Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, whom fans nicknamed “Bennifer”, were one of the favorite couples of the early 21st century. Although they parted ways in 2004, 17 years later they revived one of Hollywood’s favorite romances. After being spotted on numerous outings and red carpet appearances together, they finally tied the knot in 2023. It took them over two decades to get to this point.
Their Hollywood love story began on the set of the movie. This is how Lopez and Affleck met
The couple met for the first time in early 2002 on the set of the love crime film “Gigli”. Affleck played the title character, a gangster named Larry Gigli, while Lopez played a gangster named Ricki. According to the script, the characters they played fell in love with each other and joined forces. The film was a flop both financially and according to critics, who claimed that Affleck and Lopez had no on-screen chemistry. In 2004, the film received as many as six Golden Raspberries, and a year later it was again “awarded” with the statuette for the worst comedy in the 25-year history of these awards. However, perversely, sparks appeared between the actors in reality. At the time, Lopez was married to Cris Judd. She soon filed for divorce.
In an interview on the occasion of the premiere of the film “Gigli”, which premiered in March 2003, Affleck revealed that when he met Lopez, they initially bonded over friendship, which turned out to be a good foundation for creating something more. – When I met her, we became really good friends. But at first, because she was married, there was no thought of a romantic relationship, so it created an opportunity to get to know each other without any of the fakery that comes with courtship because you’re trying to make a good impression. I didn’t try to change anything about myself and she didn’t try either. We became really good friends in a way that was very comfortable. – confessed the actor.
Later in the interview, he addressed speculation that he and Lopez had an affair while she was still married to Cris Judd. Affleck vehemently denied this, noting that it would not be consistent with his values. – That’s absolutely not true. This goes against the basic code I believe in and live by: being honest, doing things I can live with and not be ashamed of […] Consciously pursuing this life has made me happier. Because I feel very comfortable and good with where I am and the choices I make, the thought of hiding or misrepresenting anything I do makes me feel really uncomfortable. It’s also not something that’s in Jennifer’s character. We both wanted to be on the side of doing what was right. – Affleck explained in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. What brought them together was their similar upbringing
Shortly after the artist’s divorce was finalized, Lopez and Affleck announced their relationship publicly. In an interview with Lopez, she noted that she and the actor had similar upbringings. – We are very similar… we have the same type of upbringing, the same type of family and the same type of home. – she explained. Their duo quickly became one of the biggest couples in Hollywood and one of the first to be named after a hybrid couple, “Bennifer”.
They got engaged in November 2002. Affleck proposed to the singer 6-carat pink diamond ring. Shortly afterwards, Lopez released the now-iconic music video for the song “Jenny From the Block” starring her and Affleck. The clip was inspired by the couple’s real experiences from the beginning of their relationship. It showed the difficulties they faced, i.e. being in the spotlight and constantly being watched by paparazzi. Days before Lopez and Affleck were scheduled to marry in Santa Barbara on September 14, 2003, the couple announced that postpones the ceremony. They reported intense media interest.
Due to excessive media interest in our wedding, we decided to postpone the date. […] We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives might be violated. We felt that this day, which should be joyful and holy, could be spoiled for us, our families and friends.
Four months later it came to light that Jennifer Lopez broke off her engagement to Ben Affleck. In June 2004, the singer married singer and long-time friend Marc Anthony, with whom she had two children. Affleck also soon moved on. In 2005, he married actress Jennifer Garner. The star couple had three children. Lopez’s next relationship was extremely loud in the media. From 2011 to 2016, she was in a relationship with dancer Beau Smart. Ultimately, the relationship did not stand the test of time and the couple separated. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck separated from Garner after 10 years of marriage. He dated, among others, with model Shauny Sexton and television producer Lindsay Shookus. However, none of these relationships survived.
“Bennifer” returns after many years. The lovers decided to give each other a second chance
After Lopez ended her engagement to Alex Rodriguez and Affleck split from Ana de Armas, the two were spotted meeting up years later. Shortly thereafter, the couple headed to Montana for a week-long vacation. On her 52nd birthday, Lopez announced on Instagram that the couple was back together after almost two decades. Their wedding ceremony took place on July 16 in Las Vegas at the Little White Wedding Chapel. The newlyweds celebrated for 3 days at Ben’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia. The singer shared her impressions of the event with fans in the “” newsletter.
During one of the dinners we talked about getting married. We have both been married before and our youth is behind us. However, we decided that now was our time. […] I didn’t hesitate even for a moment. I constantly felt that God was watching over us.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
