All The Forgotten Moments From Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck’s Relationship
After a whirlwind reunion, the pair's love is back and better than ever.
In case you missed it, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are officially back together. No, this is not a throwback to 2002, when the two first starred in the not-so-critically-acclaimed film Gigli together. ICYMI, their initial relationship started just as quickly as it ended, with the two dating for four months before getting engaged and eventually splitting over a year later in 2004. Yet, two decades on, Bennifer has staged a zombielike return from the ashes of their previous marriages - and all the children they had along the way.
Fast forward to 2023, where the two are married and won't stop making out on yachts and random street corners. For anyone not up to date with the couple or aware of how meaningful this reunion is, we've summarised all the highlights from the long timeline of their relationship for your eyes below. Scroll on to see where the couple are now, all the way back to when the two first laid eyes on each other, and basically everything else in between.
Related article: Jennifer Lopez Has Changed Her Legal Name After Marrying Ben Affleck
During an interview on The Today Show, Jen opened up about how her kids "love Ben. He’s a wonderful, wonderful father and father figure to them as well, 'cause he has his own three beautiful children and then there’s us. He’s fantastic. He really steps up to the challenge of what [being a stepfather] is and what that means, and they love him."
In a Hollywood Reporter interview, Ben spills all about his film Air and Jenny.
She had contributed to the film's script - "She is incredibly knowledgeable about the way fashion evolves through the culture as a confluence of music, sports, entertainment, and dance. She helped me in talking about the way in which a part of the reason why Jordans [the shoes] were so meaningful is because culture and style in America is 90 percent driven by Black culture. Black culture has historically pioneered music, dance, fashion, and it’s then been stolen, appropriated, re-marketed as Elvis or whatever. And in this case, [Nike], a white-run corporate entity, was starting to do business with African American athletes in an identity affiliation sales thing. They were really taking value from what Michael Jordan represents and who he is. I don’t think the meaning can be overstated. They’re going to switch from 'Hey, guys, we are a nice shoe' to 'If Mike has it, you want it.'"
She supported him during a rumour about him blaming his ex Jennifer Garner for his drinking - "It didn’t matter how many times I said, 'I do not feel this way. I’m telling you, I don’t blame my ex-wife for my alcoholism.' So, yeah. It’s hard. But anyway, so [Jennifer] tells me today, 'Relax, be yourself. Have fun. You’re actually a fun guy who is real and genuine and you just seem so serious.' Do I seem serious? But as in many things, she’s really right. And she loves me. She’s looking out for me. She’s trying to help me. So it’s like, maybe I ought to fucking listen to her."
The Grammy Moment - "I had a good time at the Grammys. My wife was going, and I thought, Well, there’ll be good music. It might be fun. At movie awards shows, it’s speeches and, like, sound-mixing webinars. But I thought this would be fun. I saw [Grammy host Trevor Noah approach] and I was like, Oh god. They were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling. I leaned into her and I was like, 'As soon they start rolling, I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor.' She goes, 'You better fucking not leave.' That’s a husband-and-wife thing. I mean, some of it is, I’m like, ‘Alright, who is this act?’ Like, I don’t keep up. My wife does, obviously."
From their very first Christmas party as a married couple to wearing comfy, cosy ugly sweaters together, the two were definitely living under the mistletoe this past festive season. A source mentioned to Entertainment Tonight that "Ben is planning on giving Jen a couple of things that are special and sentimental that have taken him a long time to find. He is also planning on giving her beautiful jewellery and a couple of big things that are surprises."
Jenny did open up about the split from Ben in an Apple Music 1 interview on The Zane Lowe Show. ET reported her saying that, "It was so painful after we broke up. Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life, and I honestly felt like I was going to die."
In their first red carpet appearance post-wedding, Ben and Jen showed up in couple 'fits at Ralph Lauren's show in California.
Just Married! The couple held their wedding at Ben's Georgia home and fans got to hear what went down from Lopez herself on her On the JLo show.
"Nothing ever felt more right to me, and I knew we were finally 'settling down' in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy and you are battle tested enough to never take the important things for granted or let the silly insignificant nuisances of the day get in the way of embracing every precious moment" continuing, "We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven…."
Holding hands, making heart eyes and shopping for luxury cars - just how Ben and Jen love to spend time with one another.
And then, surprise, they got hitched in Vegas.
Jenny from the Block officially became "Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck," and the two jetted off to their honeymoon in Paris just like a plot from a Hollywood film.
The two basked in the wedding fever in style...
And class.
The two were spotted at another movie premiere together. What's more, J.Lo came to Ben’s defense amid backlash over an interview about his ex Jennifer Garner. Shutting down reports that she was "pissed" about his comments, J.Lo revealed to People, "This story is simply not true. It is not how I feel. I couldn’t have more respect for Ben as a father, a co-parent, and a person."
From trick-or-treating with Jennifer Garner to going for the premiere of Ben's The Last Duel movie together, the two were closer than ever during this period.
Launching their 'new' relationship status, the two showed up together at the 78th Venice International Film Festival!
The two made their Met Gala debut just a few days later.
Just PDA everything, everywhere and definitely not all at once.
In her interview with Zane Lowe, Jennifer gushed about her new relationship status:
"I’m super happy…I know people are always wondering, How are you? What’s going on? Are you okay? This is it. I’ve never been better. And I want my people who care about me, because I care about them so much, to know that I’ve really gotten to a place in my life where I’m great on my own. And I think once you get to that place, then amazing things happen to you that you never imagine in your life happening again. And so that is where I’m at. And I love all the love that’s coming my way right now and all of the good wishes. And I just want everybody to know that it’s the best time. It’s the best time of my life."
Us Weekly reported that "Ben and Jen are spending almost every night together when they’re not working…they plan on moving in together very soon."
For those who believe a couple is only official when they reveal it on social media, the two dropped the bomb on Leah Remini's Instagram account.
The couple officially hard launches their relationship with a kiss.
June 2021
At this point, the couple is constantly making out at dinners, and a source reveals to E! News that J.Lo "is packing up her Miami rental" to move closer to Ben.
May 2021
Jennifer and her fiancé (now ex) Alex Rodriguez split, announcing on The Today Show:
"We have realised we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support."
The same month, Ben compliments Jen on an InStyle story and the exes are soon spotted out and about together. Page Six reported that the two wanted their "public comeback romance" to be "tightly controlled," but that was ruined by the paps.
January 2021
A source tells People that actress Ana de Armas and Ben "have had numerous discussions about their future and they decided together to break up,” with another source adding that the split was “mutual and something that is completely amicable. They are in different points in their lives; there is deep love and respect there."
March 2020
Ben and Ana de Armas were first spotted together on the set of Deep Water and even on vacation in Cuba.
Once again, Ben openly supports Jennifer, telling New York Times that the actress should have been nominated for awards for her role in Hustlers.
"She should have been nominated. She’s the real thing. I keep in touch periodically with her and have a lot of respect for her. How awesome is it that she had her biggest hit movie at 50? That’s fucking baller."
In an interview with Diane Sawyer that same month, the actor muses that in five years, "I would love to have a relationship that is deeply meaningful and one to which I could be deeply committed.…Five years from now, Ben Affleck is sober and happy and sees his kids three and a half days a week and has made three or four movies that are interesting to him. I directed two [movies] that he is hopefully proud of and is in a healthy, stable, loving, committed relationship."
March 2019
J.Lo and A-Rod get engaged.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner finalise their divorce officially, despite having split back in June 2015. He also splits with Lindsay Shookus, who he was reportedly seeing for a year.
Jennifer and A-Rod start dating, and A-Rod takes to Ellen Degeneres' talk show to gush about it.
August 2016
J.Lo and Casper Smart part ways, with a source revealing to People, "The relationship had just run its course" and that they had "hit a rough patch."
January 2015
Lopez tells HuffPost Live she has "no regrets" about Ben Affleck, saying, "I would do it all over again, I think. I really would. Even the relationship part. I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you’re willing to look at it, and I’m willing to look."
However, she also says, "[Gigli] was a very badly reviewed film. I was in a high-profile relationship at the time that fell apart in a really bad way, and so the kind of mix of those two things and the tabloid press had just come into existence at the time, so I was like a poster child for that moment. I was in the tabloids every other week about how my life was falling apart. It was a tough time."
J.Lo starts dating her backup dancer Casper Smart!
July 2011
J.Lo and Marc Anthony announce their separation, and their divorce is finalised later in June 2014.
Ben and Jen Garner get married in Turks and Caicos and go on to have three kids!
J.Lo gets back with her ex Marc Anthony and they get married in June—just five months after her split from Ben. They go on to have two cute kids together.
Meanwhile, Ben Affleck starts dating his Daredevil co-star Jennifer Garner; watch them flirting up a storm here.
January 2004
J.Lo’s rep confirms Ben and Jen's split with a statement stating, "I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy."
September 2003
Just days before their wedding, Bennifer calls it off:
"Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realised that something was awry. We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families, and our friends."
You can almost sense the awkward vibes between the couple at the premiere for Gigli.
In what J.Lo tells Diane Sawyer was "traditional but also in a very spectacular way," Ben proposes to her.