Why Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Broke Up Again: Inside Their Divorce
After months of speculation, Jennifer and Ben decided to end their marriage. Find out why they split.
The fairytale of “Bennifer” has ended in heartbreak. Following nearly four months of speculation over their marital status, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from her now-estranged husband, Ben Affleck. Neither has publicly commented on their pending divorce, but the pair has faced public scrutiny since the springtime after they hadn’t been seen together for more than one month. So, what was the reason for their breakup?
Did Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Sign a Prenup?
According to TMZ, Jennifer did not indicate in her divorce filing whether or not she and Ben had signed a prenuptial agreement when they got married in 2022. The outlet also reported that the Selena actress submitted the filing “pro per,” which means without an attorney.
Why Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Broke Up
Shortly after J Lo filed for divorce from Ben at the Los Angeles Superior Court on August 20, she requested a judge to legally change her last name from Affleck back to Lopez. Per Page Six, the “All I Have” singer cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.
Prior to the revealed reason, multiple outlets had reported what led to their split. A source told PEOPLE that Ben “hasn’t given [Jennifer] any signs that he wants to continue their marriage” and that he “hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work.”
“It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself,” the insider told the outlet.
Their marriage wasn’t always glamorous, as it was reported to People that the two are quite different. “She’s very public and social, while he’s more of an introvert and prefers to stay at home,” an insider said. Additionally, another source mentioned that Ben has “mood swings” and “doesn’t realize how his bad moods affect the people around him.”
Fans grew concerned after watching Jennifer’s documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, which was released earlier this year on Prime Video. The doc revealed that the “On the Floor” artist reopened the Oscar winner’s private love letters to Jennifer while working on her album This Is Me … Now with other musicians.
“I did really find the beauty and the poetry and the irony in the fact that it’s the greatest love story never told,” Ben said about the letters. “If you’re making a record about it, that seems kind of like telling it.”
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in the documentary ‘The Greatest Love Story Never Told.’
Now streaming on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/rE9MIm6s2L
— Bennifer Updates (@BenniferUpdates) February 27, 2024
Ben prefers to keep certain details of his personal life away from the public eye. While recalling the reason behind his 2004 split from Jennifer, the Good Will Hunting actor revealed to Howard Stern in December 2021 that overwhelming media attention partially affected their relationship.
“I would say [the attention] was about 50 percent [of what ended our relationship],” Ben explained at the time. “The idea that people hate you and they hate you together, and that being together is poison and ugly and toxic and the thing none of us want to be part of. And, ‘Who the f**k would want to have them to dinner?’ And, ‘What the f**k are they doing together?'”
The Argo director added that he “got f**king hurt and angry, and felt like a fool” under the intense spotlight while he was dating Jennifer in the early 2000s.
When Did Jennifer Lopez File for Divorce?
Jennifer filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, which marked the second anniversary of her and Ben’s Georgia wedding ceremony. Though they officially tied the knot in Las Vegas in July 2022, the former couple held a formal event with their families and friends the following month.
In her divorce filing, Jennifer cited her and Ben’s official date of separation as April 26, 2024.