Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck ruled the early aughts with their enviable romance which ended days before their planned wedding.
The 2003 movie, “Gigli” was not much of a success at the box office, but it inspired what could easily pass as the most complicated love story on the records, with Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as the worthy participants.
The Hollywood icons, who sustained a relationship between 2003 and 2004 began making headlines again in the first quarter of 2021 for seemingly rekindling their romance.
Although neither has outrightly admitted to a possible reunion, several suggestive photos of them have flooded the internet, bringing back the excitement of the 00s. However, sources have revoked the claims, insisting the pair were simply friends who had “so much love” for each other.
With tales of Bennifer 2.0 making the rounds, it appears these controversial exes, who now seem closer than ever, have more than just friendship binding them. This intensity makes one question if the supposed “so much love,” might, in fact, be unresolved feelings.
Bennifer 1.0: The Short-lived Romance
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez became the “It” couple in 2002, following their meeting on the set of the movie “Gigli,” which debuted in 2003. When they met, the actress was married to dancer Chris Judd, but they divorced shortly after.
Soon after divorcing Judd, Lopez and Affleck went public with their relationship. Ben also made a cameo appearance in Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block” music video. By November 2002, the actor popped the big question with a 6.1-carat pink diamond band, and she said “I do.”
Around that time, a lot of media attention and publicity began surrounding the couple, putting tension on their relationship. The publicity ultimately led to the postponement of their wedding days before its scheduled date in September 2003. They cited “excessive media attention” as the reason for the postponement.
Sadly, the couple called off the engagement barely four months later. In a 2010 interview, Lopez confirmed the media “siege” played a part in their breakup. The songstress also described the incident as her first real heartbreak.
Moving On
Five months after her split from Affleck, Jennifer Lopez tied the knot with singer-songwriter Marc Anthony. They welcomed fraternal twins Emme Muniz and Max Miniz in 2008. Lopez lived through other relationships afterward, eventually becoming engaged to Alex Rodriguez.
Affleck also forged ahead, marrying “Green Lantern” co-star Jennifer Garner in 2005. They welcomed three children before their divorce in 2018. After splitting from Garner, he kicked off his romance with Ana de Armas.
However, in early 2021, Lopez and Rodriguez called off their relationship, divulging in a joint statement that they were better off as just friends. Interestingly, Affleck and de Armas called it quits around that time, conveniently raising brows.
Coincidence Or A Tale Of Unresolved Feelings?
Like the proximity of their respective breakups wasn’t already too much of a coincidence, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck suddenly decided to reunite publicly and rekindle their long-forgotten friendship amid the post-breakup stir. Or at least, that’s what it looked like at first.
News of their reunion first broke on April 30, after the father of three was spotted visiting the “Anacondas” star’s Los Angeles home multiple times.
A source explained how Affleck always arrived at Lopez’s apartment transported by her security team and return the same way after spending hours with her. As for the nature of their relationship, the source insisted they were friends, and “have never not been.”
A Taste Of The Good Old Days
Apparently, the source might have been misinformed, as barely days later, the pair jetted off on a romantic vacation to Montana. The trip had the media singing a different tune, especially as a source confirmed the duo “picked up right where they left off” almost two decades ago.
Things skyrocketed following their Montanna trip, with the former exes connecting daily despite the long-distance separating them. The distance was not to be a problem for much longer.
Several sources affirmed the Hollywood icons’ rekindled romance and their plans to make it long-lasting. After weeks of traveling back and forth between Miami and Los Angeles to make the LDR work, Lopez and her kids relocated to LA, the 48-year-old “Chasing Amy” star’s base, to be closer to her beau.
Watching these two fall hard for each other a second time, one can’t help but wonder if they indeed successfully rekindled their love, or were simply living off unresolved affections that have lingered for nineteen years. Time will tell.