, “Then I sort of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like you’re going to marry a boat captain and you go, well, I don’t want the water. We’re trying to learn to compromise.” So instead of sticking to his guns, he knowingly jumped back into a relationship with someone who loves media attention.
In April 2022, it was announced that Jennifer and Ben were engaged again. While some people were happy to see their love story come full circle, someone close to Jennifer was furious. Her longtime friend, actress Leah Remini, allegedly approached Jennifer and expressed her concerns about Ben. A source told Page Six that Leah wanted Jennifer to remember why she originally broke up with Ben—because he was selfish and not fully committed as a partner. But nothing and no one was going to stop Jennifer from rekindling her romance. According to The Insider, Jennifer was so mad she cut all ties with Leah and told her she wasn’t invited to the wedding. Bye, A.
In March 2022, they bought a house, and in July 2022, as they were planning their big wedding, things got so stressful that Ben suggested they just go to Vegas and get it over with already.
So, here’s what happened. Jennifer announced their happy news the day after their wedding, sending an email blast to her fans. They had a big ceremony with family and friends in August 2022 at Ben’s compound in Savannah, Georgia. Unfortunately, Leah’s invite got lost in the mail. But don’t worry, she’s her BFF and will bounce back.
Jennifer changed her last name to Affleck and they focused on blending their families as they moved into their new mansion. She even got a tattoo of their names, while Ben got one with their initials. Talk about commitment!
In December 2023, they went to St. Barts, where cameras caught Ben getting frustrated and throwing his hands in the air. Onlookers said it was a brief outburst and an insider mentioned Jennifer calmed things down quickly. There are whispers that she might be pushing him too hard.
They also went to the 2023 Grammys, where Ben made headlines for looking bored and uninterested. In one clip, he whispered something to Jennifer, and she turned around to scold him. It became common to see Ben looking spaced out and unhappy around Jennifer. But, when he was with his ex-wife Jen, he was all smiles and seemed genuinely happy.
In February 2024, Jennifer financed a $20 million multimedia project called ‘The Greatest Love Story Never Told,’ which is about a hopeless romantic, played by her, on a quest for love. She also released an album called ‘This Is Me Now: A Love Story.’ She said both the album and the film were inspired by her rekindled romance with Ben. Ben admitted it was tough for him to be part of the documentary and for Jennifer to use their life as inspiration.
By spring 2024, fans noticed that Ben and Jennifer were spending more and more time apart.
Ben attended the Met Gala with his wife, even though she was one of the event’s co-chairs. Initially, sources claimed he couldn’t attend because he was busy filming his new movie, “The Accountant 2.” However, he did manage to make it to Tom Brady’s Netflix roast the day before. Ben reportedly said, “Bros before hoes.”
In May 2024, InTouch Weekly reported that Ben had already moved out of their home. An insider mentioned they might have to sell the dream house they spent two years searching for. They will always love each other, but she can’t control him, and he can’t change her. It was inevitable that their relationship wouldn’t last. They’ve appeared together publicly since then, but fans have noted that their interactions seem strained and forced.
Page Six reported that Leah reached out to Jennifer to offer her support after seeing headlines about trouble in paradise. As of now, Jennifer and Leah are reportedly back in contact. “I told y’all, BFF ain’t going nowhere,” the source added.
Despite their differences and how they handle the media, Life & Style reported that Jennifer grew frustrated with Ben’s smoking habit. Page Six also mentioned that Ben finally realized he needed to walk away. An insider stated, “If there was a way to divorce on grounds of temporary insanity, he would. He feels like the last two years were just a fever dream, and he’s come to his senses now and understands there’s no way this is going to work. Not a damn fever dream, not temporary insanity.”
In May 2024, Jennifer sent a newsletter to her fans announcing the cancellation of her tour. While there were rumors of low ticket sales, concert promoter Live Nation stated Jennifer needed time off to be with her children, family, and close friends. Many believe the real reason for the cancellation is that Jennifer is trying to save her marriage before Ben walks away for good.
Mama Guadalupe better round up the prayer warriors for this one. Do you think this is another love TKO for JLo, or will she and Ben work things out? I’m just Jenny from the Block, and I’m here to see how this unfolds!