The Story of J.Lo and Ben Affleck: A Timeline of Their Romance

Discover the complete timeline of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s love affair, spanning from their initial romantic involvement in 2002 to their renewed admiration for each other in 2021. For more than two decades, the couple’s relationship has been a topic of interest, after the headlines they made while being together for two years, which eventually ended in a split in 2004. In the aftermath of their separation, both Lopez and Affleck moved on, marrying other people and starting families of their own. Lopez tied the knot with Marc Anthony in 2004, sharing twins Max and Emme, while Affleck married Jennifer Garner in 2005, raising daughters Violet and Seraphina and son Samuel together until their divorce in 2018.

In April of this year, Lopez and Affleck were seen together for the first time in more than ten years, igniting speculation about their relationship. Eventually, they confirmed their renewed romance on Instagram a few months later. This breakdown covers everything from their initial “Bennifer” days to their recent second engagement. It all began in the early 2000s when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first encountered each other.

Back in 2002, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck crossed paths for the first time on the set of their movie, Gigli. It was during this time that JLo was still married to her second husband, Cris Judd. However, she eventually divorced him in 2003, and soon after, JLo and Affleck made their romance public. In 2016, JLo even shared with PEOPLE that meeting Affleck gave her the feeling of “Okay, this is it.” The couple quickly became one of Hollywood’s most famous duos, earning the nickname “Bennifer.” Come November 2002, the news of their engagement made headlines.

During an interview with Diane Sawyer in November 2002, Jennifer Lopez announced her engagement to Ben Affleck. She shared that the proposal was done in a traditional yet spectacular way, which was typical of Ben. He proposed with a custom-made Harry Winston pink diamond solitaire ring that he personally chose. When asked about her fiancé, she described him as smart, loving, charming, and affectionate. She also mentioned that her mother approved of him and that she admired him in every way. According to PEOPLE, the engagement was very beautiful and special.

Back in 2002, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were an unlikely couple according to some people. However, Jennifer recently shared that they actually had a lot in common, specifically their similar upbringings. Despite the public’s initial surprise at their relationship, Jennifer believes that she and Ben were more alike than people realized due to their shared background, upbringing, family, and house. Flash forward to early 2003 and the couple was facing intense media scrutiny and tabloid frenzy.

Back in 2003, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were considered one of the most talked-about couples in Hollywood, with tabloids constantly hounding them. The paparazzi even appeared in the music video for Lopez’s song “Jenny from the Block,” which showed shots of the couple doing everyday things like filling up their car with gas or relaxing on a yacht. Despite their fame, Lopez admitted in a 2016 interview with PEOPLE that they never intended to have a public relationship, but the birth of tabloids made it difficult to keep their romance private. Recently, Ben Affleck reflected on their time together, acknowledging the cruel treatment they received from the media, who were often sexist, racist, and mean.

Jennifer Lopez recently opened up about the media frenzy surrounding her relationship with Ben Affleck back in 2002. In an interview with InStyle, she said that the coverage was “just crazy” and that many of the rumors and stories circulating at the time were untrue or only partly true. Affleck himself has also spoken out about the negative and often abusive media coverage of Lopez during their time together. Despite their on-screen chemistry in the rom-com film Gigli, which was released in August 2003 to terrible reviews, Lopez and Affleck postponed their wedding just days before it was scheduled to take place due to the intense media attention. Ultimately, the couple broke up in January 2004.

According to previous reports, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck ended their relationship in January 2004 after rekindling it following a canceled wedding. The couple reportedly cited intense media attention as a significant factor in their breakup. However, Lopez has stated that there was genuine love between them.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck called off their engagement in the past and their representatives urged people to respect Lopez’s privacy during this time. Even though they split up, Lopez mentioned in a 2016 interview with PEOPLE that they shared a genuine love. The movie Jersey Girl, which starred the couple, was released two months after they broke up in March 2004. Kevin Smith, the film’s writer and director, claimed to have coined the term “Bennifer” during its production. Despite their breakup, Lopez and Affleck remained friends from 2015 to 2020.

After their split, Lopez and Affleck continued to show support for each other. In 2020, Affleck praised Lopez’s acting skills and expressed that she deserved an Oscar nomination for her role in “Hustlers.” He also shared that he keeps in touch with her and holds her in high regard. Recently, in April 2021, news broke that Lopez and Affleck have reunited their relationship.

After Jennifer Lopez’s breakup with Alex Rodriguez in April 2021, she started spending time with her old friend Ben Affleck in Los Angeles. According to sources, they had a great time catching up and planned on hanging out again. Less than a week later, they were spotted together in Montana, where Affleck has a home. Sources say that they have a strong connection, and Jennifer is happy. In July 2021, Lopez posted a series of photos on Instagram for her 52nd birthday, which included a photo of her and Affleck kissing, marking the first time they publicly acknowledged their relationship on social media. On September 10, 2021, the couple walked their first red carpet since rekindling their romance.

During the Venice Film Festival in September 2021, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck made their first appearance together on the red carpet since getting back together. The event was especially significant for Affleck as it was the premiere of his latest film, The Last Duel. The couple exuded an Old Hollywood aesthetic as they walked together in their stylish outfits, with Affleck wearing a classic black tuxedo and Lopez dressed in a white mermaid-style gown adorned with Swarovski crystals and paired with Cartier diamonds. They then attended the Met Gala in September, also making their first appearance at this event together. The couple wowed attendees with their Ralph Lauren outfits and shared a passionate kiss through their masks. Most recently, on October 9th, 2021, the couple made another appearance together at The Last Duel premiere.

Once more, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have turned heads with their fashion sense as they graced the premiere of The Last Duel in New York City on October 9, 2021. The event took place at Lincoln Center and the lovebirds couldn’t help but show off their affection for one another, beaming from ear to ear as they posed for photos. Fast forward to February 8, 2022, and the duo has made yet another appearance at the premiere of Marry Me.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck made another public appearance together at the Los Angeles premiere of “Marry Me” on February 8, 2022. The singer, who also stars in the romantic comedy, wore an all-white ensemble as a playful nod to the film’s theme. In the upcoming issue of PEOPLE’s Love Issue, Lopez opens up about her relationship with Affleck.

In an interview for PEOPLE’s 2022 Love Issue, Jennifer Lopez opened up about the different loves in her life, including her children and rekindled relationship with Ben Affleck. She expressed her feelings of luck, happiness, and pride to be with Affleck, describing their love story as beautiful and a second chance. At the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Affleck was seen supporting Lopez as she accepted the Icon Award with her children, Samuel and Emme, by his side. The heartwarming moment of the three cheering for Lopez was captured by iHeartRadio on Twitter with the caption, “You know #BenAffleck had to show up and support @JLo.”

In April 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got engaged, as confirmed by a representative for Lopez. She shared the news on her On the JLo newsletter after being photographed wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring. She teased the announcement with a video on Twitter and announced it later in the newsletter. On June 19, Lopez celebrated Affleck on Father’s Day by posting a video montage of the couple with a caption honoring him as the “most caring, loving, affectionate, consistent and selfless Daddy ever.” Finally, on July 16, Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in Las Vegas, as announced by Lopez in her newsletter. She described it as the “best night ever” and indicated that their children were present as witnesses.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have been making headlines throughout the year, with their journey of love being closely followed by fans. According to a recent report, Lopez said that they appreciate and celebrate each other more because they know life can take them in different directions. The couple was seen vacationing in Paris after their wedding in Las Vegas, and according to sources, they had an extraordinary weekend planned for their wedding celebration in Georgia. They celebrated their marriage in a ceremony attended by top Hollywood talent agents and celebrities, including Matt Damon and Jason Mewes. Lopez looked stunning in a white Ralph Lauren gown, and the guests were seen wearing all-white. The newlyweds then went on a romantic Italian honeymoon and were spotted shopping in Milan. Lopez even shared details and pictures from her Georgia wedding in her newsletter. The couple was recently seen attending Ralph Lauren’s show in matching outfits, making it clear that they are still going strong.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were spotted at a Ralph Lauren show in Southern California wearing matching all-black ensembles. Later, Lopez shared pictures on Instagram wearing a “Mrs.” diamond necklace, revealing that she took Affleck’s last name after their marriage. In an interview with Vogue, she explained that while some may have feelings about her name preference, it felt romantic and carried tradition. During a chat with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Lopez admitted that calling off her wedding to Affleck nearly 20 years ago was the “biggest heartbreak” of her life but now has a happy ending. She hopes her new album, This is Me…Now, will inspire others not to give up on love. Lopez also mentioned her desire to make a sequel to the critically acclaimed movie Gigli during a Vogue “73 Questions” interview. The couple hosted a Christmas party in Los Angeles attended by several celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Billie Eilish. Lopez recently spoke about moving in with Affleck during an appearance on Today and attending the Grammy Awards together.

At the 65th annual Grammy Awards on February 5, Jennifer Lopez surprised everyone by appearing in a stunning Gucci outfit to present the best pop vocal album award to Harry Styles. After she finished presenting, she returned to her seat where her husband, Ben Affleck, was waiting for her and gave her a sweet kiss. However, Affleck became a meme after he looked bored during the awards show. Even Lopez joined in on the fun by sharing a photo of her solemn-looking husband from his new movie, AIR, where he plays Nike co-founder Philip Knight, calling it his “happy face” on Instagram. On February 12, 2023, Affleck starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin’, where Lopez made an appearance and teased him while he worked the drive-thru. On Valentine’s Day, Lopez revealed that she and Affleck got coordinating tattoos – an infinity sign with an arrow and their names in cursive. Finally, on March 16, 2023, Affleck publicly praised his “brilliant” wife for helping him prepare for his role in AIR.

Ben Affleck sought fashion advice from Jennifer Lopez prior to his role in the upcoming film, Air, where he plays the co-founder of Nike. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck praised Lopez’s knowledge of fashion and how it evolves through culture. He later appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show to share that Lopez eats whatever she wants, but maintains her superhuman appearance through hard work and discipline. Affleck also joked that Lopez would want him to be more concise when he speaks. During a Today show appearance, Lopez spoke highly of Affleck as a father figure to her children. Finally, the couple made a public display of affection by kissing at The Flash premiere.

Lopez and Affleck made a public appearance together at The Flash premiere in L.A. and were caught on camera kissing and enjoying each other’s company. Lopez looked stunning in a Gucci gown with a black bodice and peach skirt, while Affleck opted for a classic black suit and shirt. Fast forward to July 16, 2023, and the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary with a romantic dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Los Angeles. Lopez wore a white minidress, and Affleck dressed in an all-black ensemble. Additionally, the singer hinted at a new song titled “Midnight Trip to Vegas,” which pays homage to their decision to tie the knot in Sin City.