Can You Handle Another Bennifer Breakup?

Divorce rumors are ramping up around Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck after months of speculation, from the couple’s mansion going on sale, to quotes from (alleged) friends, to news that J.Lo has filed for divorce, to what the couple did for Thanksgiving.

The photo drought

May 17, 2024: Don’t be fooled by the rocks that they’ve got — Bennifer 2.0 may not be going as steady as they’ve seemed. It started a week and a half ago, when Affleck wasn’t by his wife’s side as she co-chaired the Met Gala on May 6. A rep told People and other outlets that he was busy filming The Accountant 2 in Los Angeles. Sure, filming an action sequel is an excuse, but not quite an airtight one. That set the stage for this May 15 bombshell from In Touch Weekly: “Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Are ‘Headed for a Divorce,’ He ‘Already Moved Out.’” Now, In Touch isn’t the sort of magazine you can trust outright — but that report does give us reason to keep snooping.

So, what else do we know? Let’s start with a fact, from People: Jen and Ben were last pictured together on March 30. That makes today the 48th day that paparazzi’s favorite couple has been missing. People does note that J.Lo has been busy working on films and the Met Gala, while Affleck, as we know, has been shooting the oh-so-important Accountant 2. The couple has been pictured apart, though — and per E! News, both were still wearing their wedding rings as of May 16. Lopez’s was visible on her way to a dance studio in L.A., while Affleck flashed his on a drive. But wait, you wonder, where was Affleck driving? TMZ has that scoop: He was leaving a house in Brentwood where paps say he’s been staying without Lopez. Aha! On top of that, the day before the In Touch report, TMZ also caught J.Lo house hunting in Beverly Hills. Could they already be ditching that $60 million mansion after just a year?

Maybe not. Two sources told Us Weekly that Jen and Ben are still working on their marriage and not separating. A third did confirm they’ve been “having issues,” and “are on completely different pages most of the time,” stemming from their busy schedules since J.Lo began prepping for her summer tour. (As if she wasn’t busy while making an album, movie, and documentary — funded by Affleck, no less!) But while Affleck has been staying at a separate home, Lopez isn’t trying to move out, she’s just looking for an investment, per one source. How about a fixer-upper that they can bond over working on?

For the sake of the children …

May 17, 2024: We must issue a retraction: This was not Day 48 of Bennifer not being photographed together, because they were actually pictured together last night, May 16. The couple united to watch Affleck’s child, Fin, in a school play, and were seen each holding bouquets in a parking lot. TMZ reported they arrived separately but spoke once they got there. Also in attendance? Emme, J.Lo’s child who has struck a close friendship with Fin amid their parents’ marriage. At least they’re still on solid ground!

After the show, Affleck reportedly dropped Jennifer and Emme off at the mansion, before heading back to his pad in Brentwood — meaning this interaction may have cleared up less than expected. TMZ’s assessment? “Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are still on speaking terms as they go through whatever they’re going through.” For once, that does seem accurate, yeah.

Affleck ring watch

May 20, 2024: If a picture is worth a thousand words, Jen and Ben wrote a whole new chapter of this saga over the weekend. It started Friday night, just a day after Affleck’s public reunion with Lopez, when he pulled back up to his kid’s school with no wedding ring on his hand (as TMZ zoomed in to notice). Maybe things went wrong on that drive home — or maybe Affleck just misplaced the ring somewhere in his current house, because by Sunday, he was wearing it yet again, on his way to pick up J.Lo, per People, from a theater in Santa Monica before going for a walk together. At least they’re smiling?

J.Lo says you know better

May 22, 2024: Lopez made a non-statement statement while doing press for Atlas in Mexico City. As captured by Univision’s El Gordo y La Flaca, Lopez was asked if she wanted to address the rumors. “You know better than that,” she said. Well, she actually said, “Tú sabes más que eso,” but you get it. Maybe she and Ben can issue a joint statement en Español (he’s fluent, you know).

Ring watch continues

May 30, 2024: Since his scare a few weeks ago, Affleck has been eager to flash his ring for paps — and, for that matter, his wife’s contact in his phone. (He did take it off while filming The Accountant 2, but he gets a pass for that.) Now, it’s Lopez who’s been spotted without her wedding ring. Lainey Gossip noticed that J.Lo’s hand was a little lighter as she left a meeting on May 28. Sources say she’s still focusing on work as she and Affleck continue to live apart. Too focused to remember her ring in the morning?

No tour, just air kisses

June 3, 2024: Jennifer Lopez announced that she was canceling her tour “to be with her children, family and close friends.” Later in the weekend, J.Lo and B.Af were seen exchanging air kisses while out to lunch with Affleck’s mom. Meanwhile, TikTok has become a sea of Affleck-Damon shipping under the hashtag #WhichCouldMeanNothing. So who really is Ben’s “loml”?

Selling Bennifer Hills

June 8, 2024: TMZ reports that the couple has allegedly been working with a Realtor for the past two weeks to sell their Beverly Hills mansion for about $65 million. They reportedly live separately, as Affleck is in a rental and J.Lo is using the rocks that she got to find a new block as the divorce rumors grow stronger.

Stay together for the kids

June 16, 2024: Jennifer Lopez wants to keep the co-parenting machine chugging along. TMZ reported that Lopez posted two IG stories on Father’s Day: one of Affleck (seemingly a press still from Pearl Harbor) and one of her own father. Both pics were in black and white, with the men standing in vehicles and looking kinda stoic. Now that grads-and-dads season is over, what is keeping these crazy kids together?

Making moves

June 28, 2024: Could Affleck really be moving on? As Lopez and Affleck prepare to sell their mansion, People additionally reported that Affleck has moved his stuff out of the place. A source said he’s been living in Brentwood for two months now and “seems okay.” Okay? “He’s been at his office every day and seems focused on work,” the source added. “He’s also spending time with his kids.”

For sale

July 11, 2024: The move is Zillow official, y’all. Lopez and Affleck’s Beverly Hills mansion is now publicly up for sale. The property description notes that the home has been “renovated with the highest level of quality within the last 4 months.” If you feel like paying the $68 million listed price, Bennifer Hills could belong to you. Meanwhile, People reports that Affleck was seen wearing his wedding ring today. What is the truth?

Anniversary, party of one?

July 16, 2024: Bennifer apparently spent their second wedding anniversary apart. According to “Page Six,” Lopez was seen driving around the Hamptons on that day with manager Benny Medina. Affleck was on an entirely different coast, working in L.A. But, hey, at least J.Lo got to spend some time with Violet Affleck this past weekend. They got ice cream. That’s nice, right?

Is it over now?

August 7, 2024: Lopez and Affleck are functionally separated, as multiple reports pretty much confirmed earlier this week. According to TMZ, the couple has not been talking and dragging out their divorce, which should otherwise be going quickly thanks to a prenup. They only need to split their already-for-sale mansion. A source added to “Page Six” that J.Lo is “furious” and “humiliated” amid the whole thing, and that she “has not fully accepted it is over.” But it’s been looking more and more done by the day. Lopez celebrated her birthday without Affleck the same day Affleck closed on a new house for himself. Oh, and have you seen his look lately?

None of my friends like you

August 9, 2024: Another bad sign for Bennifer: Jennifer Lopez’s own (alleged) friends aren’t even holding back in the press anymore. First, one such friend told “Page Six” their marriage was “the most elaborate and expensive exercise in closure ever.” Oof! That so-called friend also characterized their relationship as “unfinished business” for J.Lo, saying she’d been dreaming of her wedding to Ben Affleck “for decades.” At least that friend thinks they got their closure. “They’ve seen all they need to see, and it’s over,” they added.

Apparently, they’re far from the only one who wasn’t a fan of the marriage. More sources told “Page Six” that many of those closest to Lopez — including her longtime manager Benny Medina and good friend Leah Remini — don’t like Affleck either. “There’s still bad blood” between Medina and Affleck, one source said. (Lopez dropped Medina in 2003, when she was first dating Affleck, before rehiring him shortly after their broken-off engagement.) Meanwhile, Remini, who was not invited to Lopez’s wedding, reportedly reconnected with Lopez a few months ago to support her amid the split. So does anyone in J.Lo’s circle like Affleck? Take it from another source: “No one, except [Lopez’s] mother, likes Ben Affleck. He’s a triple-A asshole.” Okay then! “Page Six” also claimed Lopez and Affleck would officially split before the end of summer. Keep your eyes peeled for Affleck’s friends to respond before then.

It’s official

August 20, 2024: And there we have it. TMZ broke the news today that Jennifer Lopez has filed to divorce Ben Affleck. It’s worth noting that August 20 also happens to be the two-year anniversary of the wedding ceremony the pair had in Georgia. (They previously eloped in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.) J.Lo listed the separation date as April 26, 2024, which predates this post’s timeline by three weeks. The filing reportedly does not mention a prenuptial agreement, and sources told TMZ that there is none. Perhaps in 20 more years, the pair might reunite again. For now … bye-bye, Bennifer.

But is it ever really over?

September 16, 2024: These crazy kids! Affleck and Lopez were spotted kissing mid-divorce over the weekend. Sources told “Page Six” that Bennifer 3.0 was kicking off at the Polo Lounge, where they were “holding hands and kissing.” The once and future couple were having brunch with their kids, who were “at a separate table,” per the “Page Six” source.

The get-together comes after Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, were each spotted getting chummy with Jen and Ben respectively. Damon and Lopez were seen holding hands and having a “long, deep conversation” at a TIFF after-party on September 7. And Affleck was papped kissing Barroso on the head Friday the 13th. It’s giving Riverdale series-finale quad reveal, TBH.

Breaking Free

October 9, 2024: J.Lo chatted with comedian Nikki Glazer on the breakup with Interview, explaining how she’s “excited” to be single and plans to stay that way for a while, especially after her summer. She said, “Now I’m excited, when you say you’re just going to be on your own. Yes, I’m not looking for anybody, because everything that I’ve done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I fucking do when it’s just me flying on my own.”

Two Turkeys

November 29, 2024: He can’t stay away from the Jennifers, can he? Affleck was spotted with his ex and co-parent Jennifer Garner on Thanksgiving and their three children volunteer with Midnight Mission. While the New York Post claims Affleck was “looking smitten” as he whispered in Garner’s ear, the two later celebrated the holiday alongside Garner’s boyfriend, John Miller, so he was probably energized off of some Dunkin. Meanwhile, J.Lo spent Thanksgiving with her family, as she posed for a picture on the ‘gram. She wrote, “I hope everybody had a beautiful and Happy Thanksgiving. I am so incredibly grateful for all of you.”