Culture

A Complete Timeline of J.Lo and Ben Affleck's Relationship

After a whirlwind reunion, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's love is stronger than ever.

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Hollywood’s It couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first met in 2002, but it didn’t take long for them to go from co-stars to lovers. Their relationship was hot and heavy, but quick to burn out, dating for just four months before getting engaged, then splitting a little over a year later in 2004. After almost two decades apart, a couple of marriages, and some children, Bennifer has finally rekindled their flame. Here, L’OFFICIEL recounts how they met on set, turned their “friendship” into a relationship, their engagement and breakup, separate marriages, and reunion.

December 2001

Affleck and Lopez filming a movie together

The two met on the set of Gigli as co-stars while Lopez was still married to her second husband, Cris Jud. Affleck later denied ever acting on his feelings for J.Lo before their split.

July 2002

Although they were admittedly just friends, the pair was seen kissing and cuddling at J.Lo’s 32nd birthday party on July 24…and the tabloids went crazy. Two days later, J.Lo filed for divorce from Judd after a month of separation, and thus, Bennifer was born.

November 2002

The couple on the set of Lopez's 'Jenny From the Block' video

The music video for “Jenny From the Block” premiered on MTV’s Total Request Live, starring Bennifer and a clear depiction of their passionate relationship.

Later that month, Affleck proposed to Lopez at his mother’s house in Boston, complete with a million-dollar ring, rose petals, candles, bouquets, and her song “Glad” playing in the background, she admitted in an ABC interview with Diane Sawyer.

July 2003

Jennifer Lopez flashing her ring on the red carpet

Affleck allegedly went to a strip club in Vancouver, where he was filming Paycheck, just 17 hours after their intimate Dateline interview aired. The National Enquirer wrote that he cheated on her with at least one woman, and that the occurrence might be on tape. It wasn’t long before reports indicated J.Lo had stopped wearing her ring.

September 2003

Affleck and Lopez posing for a picture

One day before their September 14 wedding date, the pair released a joint statement through their spokesperson explaining their reasoning behind postponing the wedding.

“Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realised that something was awry. We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families, and our friends.”

January 2004

J.Lo officially ended their relationship through a statement to the Associated Press, without giving much reasoning.

June 2004

Lopez and ex-husband Marc Anthony

Without time to waste, Lopez married former boyfriend Marc Anthony just a few months later. The couple first dated back in 1999 after working on “No Me Ames” together.

October 2004

Affleck and ex-wife Jennifer Garner

Affleck made his first public appearance at the World Series with Jennifer 2.0, but this time, it was Jennifer Garner, who he originally met on set of Pearl Harbor in 2000.

2005 – 2018

Affleck and Garner with their three children
Lopez and Anthony with their two kids

Thirteen years passed by in a whirlwind, but in that time, there was another marriage and five children born.

Affleck married Garner in 2005, and they had three children in the coming years. Violet was born in December 2005, Seraphina in January 2009, and Samuel in February 2012.

After their marriage in 2004, Lopez and Anthony had twins, Emme and Maximilian, in 2008. But in 2011, their romance burned out, as they endured a bumpy divorce just three years later.

Sometime after Drake but before her reunion with Affleck, she began dating former Yankees player Alex Rodriguez in 2017.

March 2019

ARod proposing to Lopez on the beach

A-Rod proposed and the two became engaged.

November 2019

Affleck and Ana de Armas

Affleck met Ana de Armas on set of Deep Water, a film in which they played husband and wife. Not long after, they started dating.

March 2020

Affleck and de Armas took a trip to her home country of Cuba. When they returned to LA, they quarantined and were photographed running errands as a couple.

Lopez and Rodriguez were still together happily at this time.

January 2021

Lopez performing at the White House

J.Lo performed “Let’s Get Loud” at the Biden-Harris inauguration, just two days after Affleck and de Armas called it quits. A.Rod accompanied her to the capitol.

February 2021

A-Rod on the red carpet
Madison LeCroy

Gossip of A-Rod cheating with Southern Charm actress Madison LeCroy began to circulate, but LeCroy attempted to clear the air by stating that she had never met Rodriguez in person.

March 2021

Page Six was told that J.Lo and A-Rod broke up on March 12.

Two days later, a joint statement was released by the couple to TMZ, stating they were still together, but “working through some things.”

April 2021

One month later, the couple released another statement to Today revealing their break-up: “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so.”

Two weeks later, Affleck was seen leaving from J.Lo’s LA mansion on April 30.

May 2021

Affleck and Lopez spotted together driving
Affleck and Lopez captured in Miami together

Bennifer spent the first week of May in Montana together on vacation. News sources revealed that they were rekindling their relationship, slowly but surely.

By May 23, Affleck was spotted in Miami at the same waterfront mansion as J.Lo. There was speculation that he was wearing his watch from the “Jenny From the Block” music video in the paparazzi photos. The couple was seen working out and spending time together while in Miami.

On May 31, they were photographed cuddling at the Pendry Hotel in West Hollywood, where they went to dinner.

June 2021

The couple kissing

On June 13, Lopez and Affleck were photographed kissing at Nobu, leaving no doubt that Bennifer is officially back. Coverage reveals that J.Lo’s twins, now 13 years old, seem comfortable with Affleck. Crazy to say, but these kids might make it.

December 2021

Affleck and Lopez snuggling courtside

Bennifer photographed on a romantic night together at a Los Angeles Lakers game, sitting courtside and sharing a few kisses between plays. 

April 2022

The couple on the red carpet for Lopez's new film 'Marry Me'

Bennifer gets engaged again! The news is announced in Jennifer's newsletter, On the JLo, and it is revealed that he proposed on April 2 whilst she was in her bubble bath. 

July 2022

Lopez and Affleck out shopping for a new car

On July 2, the couple are seen holding hands and more in love than ever before, photographed shopping for luxury cars.

July 17, 2022

 

According to documents obtained by People, Bennifer is officially wed! Sources close to the couple told the publication that the pair obtained a marriage license in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Instagram, Lopez's hairstylist Chris Appleton shared a video of the singer in a white dress with the caption, "Last minute feelings before the wedding."

July 24, 2022

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck newly married walking around Paris

After their quaint Las Vegas wedding, the couple fled to Paris with their families to commemorate their nuptials and Lopez's birthday. Affleck and Lopez were seen around the City of Love holding hands and enjoying each other's company.

August 2022

jennifer lopez and ben affleck on a boat

Another wedding? It was rumoured that the duo will have their official wedding, a big ceremony will be a three-day celebration held on Affleck's estate in Georgia with all of the couple's friends and family in attendance to celebrate.

August 20, 2022

A little over a month after the two eloped, Bennifer got hitched again. In a much more glamorous wedding than the first, the two became husband and wife for the second time at Affleck's 87-acre compound in Georgia, according to People. The bride reportedly wore a white Ralph Lauren gown with cap sleeves and an extremely long veil. While, at many weddings, the bride is the only one to wear white, the guests at Bennifer's nuptials did the exact opposite. Everyone, including well-known stars like Matt Damon, also wore white to mark the occasion. 

October 2022

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at the Ralph Lauren Spring 2023

As their first joint appearance since their wedding, the couple wore coordinating outfits to the Ralph Lauren Spring 2023 Fashion Experience. 

February 2023

 

On Valentine's Day, the couple got matching tattoos to celebrate their long-time love. Lopez shared several photos of her and Affleck together over the years on Instagram and captioned the post, "Happy Valentine's Day my love." If a tattoo doesn't scream commitment, we don't know what does.  

June 2023

An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that the couple will be renewing their vows near the end of July or early August, proving that their love is stronger than ever. "All their kids are doing great, the families are all in sync," the source said. "And to celebrate all that, as they get closer to their first wedding anniversary, they both want to renew their vows and show how much in love they are with each other. They are not taking this second chance for granted."

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