Two years after the Hollywood power couple formally gave love a second chance by getting married, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, according to US media on Tuesday.
When they first started dating in the crazy days of tabloid celebrity in the early 2000s, the two were called “Bennifer.” Almost two decades later, they had rekindled their romance.
However, according to celebrity gossip website TMZ and Hollywood trade publication Variety, Lopez filed for divorce on Tuesday at a Los Angeles court.
A representative for Lopez declined to comment. Affleck’s publicist did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
For 55-year-old pop singer-turned-actress Lopez, it was her fourth marriage, and for 52-year-old Oscar-winning director Affleck, it was her second.
On the set of the critically panned film “Gigli,” the two initially crossed paths in 2002.
As soon as they announced their engagement and began dating, they became well-known in the media.
However, they called off their scheduled 2003 wedding and declared their separation in the first few months of 2004.
When pictures of them together started to surface online in 2021, “Bennifer” once again set the internet on fire.
During that period, Lopez stated in an interview, “It is a beautiful love story that we got a second chance.”
In April 2022, Lopez and Affleck made their engagement public. The A-list couple married in July in Las Vegas.
They made it official again the following month in a lavish ceremony at the “Good Will Hunting” star’s 87-acre (35-hectare) estate in the southeastern US state of Georgia.
Longtime Affleck friend Matt Damon and director Kevin Smith were among the celebrities present at the three-day event.
According to reports, the couple purchased a $60 million Los Angeles home together last year.
However, earlier this year, reports of marital problems surfaced on social media and in the entertainment press.
Supporters pointed out that Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday last month without her spouse, and according to TMZ, they sold their joint residence and Affleck moved into an opulent bachelor pad.
People magazine said relations became strained because of their different approaches to celebrity.
“She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world,” the magazine quoted an unnamed source saying.
“He is more introspective and private. This has been difficult day-to-day.”
According to TMZ, who also stated that the couple is no longer on speaking terms, the couple’s date of separation was listed as April 26, 2024 in the divorce documents.
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 and they are the parents of Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
