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Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after two years of marriage

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Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after two years of marriage

As a long-time cinema enthusiast with a keen eye for Hollywood gossip, I must say, the news of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s split – again – is as predictable as a sequel in a tired franchise. Their love story has been one filled with twists and turns, more so than even the most intricate plotlines of their films.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are officially over — again.

Lopez submitted divorce papers against the Academy Award-winning actor-director (Argo) on Tuesday at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, as reported by The Times based on reviewed legal documents. The date of their second marriage anniversary was July 17 in Nevada, and the submission coincidentally falls on the same two-year mark from their wedding ceremony in Georgia.

Reps for both Lopez and Affleck were unreachable when The Times sought a response on the matter.

Lopez hasn’t disclosed if she and Affleck signed a prenup, as per TMZ’s initial report about their separation, which was made public on Tuesday.

Indications over the past few months suggest that the couple’s relationship might be strained or, worse yet, already in trouble. For instance, People magazine reported on May 17 that they were living separately and then followed up with additional information from a confidential source stating that their marriage was not in a good state as of May 22.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve always found the contrast between Ben and Jennifer’s lifestyles intriguing. Time and again, it’s been highlighted that Ben prefers to keep a low profile and feels uneasy in the spotlight, whereas Jennifer has always embraced a different approach. In an interview with People back in May, a source shared this very point, stating that “Ben detests all attention and it makes him extremely uncomfortable” and “Jennifer has always had a distinct method.” Just a week into June, TMZ reported some fascinating tidbits: their palatial eight-figure home, boasting 24 bathrooms, had been discreetly listed for sale for a few weeks now, and the whispers of an impending divorce were growing louder.

Over the Independence Day weekend, according to People, Ben Affleck was in Los Angeles, while Jennifer Lopez was vacationing in the Hamptons, New York.

In 2002, the pair crossed paths for the first time on the set of “Gigli,” a film production. At that time, Jennifer Lopez was married to Cris Judd, but their relationship ended two days after photos emerged of her sharing a kiss with Affleck at her surprise birthday celebration – an event that led to her filing for divorce.

In November 2002, Affleck presented a $2.5-million pink diamond, but the wedding scheduled for September got delayed when they were about to exchange vows, mainly due to the intense media attention on their relationship. By January, news broke that the duo, known as Bennifer, had called it quits.

For the following 18 years, they lived separate lives, each having different romantic relationships. Lopez was wed to singer Marc Anthony from 2004 until 2014, and then engaged to Alex Rodriguez, a former New York Yankee, between 2019 and 2021. On the other hand, Affleck was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, and they share parenthood of three children. Despite their divorce, they have managed to maintain a friendly relationship, even collaborating in co-parenting with Lopez, who has twins with Anthony.

But you can’t fight fate or power-couple status. Affleck and Lopez were spotted together again in 2021 and announced their second engagement in 2022 after he proposed in a bubble bath with a giant green ring. They were wed in Las Vegas later that year and seemed to enjoy embodying the best of early 2000s nostalgia before divorce rumors began to spread this spring, right before Lopez canceled her summer tour.

“Lopez explained to Variety in February that during their 2004 split, which occurred under intense media attention, they felt they had lost themselves and needed time apart to understand who they were individually. In essence, she said they both needed personal growth and self-discovery.”

Looks as if they might have figured things out together, finally. And the answer is, “apart.”

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2024-08-21 03:01

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