Jennifer Lopez Ends Marriage with Ben Affleck

Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, thus ending their two-year marriage, which was both a renewal of an older romance and a central focus of public attention. The couple has started dating in the early 2000s and was famously referred to as “Bennifer.” They have rekindled their relationship as of 2021, following Lopez’s break-up with Alex Rodriguez. Their marriage has taken place in July 2022 and has been a notable event, starting with a seemingly low-key ceremony in Las, Vegas followed by the more elaborate celebration in Georgia. In light of their latest decision, which was preceded by the reports of the two living apart, Lopez’s summer tour being canceled, and the sale of their Beverly Hills mansion, the next chapter of their highly-publicized relationship narrative transfers the events from this week in tabloid history section to the more general coverage for the non-specialist readers. In her interviews reflecting upon their relationship, Lopez frequently mentions the scrutiny it has been under and how it affected her feelings of self-worth, as well as the public reaction to the situation.

The couple has first met on the set of “Gigli,” a movie that has garnered a reputation as somewhat of a flop, but not before Lopez and Affleck became one of Hollywood’s most famous couples. Their break-up was widely publicized as well, and both singers went on to marry and separate from other people. Their reunion, however, seems to have sparked a new beginning, given their established professional and personal connection. At one instance, Affleck has mentioned that the quality he most admired about Lopez was her ability to have dealt with her share of “bulls*it” while they were together. Their divorce filing takes place on the two-year anniversary of their August ceremony, which serves as an interesting temporal milestone to end the marriage. It remains to be seen whether this latest development would lead to the focus of public attention shifting from their relationship news to their professional interests. Cable co-founded by Affleck and Matt Damon is producing several Lopez projects, including a documentary and an album that involves, among other themes, the relationship with Affleck. The break-up would influence the context in which the work that would follow now had been completed. As the two break up, the discussion around the meaning of “Bennifer,” an event that has left a profound impact on the history of pop culture and celebrity media, continues. The news of their separation and the reasons for it may be superseded by the questions about the demands celebrities and fans put on the relationship with another human being, as opposed to its television-viewed portrayal.