Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's full relationship timeline, from 2001 co-stars to gushing about one another as a pair in 2021
Earlier than there was Tommy and Molly-Mae, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had been the unique IT couple. And so they're again, huge time. Affectionally generally known as 'Bennifer', this pair's ever-evolving flirtation and magnetic chemistry has captivated us for actually 20 years. And guess what? We're nonetheless completely obsessed.
We felt it was solely proper to have a look down reminiscence lane to see all the important thing moments in Bennifer's relationship, from assembly on the set of a doomed comedy movie, to kissing (whereas carrying masks?) on the Met Gala 2021. Buckle up pop-culture followers, that is required studying.
December 2001: J.Lo and Ben Affleck begin filming Gigli
The pair starred on this comedy about an American mobster (performed by Ben) who falls in love with a hustler (performed by J.Lo). On launch, the movie was universally panned by critics and has been dubbed one of many worst movies of all time. No less than we will thank it for bringing #Bennifer collectively?
Whereas sparks clearly flew between the actors, J.Lo was married to her second husband Cris Judd at this level (she was beforehand married to Ojani Noa).
April 2002: Ben pays for an advert in The Hollywood Reporter to publicly assist J.Lo.
He wrote, "You’ve got proven kindness, dedication, diligence, humility, graciousness of spirit, magnificence in braveness, nice empathy, astonishing expertise, actual poise and true grace…It has been nothing however an honor and a pleasure to work with you. I solely want I had been fortunate sufficient to be in all of your motion pictures." He signed the advert, "With love, respect and gratitude, Ben Affleck." Speak about PDA?!
Ben later defined the rationale behind this gesture to Vainness Truthful, saying that J.Lo, "had developed this repute as a diva and a ache within the ass," and he wished to "counteract" that narrative. He continued,
"She works more durable than anyone I've ever seen. I assumed I used to be busy with motion pictures and tv and writing; I felt fairly maxed out till I met her. She was doing all that and recording albums on weekends!"
July 2002: J.Lo information for divorce from Cris Judd
In an announcement (through Individuals), stated, "Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd have introduced they’ve resolved all points arising out of their marriage. The decision was extraordinarily amicable […] The 2 will stay pals."
In his interview with Vainness Truthful, Ben reiterates that he and Jen weren't romantically concerned whereas she was married. He stated, "We’d hang around, however I talked about me on a regular basis […] I used to be vaguely conscious she had one thing happening, however I used to be too busy working off my mouth. It modified when she instructed me she was getting separated. At that time, it turned a risk; doorways had been opened."
November 2002: Ben stars as J.Lo's love curiosity in her hit single 'Jenny from the Block'
The couple poke enjoyable on the media curiosity surrounding their relationship, partying on a yacht (extra on that later) whereas studying about themselves within the tabloids. On that day, Bennifer was born.
Content material
November 2002: J.Lo releases her third album, that includes a tune referred to as 'Pricey Ben'
If you happen to haven't heard this banger, right here's a bit style of the lyrics: "I like you, you're good. A manifestation of my goals. You make my physique really feel about one million various things."
November 2002: Ben and Jen are engaged!
It's all occurring so quick! The pair affirm their engagement in an interview with Diane Sawyers, revealing Ben's "conventional" proposal and J.Lo's legendary six-carat pink diamond engagement ring from Harry Winston, which one fortunate showbiz journalist was lucky sufficient to strive on…
Learn MoreBennifer 2021 versus Bennifer 2002 – one showbiz journalist's encounter with Ben Affleck and J-Lo the primary time they had been an merchandise
By Emily Maddick
Within the interview, J.Lo recalled the proposal scene, saying, "It's only a blanket, a quilt of rose petals, everywhere in the entire whole home […] So many candles, and vases, bouquets. And my tune 'Glad' was taking part in … I stroll in and I used to be simply overwhelmed. I wasn't anticipating it, and I used to be similar to 'Oh my God."
After Ben learn her a letter of all the explanations he liked her, J.Lo stated, "I had cried loads over unhappiness over time. And for the primary time in my life, I cried unimaginable purging tears of happiness. It was probably the most cleaning feeling and probably the most great feeling I had ever had."
December 2002: The pair movie their second film collectively, Jersey Woman
J.Lo performed Ben's onscreen spouse who (spoiler alert) died in just about the primary 5 minutes of the movie. Jersey Woman additionally bombed on the field workplace, with Ben and Jen being nominated for 'Worst Actor' and 'Worst Supporting Actress' respectively on the Razzie Awards in 2004. Bit harsh?
February 2003: The couple hits the purple carpet for the premiere of Ben's movie Daredevil
Wanting each inch Hollywood's favorite couple, Ben and J.Lo had been as loved-up as ever. By the way, Ben additionally posed for a number of pics together with his Daredevil co-star and future spouse (to not point out mom to their three youngsters) Jennifer Garner.
March 2003: Ben calls J.Lo a "misunderstood girl"
In an interview with Vainness Truthful, Ben discusses his relationship with J.Lo, saying, ""Jennifer is a very great, fabulous girl, sensible and fascinating. Spending time together with her makes me a greater individual and a happier individual. She impresses me daily. It feels higher to me to be together with her than with out her.
"Jen and I need to get married for the rationale everybody else does: we fell in love. I'm in love; I need to have a household; and he or she's the one individual I've ever met who made me entertain the considered doing that." He then commented on the general public frenzy surrounding their relationship, attributing it to race and sophistication elements: "I believe it has to do with race and sophistication, the truth that I'm white and he or she's Puerto Rican," he stated. "That's what's beneath, though no person says it, as a result of it's not politically right."
Ben additionally stated that J.Lo was "characterised as oversexed," saying, "Jen has had fewer boyfriends than your common high-school junior. Within the bodily sense, she's extraordinarily chaste. She's had a a lot easier, extra simply explainable, extra clear romantic historical past than I’ve. She will inform the entire story in quarter-hour, whereas I all the time preface the entire story with 'It was sophisticated …' She's a deeply misunderstood girl, for my part."
July 2003: The couple get candid about how they met
In an interview with Pat O'Brien, J.Lo recalled, "We met at a few the events. You recognize, we barely paid any consideration to one another in any respect." She then opened up about their time as co-stars on the set of Gigli, saying, "We talked loads and that's the factor… There was no form of concept that we’d be collectively sooner or later, so it was a type of issues the place you form of like say an excessive amount of. It felt like we had good chemistry. He likes to improv. I may improv again. He's one of the best individual to improv in the entire whole enterprise, he's so humorous.
J.Lo additionally confirmed that she'd be taking Ben's final identify however would nonetheless use Lopez professionally.
August 2003: J.Lo and Ben's movie is launched…and flops
The movie garnered heightened media consideration attributable to J.Lo and Ben's engagement, which made it all of the extra awkward when it flopped. Based on E!, in 2017 J.Lo described this as her "lowest level." She stated, ""It was a really badly reviewed movie. I used to be in a high-profile relationship on the time that fell aside in a very dangerous approach, and so the form of mixture of these two issues and the tabloid press had simply come into existence on the time, so I used to be like a poster little one for that second."
September 2003: Ben and Jen postpone their marriage ceremony attributable to media consideration
Based on Individuals, the marriage was imagined to happen in Santa Barbara earlier than it was pushed again. The couple launched an announcement, saying, "As a result of extreme media consideration surrounding our marriage ceremony, we’ve got determined to postpone the date. Once we discovered ourselves significantly considering hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three completely different places, we realized that one thing was awry.
"We started to really feel that the spirit of what ought to have been the happiest day of our lives could possibly be compromised. We felt what ought to have been a joyful and sacred day could possibly be spoiled for us, our households and our pals."
January 2004: Bennifer isn’t any extra
Ben and J.Lo formally name it quits. One in every of J.Lo's representatives releases an announcement saying, "Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this troublesome time, we ask that you just respect her privateness."
June 2004: J.Lo marries Marc Anthony
J.Lo had beforehand dated the singer within the Nineties and their marriage ceremony got here as a shock to many. The pair welcomed twins, Maximilian David and Emme Maribel, in 2008. They introduced their separation in July 2011, and the divorce was finalised in June 2014. Their assertion learn, "This was a really troublesome resolution. We’ve come to an amicable conclusion on all issues. It’s a painful time for all concerned and we recognize the respect of our privateness at the moment."
June 2005: Ben Affleck marries Jennifer Garner
A 12 months after his former fiancée weds, Ben additionally ties the knot together with his earlier co-star, Jennifer Garner. The pair are married for a decade, by which time they’ve three youngsters: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. They announce their break up in 2015, saying, "After a lot thought and cautious consideration, we’ve got made the troublesome resolution to divorce. We go ahead with love and friendship for each other and a dedication to co-parenting our kids whose privateness we ask to be revered throughout this troublesome time."
Could 2010: J.Lo opens up about how her relationship with Ben suffered because of the media
Throughout her look on the Graham Norton Present, J.Lo says, "I like Ben, he's a terrific man, nevertheless it was loads for each of us to be underneath that kind of siege for 2 years straight. We had been on the duvet of each journal, each week, it was only a bizarre factor." She continued, "Our relationship, I believe, did undergo due to that. That's not the one motive. I’d by no means blame the media for something, however I believe it undoubtedly performed an element within the dynamic of our relationship."
November 2014: J.Lo says Marc Anthony rescued her after break up from Ben
Per Web page Six, J.Lo recalled, "Ben and I break up up in the intervening time after I thought we had been committing to one another perpetually, it was my first actual heartbreak, it felt like my coronary heart had been torn out of my chest.
"My approach of anesthetizing the ache was completely different. I sought out consolation in one other individual, tried to seek out somebody who may make me really feel liked and wished in my loneliest hour […] Marc got here again into my life three days after I ought to have been on the altar saying ‘I do’ to a different man.
“Pondering again, possibly deep down I knew that this was a Band-Help on the lower, that my wound hadn’t been stitched or healed,” she added. “However I pushed all that to the again of my thoughts. As a result of life takes unpredictable twists and turns, proper? And also you’ve simply bought to go along with what you are feeling is greatest within the second."
January 2019: J.Lo says tabloids contributed to her and Ben's break up
In her MTV documentary The Experience, J.Lo stated, "When the tabloids had been out and we had been being hounded by paparazzi consistently, it was a very exhausting time. I bear in mind being on the duvet of these tabloids for 2 years straight and it was brutal.
"I believe it completely contributed to the demise of our relationship and the love that we had. There was a lot judgment and strain and scrutiny and opinions and it was only a actually, actually exhausting factor to cope with."
February 2020: Reconciliation is in sight as Ben says J.Lo ought to've been nominated for an Oscar for her position in Hustlers
Based on Brooks Barnes, Ben stated the next throughout his interview with The New York Instances: "She ought to have been nominated. She's the actual factor. I communicate periodically together with her and have lots of respect for her. How superior is it that she had her greatest hit film at 50? That's f*cking baller."
Instagram content material
View on Instagram
January 2021: Ben speaks up in regards to the racism J.Lo endured throughout their relationship
Talking on The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast, Ben stated, "Individuals had been so f-cking imply about her — sexist, racist […] Ugly, vicious sh*t was written about her in ways in which in the event you wrote it now you’ll actually be fired for saying these stuff you stated."
Learn MoreAs JLo and Ben Affleck affirm their reunion in a steamy video, listed here are the fascinating causes we return to previous flames
By Laura Hampson
January 2021: Ben and Ana de Armas break up up after relationship throughout lockdown
E! Information reported that the pair had break up after a 12 months of relationship. Discussing the break-up, a supply reportedly stated, ""Each of them have fully full lives in a great way. There’ll all the time be that love."
April 2021: J.Lo and Alex Rodriguez break up up after 4 years collectively
The pair launched a joint assertion to the Right now Present, saying, "We’ve realized we’re higher as pals and sit up for remaining so. We’ll proceed to work collectively and assist one another on our shared companies and tasks. We want one of the best for one another and each other's youngsters. Out of respect for them, the one different remark we’ve got to say is thanks to everybody who has despatched sort phrases and assist."
Could 2021: Sources report that Ben are Jen are hanging out once more
A supply instructed Individuals, "They’ve a good time hanging out. It's been years since they caught up correctly. They’ve heaps to speak about," including, "They plan on hanging out once more."
Could 2021: Ben visits J.Lo at her Miami residence
A supply instructed E! Information, "Ben took a purple eye to Miami and went straight to J.Lo's new home within the early morning hours. She seemed very pleased to see him they usually walked across the property collectively so she may present him round […] She had a giant smile on her face and was twirling in a unfastened summer time gown. They spent the day inside collectively however got here out a number of instances for recent air and to admire the water view."
A supply later instructed US Weekly, "Jen and Ben are each very proud of every [other] and are excited to see the place the connection goes. They’re full-on relationship and really pleased collectively." Eeeek.
June 2021: It's occurring! Ben and Jen are photographed with their arms round one another in California
Footage obtained by E! Information present Bennifer having fun with a date night time. An insider instructed Web page Sixthat, "“They had been very affectionate, very cuddly. He had his arm round her the entire time.”
A few days later, Ben was noticed leaving J.Lo's home with a realizing grin, which clearly spawned a thousand memes.
June 2021: Images emerge of Ben and J.Lo kissing
A video obtained by Web page Six reveals the reunited couple kissing over dinner.
July 2021: J.Lo and Ben go Insta-official
The singer shared a collection of photographs of herself modelling a swimsuit, and within the third image Ben joined her for a smooch. File this underneath issues we LOVE to see.
Instagram content material
View on Instagram
July 2021: Ben and J.Lo could also be transferring in collectively
Based on Leisure Tonight, shut pals of the pair stated that they "wouldn't be shocked" in the event that they "transfer in collectively and finally find yourself collectively."
"They're spending all of their free time collectively and making one another a precedence. J.Lo falls exhausting and has actually completed the identical with Ben once more this time round. Ben is a man's man and does his personal factor, which J.Lo loves. He has his personal life and is legendary differently than she is and isn’t making an attempt to compete together with her by any means. They simply assist and love one another."
July 2021: Bennifer recreate scene from Jenny from the Block music video whereas reclining on a yacht
In a nostalgic second, Ben could possibly be seen together with his hand resting on J.Lo's bum, similar to that scene within the Jenny from the Block music video. Followers start to take a position that the pair are recreating iconic moments from the video to have fun it's twentieth (!) anniversary.
J.Lo is later noticed carrying a necklace that reads, 'BEN', inspiring us all to put money into some namesake jewelry.
August 2021: Ben is noticed searching engagement rings
Images obtained by Web page Six seem to point out Ben searching engagement rings at Tiffany's in California together with his son and mom. Can he high that pink diamond ring from the primary time round?
September 2021: Bennifer's energy couple standing is restored as they cruise to Venice Movie Competition
In one thing straight out of a James Bond movie, J.Lo and Ben rock as much as Venice Movie Competition in a water taxi, trying totally gorgeous. Couple objectives is an understatement.
September 2021: Bennifer make their first purple carpet look as a pair since reuniting
Proving they're nonetheless a dab-hand at premieres, Ben and Jen delivered all the PDAs throughout their purple carpet look forward of the screening for ben's new movie, The Final Duel. J.Lo wore a prestigious, couture robe designed by Georges Hobeika, which she accessorised with Cartier jewelry, metallic Jimmy Choo's, peep-toe heels, and a Judith Leiber clutch.
September 2021: J.Lo praises Ben's new movie
Along with posting a glamorous montage of her time in Italy, J.Lo wrote, “Throwback to the Venice Movie Competition for the premiere of #TheLastDuel✨ I had such a gorgeous time!! And I’m so excited for you guys to see this film!! It’s the primary script Matt and Ben have written collectively together with Nicole Holofcener since Good Will Looking!! And it’s wonderful!!”
Instagram content material
View on Instagram
September 2021: Ben and Jen attend their first Met Gala collectively
It might be the pair's first time on the Met Gala collectively, nevertheless it ain't their first time on the rodeo. J.Lo's Western-inspired outfit consisted of a pretend fur/feathered Ralph Lauren bolero, with a thigh-high break up in her gown, and a cowboy hat. The pair additionally made time for a smooch…with their masks nonetheless on.
September 2021: Ben gushes about Jennifer for the primary time since they went public with their reunion
Ben instructed Adweek, "I’m in awe of what Jennifer’s impact on the world is. At most, as an artist, I could make motion pictures that transfer folks. Jennifer has impressed a large group of individuals to really feel they’ve a seat on the desk on this nation.
“That’s an impact few folks all through historical past have had, one I’ll by no means know and one I can solely stand by and admire with respect.”
He additionally praised J.Lo for being a job mannequin to girls of color, saying:
“All I can let you know is that I’ve seen firsthand the distinction illustration makes as a result of I’ve seen, again and again and again and again, girls of colour method Jennifer and inform her what her instance as a powerful girl and a girl succeeding and demanding her justifiable share within the enterprise world means to them.”
Maintaining with this pair could also be exhausting, however we're nonetheless eagerly awaiting the most recent replace!
Learn MoreIs Bennifer's relationship actual, or can we simply need to consider it as a result of it's the comforting, nostalgic celeb reunion all of us want proper now?
By Laura Capon
For extra from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, comply with her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
