Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez: Complete Timeline of Their Relationship and Comeback Romance
The story of Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Lopez is one of Hollywood’s most captivating love sagas—a romance that defied the odds, survived two decades apart, and ultimately came full circle only to end once more. From their electric chemistry on a movie set to their Vegas wedding and subsequent divorce, Bennifer has given us a front-row seat to the complexities of love in the spotlight. This comprehensive timeline explores every twist and turn of their remarkable journey together.
The Beginning: Meeting on the Gigli Set in 2002
Ben Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez first crossed paths in early 2002 on the set of the romantic crime comedy film Gigli, which would be released in 2003. At the time, Lopez was still married to her second husband, dancer Cris Judd, whom she had married in 2001. Affleck was in an on-and-off relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Despite both being involved with other people, there was an undeniable connection forming between the two A-list stars.
Affleck later told Vanity Fair in 2003 that their relationship was rooted in a strong friendship that developed naturally because Lopez was married, which created the opportunity to get to know each other without the usual pressures of courtship. Lopez would later reflect that meeting Ben felt significant from the start, describing it as a moment when everything seemed to click.
Going Public: Summer 2002 and the Start of Bennifer
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Cris Judd in July 2002, citing irreconcilable differences, and she and Affleck began their public romance shortly after. They were first spotted kissing at Lopez’s surprise 32nd birthday party, marking their first public moment as a romantic couple. The media immediately latched onto the relationship, and the couple portmanteau “Bennifer” was born—one of Hollywood’s first celebrity mashup names.
Affleck spent a reported eighteen thousand dollars on half-page advertisements to express his pleasure working with Lopez, defending his reasoning by saying he had been ashamed of his preconceived notions about her. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez The relationship quickly became one of the most photographed and discussed romances in entertainment history, with paparazzi following their every move.
The Iconic “Jenny from the Block” Music Video
In November 2002, Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez released the music video for her hit song “Jenny from the Block,” which prominently featured Affleck climbing out of cars, eating meals, and hanging out with the singer. The video recreated some of the issues facing the superstar couple, including constantly dodging paparazzi, and featured a now-iconic scene where Affleck caresses Lopez’s rear while she wears a hot pink bikini on a boat. The video became a cultural moment, simultaneously celebrating and satirizing the media’s obsession with their relationship.
Years later, in 2008, Affleck expressed regret about appearing in the video, stating that it made him look like a petulant fool and was ungentlemanly. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez However, the video remains one of the most memorable artifacts of their first romance and perfectly captured the tabloid frenzy that would eventually contribute to their downfall.
The Pink Diamond Engagement: November 2002
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez three months of dating, Affleck proposed to Lopez at his mother’s home in October 2002 with a 6.1-carat Harry Winston pink diamond ring valued at approximately 1.2 million dollars. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Lopez explained how it felt to see the engagement ring on her finger, calling it the most magnificent thing she had ever seen. She described Affleck’s proposal as traditional but spectacular, saying her feelings for him were bigger and realer than anything she had experienced before.
The engagement announcement sent shockwaves through Hollywood and further intensified media scrutiny of the couple. Every public appearance Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez became a spectacle, and the relationship was dissected in tabloids and entertainment shows worldwide.
The Gigli Disaster and Jersey Girl
In summer 2003, Gigli was finally Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez and it was ripped apart by critics, becoming a massive box office bomb that nearly ended Affleck’s acting career. The film, released on August 1, 2003, is considered one of the worst films in history, and after its release, the media started to portray Bennifer in a more negative manner. The public’s perception of the couple shifted dramatically, with their relationship becoming a punchline rather than a fairytale.
The couple had filmed a second movie together, Jersey Girl, a dramedy where Lopez played the deceased wife of Affleck’s character alongside Liv Tyler, which was released in 2004 and ultimately underperformed at the box office. The back-to-back failures of their film collaborations added additional pressure to an already strained relationship.
The Postponed Wedding: September 2003
Despite having a wedding date and Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez all picked out for September 14, 2003, Lopez and Affleck announced they were postponing their wedding just four days earlier. In their joint statement, they explained that due to excessive media attention surrounding their wedding, they had decided to postpone the date, noting that when they found themselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate decoy brides at three different locations, they realized something was awry. They expressed feeling that what should have been the happiest day of their lives could be compromised and spoiled for them, their families, and their friends.
The postponement was a clear indication that the intense media scrutiny had taken its Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez toll on the couple. The pressure of being under constant surveillance had transformed their love story into something unmanageable.
The Split: January 2004
The two called off their engagement on January 22, 2004, with Lopez’s representative confirming in a statement that Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Lopez had ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. The breakup marked the end of one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships. In 2010, Lopez talked about the pressures the media put on their relationship during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, saying she loved Ben and he was a great guy, but being under that type of siege for two years straight was difficult for both of them. She acknowledged that their relationship suffered because they were on the cover of every magazine every week, creating a weird and overwhelming situation.
The end of Bennifer 1.0 left both stars to pick up the pieces and move forward with their separate lives, though they would maintain a mutual respect and friendship.
The Years Apart: New Marriages and Families
Just five months after their breakup, Lopez married singer Marc Anthony in a secret ceremony in June 2004. Lopez and Anthony welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008 before separating in 2011 and finalizing their divorce the following year. Lopez would later become engaged to baseball legend Alex Rodriguez in 2019, though they called off their engagement in April 2021.
Affleck started dating actress Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Garner in August 2004 before marrying her in June 2005. Affleck and Garner had three children together: Violet, Fin (formerly Seraphina), and Samuel, but by June 2015, they announced they were separating. Affleck would also date actress Ana de Armas for about a year until early 2021.
The Reunion: Montana Trip in May 2021
In May 2021, shortly after Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Lopez’s split from Alex Rodriguez, she and Ben Affleck sparked reunion rumors with a trip to Montana. They were photographed together for the first time since their initial romance on May 11, 2021, and on May 24, Lopez and Affleck were spotted at Lopez’s rental home in Miami with Affleck wearing the watch Lopez had given him in her 2002 Jenny From The Block music video. The nostalgic detail sent fans into a frenzy, suggesting this reunion was more than just a friendly catch-up.
On June 1, 2021, Affleck and Lopez were photographed holding each other in their first public display of affection in their rekindled romance, and on June 14, photos and videos of them kissing were released to the media for the first time in almost two decades, confirming that their romance was back on. The internet exploded with excitement as Bennifer 2.0 officially became reality.
Making It Official: Red Carpets and Public Declarations
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez publicly confirmed their rekindled relationship in July 2021 while on vacation in France and Italy. On September 10, 2021, the couple made their red carpet debut for the first time in 18 years at the premiere of Affleck’s film The Last Duel during the Venice Film Festival in Italy. The couple looked radiant and in love, appearing more confident and comfortable with public attention than they had been during their first go-around.
Both stars spoke openly about being given a second chance. For Valentine’s Day 2022, Affleck directed and gifted Lopez a remix of her song On My Way, also making his second cameo appearance in an official Lopez music video for the ballad version of Marry Me. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez The gesture showcased a deeper level of support and artistic collaboration between the two.
The Second Engagement: April 2022
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez announced on April 8, 2022, that the pair were engaged again, twenty years after the first proposal. The couple announced their engagement nearly two decades after first being engaged in November 2002, with Lopez sharing a teary-eyed video to her web page. This time, both stars seemed determined not to let external pressures derail their happiness. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez The announcement was met with overwhelming support from fans who had been rooting for their love story since the early 2000s.
The second engagement felt different—more mature, more grounded, and perhaps more prepared for the challenges that come with high-profile romance. Both had grown through their respective marriages, parenthood, and personal struggles.
The Vegas Wedding: July 2022
The couple married on July 16, 2022, filing their marriage license in Las Vegas, with Lopez legally changing her name to Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Affleck and confirming the marriage the next day. Lopez wrote in her newsletter that they exchanged vows at the chapel, which graciously stayed open late, after waiting in line with four other couples, and she wore a dress from an old movie while Affleck wore a jacket from his closet. She wrote that they did it, and love is beautiful, kind, and patient—twenty years patient.
While sitting down with Jimmy Kimmel, Jennifer admitted she felt a little PTSD before marrying Ben because of the fallout from their first engagement, recalling that one day Ben just said to forget it and go to Vegas to get married that night. The spontaneous Vegas ceremony was a stark contrast to the elaborate wedding they had planned in 2003, reflecting a desire for intimacy over spectacle.
The Georgia Ceremony: August 2022
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez a month after the couple tied the knot in Las Vegas, Bennifer celebrated their marriage in August 2022 in front of family and friends at their home in Riceboro on the Hampton Island preserve outside of Savannah, Georgia. The celebration was a three-day event beginning August 19 at Ben’s Georgia estate. This second ceremony allowed them to celebrate with loved ones in a more traditional setting, bringing together their blended family and closest friends.
The Georgia wedding represented everything they had dreamed of twenty years earlier—a joyful celebration surrounded by the people who mattered most, without the Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez media circus that had plagued their first engagement.
“This Is Me… Now”: Art Imitating Life
Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez released her album This Is Me Now and its accompanying documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told in February 2024, making it the focus of her creative work. The album was a sequel to her 2002 album This Is Me Then, heavily inspired by her reunion with Ben and their marriage, with a musical film of the same name cowritten by Bennifer premiering on Amazon Prime Video. One of the songs from the new album, Dear Ben, was a follow-up to a 2002 song of the same name, speaking about how their romance evolved.
Affleck expressed hesitancy with how transparent Lopez was about their relationship in her work, noting he found it ironic that it was called the greatest love story never told when she was making a record about it. The documentary and album received mixed reviews and sparked internet memes, with some critics suggesting Lopez’s very public approach to their private life created additional strain.
Trouble in Paradise: Spring 2024
Rumors began to swirl in May 2024 that the couple was on the outs, with tabloids reporting that they hadn’t been seen together in weeks and that Affleck had moved out of their home, which was then put up for sale. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez of trouble in the marriage began when Affleck was notably absent from the Los Angeles and Mexico City premieres of Netflix’s Atlas, which Lopez starred in. The couple’s body language at public events appeared tense, and they were increasingly spotted apart rather than together.
Although this knowledge would not be public until months later, Lopez and Affleck actually separated on April 26, 2024, according to Lopez’s divorce filing in August 2024. Behind the scenes, the relationship had already reached its breaking point while they continued to make occasional public appearances together.
The Divorce Filing: August 2024
On August 20, 2024,Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, with the filing taking place exactly two years after Lopez and Affleck’s Georgia wedding ceremony. The singer notably filed pro per, meaning by herself without an attorney, waived spousal support, and asked the judge to deny Ben such support as well. According to documents obtained by media outlets, Lopez and Affleck reached a divorce settlement about five months after Lopez first filed for dissolution, with both agreeing to waive spousal support and divide their shared properties and assets.
A source close to Lopez indicated that the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez The lack of a prenup meant that their assets acquired during the marriage would need to be divided according to California community property laws, though they appeared to reach an agreement relatively quickly.
Life After Divorce: Moving Forward
On February 21, 2025, the couple became legally single again. Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez In a candid chat with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, Lopez opened up for the first time about her divorce from Affleck and how she came to the realization that she would rather be single, saying the pain almost took her out for good but was exactly what she needed. In the Interview magazine cover story, Lopez shared that she was enjoying being single and excited about flying on her own for the first time in decades.
In a rare, candid interview for GQ’s April 2025 issue, Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez said that he did not want to explain why he and Lopez split, as it felt embarrassing. He stated there was no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue regarding their split. Both stars have chosen to maintain dignity and privacy around the specific reasons for their separation.
Remaining Professional: Post-Divorce Appearances
In October 2025, Lopez and Affleck reunited on the red carpet Monday night at The Shed in New York for the special screening of Kiss of the Spider Woman, appearing together with arms around each other and smiling wide for the cameras. Lopez stars in the latest adaptation of the famed musical, and Affleck is one of the executive producers. The appearance demonstrated their ability to maintain a professional and cordial relationship despite their personal split.
Lopez gave Affleck credit for his role on the project and noted that it wasn’t the first time he had supported her since their breakup, as in November 2024 he praised Lopez for her performance in the film Unstoppable. Their continued professional collaboration and mutual respect suggests that while the romantic relationship didn’t last, their bond and shared history remain significant.
The Legacy of Bennifer
The story of Ben Affleck and Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Lopez remains one of the most compelling celebrity romances of our time. The Bennifer romance peaked just as the early 2000s tabloid frenzy did, and both have credited the intense scrutiny and speculation into their relationship as part of what led to their first breakup. During a January 2021 appearance on The Hollywood Reporter podcast, Ben recalled how people were mean about Lopez in sexist and racist ways, with ugly, vicious things written about her that would get someone fired if written today.
Their journey taught important lessons about love, second chances, fame, and the challenges of maintaining relationships in the public eye. While their comeback romance ultimately ended in divorce after just two years of marriage, it gave both stars—and their millions of fans—something precious: proof that true connection never really dies, even if romantic relationships do. The fact that they can now appear together professionally and support each other’s work shows a maturity and grace that perhaps only comes from walking through fire together, twice.
Whether viewed as a cautionary tale about the pressures of celebrity or as a beautiful story of two people who will always share an unbreakable bond, the complete timeline of Ben Affleck and Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez Lopez’s relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most unforgettable sagas. Their story reminds us that sometimes the greatest love stories don’t end with happily ever after—they simply end with respect, growth, and an understanding that some connections, while not meant to last forever, are still worth having.
