After nearly two decades apart, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez chose to rekindle their romance, which had previously grabbed headlines in the early 2000s. However, not long after their second shot at love, murmurs spread that not all was right in paradise.
Both celebs were out in public on the day Lopez formally filed for divorce, but their contrasting demeanors spoke very different messages. Find out why Affleck’s location and attitude made some social media users feel horrible for Lopez.
The Rise and Fall of Bennifer
Months after reigniting their romance and announcing their engagement in April 2022, Affleck and Lopez received a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada. On August 20, they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony.
According to people close to the couple, the wedding was intentionally subdued. “It was quite little. “They just wanted to get married, so they did,” a source stated.
However, their wedded joy did not last long. Cracks in their relationship began to form, and rumors circulated that Affleck had little “commitment and interest” in resolving their problems.
Affleck’s lack of effort and apathy struck a stinging blow for Lopez, who was allegedly “very disappointed and sad” as the truth of their failing marriage dawned.
According to a source, an apparently “devastated” Lopez gave the marriage her best and wanted to make it work when the pair renewed their passion. According to a source, “It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.”
The Divorce Filing and the Day Everything Ended
After months of rumors and conjecture, Lopez made the final decision to break her two-year marriage to Affleck. On August 20, 2024, exactly two years after their picturesque Southern wedding in Georgia, the singer filed for divorce.
The timing of the filing was painful, as it occurred on their second wedding anniversary, which should have been celebrated. Lopez’s divorce papers indicated the formal date of separation as April 26, 2024.
The same day, photographers in New York City spotted Lopez leaving the upscale apartment complex, The Whitman. Lopez, dressed in a comfortable, fuzzy sweater with big blue jeans and boots, looked to be in no mood to pose for photos.
Where Was Ben Affleck on the Day of the Divorce Filing?
On August 20, when the public was still learning about Lopez’s choice to break their marriage, Affleck was preoccupied with a different type of family crisis. The actor was pictured returning to Los Angeles with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, only hours before the divorce petition was made public.
The former couple had just returned after dropping off Violet, their eldest daughter, at college. The two had flown to New Haven, Connecticut, to assist Violet in adjusting to her new surroundings at Yale.
Affleck was seen in high spirits as he deboarded a private plane with Garner. The actor, dressed in a button-up shirt and black pants, carried a leather duffel bag down the plane’s steps, a smile on his face despite the absence of his wedding ring.
The insider also stated that Affleck was “very focused on getting Violet ready for move-in” in the weeks preceding up to the college drop-off, despite the fact that his marriage to Lopez was falling apart. “It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks,” a source told me.
As news of the divorce filing spread, social media quickly reacted to the contrasting images of Affleck’s day. “Man is happy!” one person shared. Another person shared the same sentiment, typing, “He is so happy. I have never seen him smile like that. Whoa.”
“Unstable man,” another person commented. A fourth added, “I kinda feel bad for jlo. I think she tried too hard to make it work, but he always showed a bad face with her and with his kids mom all happiness. Imagine how your wife may feel.” Someone else said, “This is so strange.” Another person shared, “He looks SO happy!”