Bennifer's Second Act Ends: Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have reportedly called time on their marriage, just two years after rekindling their romance and tying the knot.
On Tuesday, 20 August, Lopez, 55, filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing 26 April 2024 as the date of separation. The news was first reported by TMZ, with sources confirming the split to People magazine.
Lopez, who is self-representing in the divorce proceedings, is said to be "heartbroken" by the decision. A source close to the singer told People that she "tried really hard to make things work" and that her "top priority" remains the wellbeing of the couple's children.
The news comes as a shock to many, given the high-profile nature of their rekindled romance and subsequent wedding. The pair famously reconnected in 2021, over 17 years after their initial engagement and postponed wedding in 2003.
After a brief but intense period of courtship, Lopez and Affleck exchanged vows in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2022. A larger, more traditional wedding ceremony was held the following month in Georgia, attended by a star-studded guest list including Matt Damon, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes.
Despite the initial joy surrounding their rekindled relationship, rumours of marital strain began to surface in May. Both Lopez and Affleck spent much of the spring apart, with Lopez promoting her movie "Atlas," attending the Met Gala, and preparing for her upcoming tour, while Affleck remained in Los Angeles to film "The Accountant 2."
A source told People in May that the couple were no longer living together in their Los Angeles home, and that their differing personalities and public profiles had created tension in their daily lives.
In June, the pair listed their Beverly Hills mansion on the market, a move seen as a further indicator of their separation. Affleck later purchased a new home in Los Angeles, further fueling speculation that the couple were headed for a split.
Though both Lopez and Affleck were seen together at various events in the spring, their summer was marked by a noticeable distance. Lopez spent much of July in the Hamptons, celebrating both the couple's second wedding anniversary and her 55th birthday, while Affleck remained in Los Angeles.
By August, a source told People that the couple were "moving on separately" and that Lopez had not seen Affleck for "weeks."
The divorce filing marks a sad end to Bennifer's second act, a chapter that seemed to hold so much promise after their initial romance. Both parties are expected to focus on their careers and their respective families in the wake of this separation.
