Rumours have been rife for months that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were heading for divorce.
Legions of loyal Bennifer fans are waking up heartbroken today after it was announced the I’m Real star, 54, has decided to end her marriage to the Batman actor, 51, exactly two years after they got hitched.
After splitting up initially in 2004, the couple restored fans’ faith in love when they hooked up again in 2021, before getting married in 2022. But after reports of rows, disagreements and Ben’s annoyance with his wife’s ‘obsession’ with social media, it’s all over.
So, as we wait for Ben and Jen’s statement after calling time on their relationship – again- here’s all the reasons why they, sadly, couldn’t make their fairytale marriage work…
Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from actor Ben Affleck exactly two years after they got married
Ben didn’t want a relationship on social media
When Ben and Jen rekindled their romance in 2021 after nearly two decades apart, the dad-of-three had a request. Jennifer has 253 million followers on Instagram — and Ben didn’t want their relationship to play out in front on the world’s stage, he said in her new Amazon Prime documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
“Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media,’” the actor recalls. “Then I sort of realised it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like, you’re gonna marry a boat captain and you go, ‘Well, I don’t like the water.’”
However, it would appear Jen’s relationship with Instagram was one of the reasons their relationship sunk after Ben was papped looking stoney faced on multiple occasions while his wife beamed, posting snaps on her socials.
Fans concerned Ben always looks ‘miserable’
With Ben’s facial expressions becoming instant memes after paparazzi captured shots of the actor looking less than enthusiastic, Jennifer came to his rescue in January 2024 at the Golden Globes, when asked about his demeanour.
“Ben is doing alright. You don’t need to worry about Ben, let me just tell you,” Jennifer told ET of her man: “He is good. He is happy. He is here — he is nominated. I’m chilling, I don’t understand what people are so pressed for.”
However, after more images of the couple emerged from St.Barts on social media, fans on X (formerly Twitter) shared their thoughts. “This guy. He always looks so miserable in her company. It’s hard to watch,” one tweeted along with the pics as another concurred: “He’s always looking miserable.”
Living apart and not speaking
It was reported on May 16 that Ben had been staying at a Brentwood home in Los Angeles alone, with an Entertainment Tonight source claiming: “They have been staying in separate homes and the tension has been high.”
On May 28, an Us Weekly source reported the couple communicate “primarily to discuss essential matters and updates.” Then on June 28, People reported that Ben was “moving his belongings” out of their home. And most recently, on July 27, TMZ reported that Ben had purchased a $20.5 million (£16 million) home – which he bought on J-Lo’s birthday, which she spent without Ben.
Jen was said to be in tears when she came home to the house they once shared to find Ben had taken all his belongings. The Hustlers star was later papped preparing for her Bridgerton-themed birthday – with her husband nowhere to be seen.
Jen was tired of waiting for Ben to make an effort
Despite rumours to the contrary, an insider told People magazine, Jen tired hard to save the marriage, claiming: “She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken,” before adding: “The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”
During Jennifer’s first marriage to singer Marc Anthony, the couple welcomed 16 year old twins Max and Emme. From Ben’s first marriage to actress Jennifer Garner, the former couple have three children together – their 18 year old daughter Violet, 12 year old son Samuel, and 17 year old son Fin.
However after a rocky few months, a source close to Jennifer has revealed the star was tired of waiting for Ben to make an effort to save their marriage and is now ready to “move on”. The insider said: “She’s very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage.”
