American singer and actress, Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from husband Ben Affleck, US media reported on Tuesday, ending their marriage two years after they rekindled their romance and tied the knot.
The Hollywood power couple, once known as “Bennifer,” had originally dated in the early 2000s before breaking up and reuniting nearly two decades later.
Lopez filed the divorce papers at a Los Angeles court, according to reports from Variety and TMZ. A representative for Lopez declined to comment, and Affleck’s publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This was the fourth marriage for Lopez, 55, and the second for Affleck, 52. The pair first met in 2002 on the set of the movie “Gigli,” which was widely criticized. Despite the film’s failure, their relationship quickly became a media sensation, leading to an engagement. However, they postponed their planned wedding in 2003 and announced their split in early 2004.
Their love story reignited in 2021 when photos of them together began circulating online. “It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance,” Lopez said in an interview at the time. The couple announced their engagement in April 2022 and married in a Las Vegas ceremony in July of the same year. They celebrated their union again in a lavish ceremony at Affleck’s estate in Georgia a month later, attended by Hollywood stars like Matt Damon and Kevin Smith.
Despite buying a $60 million home together in Los Angeles last year, rumors of marital troubles surfaced earlier this year. Fans noticed that Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday without Affleck, and TMZ reported that they had sold their home, with Affleck moving into a luxury bachelor pad.
According to People magazine, the couple’s relationship became strained due to their different approaches to celebrity life. “She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world,” the magazine quoted a source. “He is more introspective and private. This has been difficult day-to-day.”
TMZ reported that the divorce papers listed April 26, 2024, as the couple’s date of separation, and the pair are reportedly no longer on speaking terms.
Lopez was previously married to actor Ojani Noa, dancer Cris Judd, and singer Marc Anthony, with whom she shares twins Max and Emme. Affleck was married to actress Jennifer Garner, with whom he has three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
