Global headlines have been dominated by the news of Jennifer Lopez’s divorce filing from Ben Affleck, dated August 20, 2024. The couple, popularly referred to as “Bennifer,” restarted their relationship in 2021, got married in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2022, and held a grander wedding in Riceboro, Georgia a month later. Their marriage has now come to an end after two years, with Lopez attributing the divorce to irreconcilable differences.
The divorce papers, filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, show that Lopez, aged 55, has listed April 26, 2024 as the separation date. The documents also disclose the absence of a prenuptial agreement, which could potentially complicate the division of their assets, such as their $68 million mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
Various interpretations of the split have been provided by sources close to the couple. According to an insider who spoke with “Page Six,” the divorce’s timing held particular significance 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,” said the source. The source also mentioned 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 insider confirmed this sentiment, portraying the divorce timing as a strong message to Affleck. The couple had been living separately for months, with Affleck relocating from their shared residence to a new $20.5 million property. Meanwhile, Lopez was concentrating on her career and family, even attending the Met Gala in New York City alone in May, which added to the speculation about their relationship’s stability.
Although the split may have surprised some, it was not completely unforeseen. The couple had encountered substantial challenges in their relationship, including differing attitudes towards fame and public life. Affleck, who has three children with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, reportedly had difficulty handling the extreme media attention associated with his relationship with Lopez. A source told “People” magazine, “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 made efforts to preserve the marriage, but the differences between them eventually proved to be too great.
This marks the second time the couple has split. Their first engagement began in 2002 but was called off in 2004 due to excessive media attention. Both Lopez and Affleck married other people, started families, and then reconnected in 2021. Their rekindled romance attracted widespread media attention and public interest, with many hoping this second chance at love would endure.
Despite their separation, sources suggest that Lopez and Affleck aim to maintain a positive relationship for the sake of their children. Lopez has 16-year-old twins, Emme and Max, from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children, Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with Garner.
While the details of their divorce settlement are still being finalized, it is evident that both Lopez and Affleck are prepared to move forward. As the final chapter of Bennifer plays out in the public eye, it remains to be seen how they will manage their relationship post-divorce, particularly in terms of co-parenting and possible future professional collaborations.
Currently, Lopez is concentrating on her work and her children, while Affleck has settled into his new residence. The decision to end their marriage may have disappointed fans rooting for their relationship, but as Lopez once stated, “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.”