Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez: A look back at 20 years of “Bennifer”

Their wedding two years ago seemed like a small love miracle. Almost 20 years after the dissolution of their former engagement, Jennifer Lopez (55) and Ben Affleck (52) found themselves back together as a couple in 2021 and married shortly afterwards in the summer of 2022 in the famous “A Little White Wedding Chapel” in Las Vegas. At the beginning of their marriage, there were many amorous joint appearances, but for several months now, speculation about a relationship crisis has been making headlines.

Now it has been announced that Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck – on the second anniversary of their traditional wedding ceremony, which took place on August 20, 2022 at Affleck’s estate in the US state of Georgia. A look back at the last 20 years of “Bennifer”.

Bennifer: This is how their love began

How did this great Hollywood love story actually begin? Lopez and Affleck met in 2002 while filming their joint movie “Gigli” and quickly became one of the film industry’s dream couples. The couple’s double name “Bennifer” was born. They got engaged the year they met. But everything turned out differently. The media hype surrounding their love is said to have caused the two to break off their engagement and separate in January 2004.

After the separation in 2004: Weddings and children

Shortly after the separation, both married other partners and started families. In 2005, Affleck married fellow actress Jennifer Garner (52), with whom he has three children, Violet (18), Fin (15) and Samuel (12). The couple separated in 2015 and the divorce was finalized in 2018. Lopez, on the other hand, married her new partner Marc Anthony (55) in 2004 and became the mother of her twins Max and Emme (16). The couple separated in 2011 and were officially divorced in 2014.

After their respective divorces, both of them had further relationships – but throughout all these years, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck apparently remained friends. In 2021, the hopes of all “Bennifer” fans came true: the two made their official love comeback. The couple first exchanged rings in a small circle in Las Vegas and then celebrated their vows in August 2022 at Affleck’s estate in Georgia.

Unexpected love comeback 2021

An unexpected happy ending that J.Lo probably didn’t expect either: “Well, this love story between Ben and me is pretty incredible. And it surprised no one more than myself,” she told “Welt am Sonntag” in February on the release of her new album “This Is Me… Now”, on which the song “Dear Ben… Pt II” is dedicated to the actor. In addition, she released a film called “This Is Me… Now: A Love Story” in early 2024, which focuses on her love for Ben Affleck.

Rumors of a marital crisis

Shortly afterwards, however, rumors began to circulate about a marital crisis. In May 2024, People magazine did the math and reported that Bennifer had not been photographed together in public for 47 days. This was followed by reports that the couple wanted to sell their shared luxury property in Beverly Hills, that they were spending important holidays and events such as birthdays and anniversaries apart, and that they were no longer speaking to each other.

Now it is a sad fact that the happy ending for “Bennifer” does not seem to last forever, even on the second attempt. According to “People” magazine, Jennifer Lopez herself filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on their second wedding anniversary. Insiders say she is “inconsolable”. An official statement from the couple as to why they are now putting an end to their time as “Bennifer” is still pending.