Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck: The Greatest Love Story Interrupted, Again

Vanessa Obioha

Once again, the rollercoaster romance between American actress, singer and entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez and Hollywood actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck has come to a dramatic end. Their love story, which has captivated fans for decades, seemed destined for a fairytale finish after their initial breakup in the early 2000s.

The duo first sparked headlines when they met on the set of the romantic comedy ‘Gigli’ and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples, giving rise to the famous portmanteau ‘Bennifer.’ They got engaged in 2002, but postponed the wedding the following year, citing the media frenzy around their union.

After parting ways, both Lopez and Affleck moved on to other high-profile marriages—Lopez to singer Marc Anthony in 2004 and Affleck to actress Jennifer Garner in 2005. But as fate would have it, both marriages ended in divorce.

When Bennifer rekindled their romance and finally tied the knot two years ago, fans thought the stars had aligned for their second chance. Lopez was so convinced that she even chronicled their love in a documentary, ‘The Greatest Love Story Never Told’, which featured Affleck. But despite the hope of a happily-ever-after, their reunion was short-lived.

On what would have been their second wedding anniversary, August 20, Lopez filed for divorce in L.A. County Superior Court, sending the internet into a frenzy.

Social media exploded with reactions—memes poking fun at Lopez’s storied romantic history flooded timelines, with some dubbing her the queen of dating without settling down. Armchair detectives dissected their relationship, trying to pinpoint the exact moment when things went south. Comparisons to Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary British-American actress who famously married eight times, were inevitable. Yet, while Taylor had seven husbands, Lopez has only walked down the aisle four times: first with producer Ojani Noa in 1997, then with backup dancer Cris Judd in 2001, followed by Marc Anthony in 2004, and Affleck in 2022. She was also famously engaged to baseball star Alex Rodriguez. With both Lopez and Affleck remaining tight-lipped about their split, all eyes are now on what comes next in Lopez’s love life.