19 years in the making, the unfinished love story between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez

When certain love stories come to an end, we are heartbroken as if we were part of that couple. It was something like this that happened when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, popularly known as Bennifer, broke up shortly before the date set for their wedding. Their brief romance, which lasted from 2002 to 2003, was unparalleled — no other famous couple caused as much of a frenzy as these two. J. Lo once said that Ben was “her first big let down”. And, taking into account the long history that unites them, it’s not exactly a surprise to see that they got back together after so many years.

When it’s true, love always finds a way to persist. And we, from awesome.clubwe were so excited to hear of Bennifer’s return that we couldn’t help but share this beautiful story of pure romance with you.

Both she and he are successful people in life, having built solid careers. Jennifer Lynn Lopez, known worldwide as J. Lo, is a multifaceted artist. She is a singer, actress and dancer. At a young age, she already dreamed of becoming a celebrity. You may remember the musical hits released by her, such as Let’s Get Loud and On The Floor, but the Latin artist has also acted in well-known films, such as Selena and Sangue & Vinho.

Ben Affleck has lived in the spotlight since childhood, having started his career with a commercial. The American actor is well remembered for his roles and successful films at the box office, such as Argo, Scared of the Truth and the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting, directed by him in partnership with good friend Matt Damon.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck met on the set of the movie Contact, in December 2001. And even though the movie was a box office failure, love between the actors quickly blossomed. At the time, Jennifer was still married to her second husband, dancer Cris Judd, but they divorced shortly after she met Ben Affleck.

It was later revealed during an interview that “initially, as she was married, there was no intention of a romantic relationship”. Still, they “became great friends in a way that was very comfortable for both of them.” That same summer, she and Affleck publicly announced their romance.

The music video for the song Jenny From the Block, released in November 2002, shows Lopez and Affleck. The video was inspired by the experience of being followed by the public and surrounded by photographers at all times, experienced by the couple in real life. In the material, the two appear relaxing on a yacht and crumpling a newspaper that brings several rumors about them. In the now iconic clip, Bennifer has a torrid encounter.

That same year, Ben proposed to Jennifer Lopez in a six-carat diamond engagement ring. With the start of preparations for the big day, the paparazzi began to follow the happy couple, not least because such an extraordinary engagement ring could only result in a wedding beyond luxury.

During an interview, the On the Floor singer declared that Affleck’s request was “traditional, but it also had spectacular airs in a way that Ben obviously would… it was really, really beautiful.”
On other occasions, Lopez said Affleck read her a letter containing a list of all the reasons why he loved her and wanted her as his wife. “That was the most purifying and wonderful feeling I had ever experienced.”

Months into their engagement, the couple made a short announcement just days before their wedding date that the ceremony had been called off due to intense media attention. The two stated the following: “When we found ourselves seriously considering hiring three different fake brides to stay in three different locations, we realized something was wrong.” However, the confirmation of the separation came in January 2004 without causing much surprise to the fans, since Affleck had been seen alone and Lopez no longer wore the engagement ring.

Over time, Lopez dated other celebrities. In 2004, she married Marc Anthony, a singer with whom she had twin children. The union, however, ended in 2011. “It was a very difficult decision”, they later stated. “It was a painful time for everyone involved, and we appreciate your respect for our privacy at this time.”

In 2017, the singer started dating baseball player Alex Rodriguez, a longtime friend. The two got engaged in 2019 after marriage rumors circulated for years. Sadly, they announced their split in March 2021: “We realize we’re better as friends, and we look forward to continuing that way,” they stated.

For his part, Ben Affleck married Jennifer Garner in June 2005, and over the years the couple had three children. After a decade of marriage, however, they announced their divorce in 2015. “After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the celebrities announced to PEOPLE in a statement. “We move forward with mutual love and friendship, and a commitment to share in raising our children.”

In several interviews, Affleck admitted that he felt trapped in his marriage. “I was like, ‘I can’t leave because of the kids, but I’m not happy. What should I do?”. All that anxiety caused him to develop unhealthy habits. Then, the actor dated fellow actress Ana de Armas in 2020, but the relationship barely reached a year old.

Over the years, the two famous came to give public statements about the relationship they had in the past. When granting an interview, the singer revealed: “At different times, I think differently. Who knows what could have happened, but there was genuine love there.” She also said that she suffered with the separation and with all the media buzz around the subject. “When the tabloids came out and we were constantly surrounded by paparazzi, it was a very difficult time.”

However, the two claimed to have kept in touch over the years, and at various times Ben Affleck praised his ex-girlfriend, defending J. Lo when she was being criticized. The actor said: “She has great talent, but she also worked hard to make it big. I am so happy that she is finally getting all the credit she deserves.”

In April 2021, rumors claimed that Affleck and Lopez were spending time together at the famous home in Los Angeles, but both denied it, ensuring they were just good friends. Only they were caught by photographers in the US state of Montana, then in Miami and still walking down a street in California. The pair made the public announcement of the reconciliation after they were seen exchanging kisses in the street, and a few months later Jennifer Lopez confirmed that they had indeed got back together. For that, the beauty published in the twitter and on Instagram a photo of the two kissing on her 52nd birthday.

Renewed, the love between the two remains strong, and photographers are always clicking both laughing and exchanging caresses. After the official announcement, the couple made their first appearance at a red carpet event at the Venice International Film Festival, leaving fans in an uproar.

In an interview with The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Lopez celebrated their relationship, saying that no one was as surprised by the news as they were, adding that both never imagined it happening. “Now, we are older, we are smarter, we have more experience, we are at different times in life, we have children and we need to be very aware of all this. We are cautious as it is a very special moment for all of us,” explained Lopez.

Do you believe that true love never dies and can be resumed after years? In your opinion, what is the secret to making a marriage last?