Before Jennifer Garner and Ana de Armas, Marc Anthony, Alex Rodriguez, and Jennifer Lopez, there was Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
The It couple in the early aughts was Bennifer. After parting ways in 2004, the couple has revived one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples, appearing on numerous date nights and red-carpet occasions.
Ahead, we stroll down memory lane and track Ben and Jen’s relationship history, from how they met to the stunning pink diamond Affleck proposed in 2002 and beyond.
2001: They Meet!
On the set of the 2003 romantic comedy Gigli, the two then-up-and-coming Hollywood stars got to know one another. The major costars exchanged heated words despite the film’s eventual failure.
J.Lo and Affleck made their relationship known shortly after she divorced her second husband, dancer Cris Judd, to who she was still legally wed to then. (Their divorce became legally binding in 2003.)
In 2016, the actress reflected on the beginning of their relationship in an interview with People. “We didn’t try to have a public relationship,” she said. “We just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids, and it was like ‘Oh my God.’ It was just a lot of pressure.”
She also revealed her first impression of Affleck. “I felt like … ‘Okay, this is it,'” she said. “[But] sometimes I feel like what you think people are and how you see them when you love them is different than when they reveal later.”
2002: Ben Makes A Cameo In “Jenny From The Block.”
In the now-iconic music video, Bennifer has a hot scene. Affleck is wearing a white tank top and J.Lo is wearing a hot-pink bikini as the couple sunbathes on a boat. The Good Will Hunting star is affectionately touching J.Lo’s bottom. The video also made light of the tabloids’ infatuation with their romance and featured pap shots and security footage of the couple.
In 2010, J.Lo spoke of the media’s pressures on their relationship during a guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show. “I love Ben, he’s a great guy, but it was a lot for both of us to be under that type of siege for two years straight,” she said. “We were on the cover of every magazine, every week, it was just a weird thing. … Our relationship, I think, did suffer because of that. That’s not the only reason … but I think it definitely played a part in the dynamic of our relationship.”
November 2002: They Get Engaged!
The good news was confirmed by J.Lo in a conversation with Diane Sawyer. She described Affleck’s gift to her as “It’s the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen.” It was a 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston. Affleck reportedly paid $2.5 million for the rock.
2003: They Star In Another Movie Together!
In the dramedy Jersey Girl, initially scheduled for release in 2003 but postponed until 2004, J.Lo portrayed the deceased wife of Ben Affleck’s character. The movie starred Liv Tyler and did poorly at the box office, taking in about $36 million.
September 2003: They Postpone Their Wedding!
They announced the ceremony’s postponement in a joint statement days before the two were scheduled to wed.
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 realized 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: Bennifer Is Over!
On January 22, 2004, the couple called it quits. J.Lo’s spokesman confirmed the depressing news.
“I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck,” the statement said at the time, per MTV. “At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.”
June 2004: J.Lo Moves On!
The “Let’s Go Loud” singer wed Marc Anthony, a lyricist, and lifelong friend, in June 2004. Emme and Max Muiz, twin daughters, were born to the couple in 2008. In 2014, they parted ways.
In her 2014 book, True Love, J.Lo reflected on the turbulent period between announcing her split from Affleck and marrying Anthony. “Ben and I split up at the moment when I thought we were committing to each other forever, it was my first real heartbreak, it felt like my heart had been torn out of my chest,” she wrote, per Page Six. “I sought out comfort in another person, tried to find someone who could make me feel loved and wanted in my loneliest hour. … Marc came back into my life three days after I should have been at the altar saying ‘I do’ to another man.”
She added that their romance may have been her attempt at a quick fix for her heartbreak. “Thinking back, maybe deep down I knew that this was a Band-Aid on the cut, that my wound hadn’t been stitched or healed,” she wrote. “But I pushed all that to the back of my mind. Because life takes unpredictable twists and turns, right? And you’ve just got to go with what you feel is best in the moment.”
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2005: Ben Marries Jennifer Garner!
Affleck also quickly moved on. He wed Garner in 2005, and throughout the years, the new Hollywood couple had three kids: son Samuel Affleck, daughters Violet and Seraphina Affleck, and. 2018 saw the couple’s divorce.
April 2021: Bennifer Reunites.
The two were reunited after J.Lo called off her engagement to Alex Rodriguez and Affleck divorced Ana de Armas. On April 30, Page Six said that the actor had often been seen at her Los Angeles home.
“Security picks him up at a nearby location and drops him off after spending a few hours at her house,” said a source, who insisted on the spiritual nature of Affleck’s visits. “They are friends,” the insider continued, “they’ve never not been.”
May 2021: J.Lo And Ben Jet off To Montana Together!
Nearly two decades after they called it quits, Lopez and Affleck departed for a weeklong vacation to Montana. This is reportedly following their appearances together at Lopez’s L.A. mansion on the day of their departure and Global Citizen’s Vax Live benefit concert, per People.
An insider confirmed the getaway to E! News.
“They really care for each other and they picked up right where they left off,” a source told E!
“[Jennifer] spent several days with Ben out of town,” another source added. “They have a strong connection. It’s all been quick and intense, but Jennifer is happy.”
“They have been in touch here and there throughout the years,” said an additional insider close to the singer. “Ben reached out to her to see how she was doing and they had dinner together a few times within this last month. It’s natural between them and the chemistry is unreal. They picked up where they last left off and are enjoying each other’s company right now.”
May 2021: Both Lopez And Affleck “Seem Committed” To Each Other!
People reported that Lopez and Affleck are determined not to let distance affect their reunion and that Lopez seems to be in a good place following her recent split from Alex Rodriguez. “Jennifer is doing well. She seems very happy and excited about her future,” a source told the outlet.
According to People, the singer flew to Los Angeles to spend more time with her former fiancé. “Jennifer was just in Los Angeles for a couple of days,” said the source. “She spent time with Ben. They have kept in touch every day since their Montana trip… It’s a tricky situation since they live so far from each other, but they both seem committed to making things work.”
Affleck reportedly flew to J.Lo’s home in Florida a few weeks later to spend more intimate time with the actress. According to a different source who spoke to E!, Lopez has been impressed by Affleck’s efforts to rekindle their romance despite their busy schedules and commutes along the coast. She further said Affleck’s actions made her feel “giddy.”
“It’s comforting to her and she is smitten,” said the insider. “They are giddy together and you can tell she’s really happy.”
“Ben has been making the effort to make it work with their schedules. He’s really making a huge effort,” the source also added. “J.Lo thinks Ben has really stepped up and loves this version of him.”
June 2021: The Pair Are Reportedly Already Thinking About Their Future!
Lopez and Affleck are reportedly in it for the long haul. Per People, Bennifer is “slowly starting to talk about the future.”
“This is not a casual relationship,” a source said. “They are taking it seriously and want it to be long-lasting.”
The couple is also committed to making the remote relationship work. Lopez frequently works out of Florida, whereas Affleck is stationed in Los Angeles.
“They will continue to travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Miami,” the source shared. “They are very happy together.”
June 2021: The Pair Are “Hopeful” Their Relationship Will Work This Time Around!
According to Entertainment Tonight, Lopez and Affleck are pleased with their decision to get back together romantically.
“J.Lo and Ben are very much a couple and have been telling friends that they’re together,” a source told the outlet. “When they first reconnected, they had to see if the spark was still there because it had been a while. It was, so now they are both fully in it.”
The two have also talked through their past.
“[They] talked about the past and why things didn’t work out,” the source said. “They are both hopeful about their relationship this time around and putting the effort in. They have both matured and are on the same page and it has been easy.”
Lopez is choosing to keep her personal and professional lives separate this time, in contrast to her prior engagement with Rodriguez.
“J.Lo and A-Rod were always investing together and mixing business with their relationship and Ben is less into that,” the source added. “They are just genuinely enjoying each other’s company and having a great time. Jen is very supportive of Ben and his career, but she is also connected, successful and has her own life.”
July 2021: Their Families Are Getting Along “Great.”
According to E! News, the families of Lopez and Affleck are becoming closer. After weeks of getting together, Affleck joined Lopez and her kids for a family birthday party. They also took their kids to Universal Studios together. Affleck also spent some “low-key” time with Lopez and her adolescent twins over the July 4 holiday weekend at Lopez’s Hamptons residence.
“J.Lo and Ben seemed to enjoy being on the east coast and spending time at her beautiful home,” a source told E! News. “It was a nice change of scene for them and a great time with friends and family.”
July 2021: Ben And Jennifer May Be Moving In Together Soon!
Bennifer’s relationship is progressing quickly. Close associates of the two reportedly told Entertainment Tonight that they “wouldn’t be surprised” if the revived power couple “move in together and ultimately end up together.”
“They’re spending all of their free time together and making each other a priority. J.Lo falls hard and has certainly done the same with Ben again this time around,” a source told ET. “Ben is a guy’s guy and does his own thing, which J.Lo loves. He has his own life and is famous in a different way than she is and is not trying to compete with her by any means. They just support and love each other.”
August 2021: Ben Browses Engagement Rings With His Mom And Son!
Affleck was seen on camera looking at engagement rings while strolling by a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in a nearby mall, according to images acquired by Page Six. Affleck was accompanied by his son Samuel Affleck and his mother, Chris Boldt, for the shopping outing. The actor’s revelation comes after he spent more time with Lopez, her children, and both of their families as they gradually merged their families.
“Since Jennifer and Ben are in it for the long run, it’s just a natural step that they all spend time together with the kids,” a source told People.
April 2022: They Get Engaged (Again)!
A year after reconnecting, Lopez revealed that she and Affleck had been engaged in an exclusive video broadcast in her fan newsletter. According to People, the footage showed Lopez happy as she displayed her new engagement ring, an emerald-cut, light green diamond. Fans swiftly shared the news on social media and congratulated Bennifer 2.0.
In addition to posting a teaser clip with the caption, “Major Announcement!!!!” Lopez also added a diamond ring emoji to her Twitter name.
April 2022: J.Lo Reveals The Romantic, Intimate Way That Ben Proposed!
Lopez stated that Affleck had twice proposed to her while she was in a bubble bath in a recent issue of her newsletter, On the JLo.
“Did you ever imagine your biggest dream could come true?” she wrote. “Saturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed. I was taken totally off guard and just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again, I was quite literally speechless and he said, ‘is that a yes?’ I said YES of course that’s a YES.”
July 2022: They Get Married In Vegas!
On July 17, at 12 a.m., Lopez and Affleck exchanged vows in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas. On her newsletter, On The JLo, the singer confirmed the engagement, stating that the couple had specifically requested a low-key ceremony at a chapel.
She also tweeted a cute picture of herself wearing her wedding band in bed and acknowledged changing her last name to match her husband’s.
“They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love’. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to,” Lopez wrote in her post. “Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.”
July 2022: They Go On Their First Honeymoon!
After their unexpected wedding, the couple flew to France for a warm-weather vacation with their children, Lopez’s twins Max and Emme, and Affleck’s daughters Violet and Seraphina.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Affleck were spotted on private dates and strolls in the parks throughout their time in the city.
August 2022: They Have A Second Wedding In Georgia!
The couple wed at a second wedding party, a private ceremony, at the Good Will Hunting actor’s Riceboro, Georgia house, just a few weeks after their hastily planned Vegas wedding, according to Page Six.
Affleck’s longtime partner and close friend Matt Damon, his wife Luciana Barroso, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and actor Jason Mewes were among the famous attendees. Photos acquired by Page Six showed what looked to be an all-white guest list for the opulent wedding.
August 2022: They Embark On A Second Honeymoon!
Lopez and Affleck traveled to Italy for their honeymoon, stopping in Milan and Lake Como. In addition to “walking around, mingling, walking in and out of shops and of course [giving] lots of loving attention to each other,” a source told People that they were “really soaking up” the sights. “Every day, they are more in love.”
The insider claimed that when shopping at the city’s plethora of upscale establishments—including Cartier, Bottega Veneta, and Valentino— “They were very kind and available with all their fans.”
October 2022: The Couple “Are Still In Their Honeymoon Phase.”
Months after the couple’s legal marriage, a source spoke to the Daily Mail about their relationship status.
The source added that their union has only strengthened their existing relationship. “Becoming husband and wife hasn’t changed their relationship much, except for the fact that it solidified what they had,” they said. “They’re looking at homes to purchase together and hoping to find one they’re both happy with. It’s been an ongoing process.”
Affleck also takes care of their blended family while Lopez tackles a new project. “Jen is hard at work filming, and Ben has been taking over daddy duty and helping out with the kids a lot,” the insider explained. “She adores the fact that he is such a great father and she can always rely on him. He’s been very supportive of her and has visited her on set, which she loves.”
The kids also “enjoy spending time together as an entire family.”
November 28, 2022: J. Lo Says Her Relationship With Ben Inspired Her To Record Her Newest Album!
This Is Me, the artist’s upcoming album, will be released soon. Now, in celebration of her third studio album, This Is Me, which was released 20 years ago, Lopez talked about her most recent musical endeavor during an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music. She revealed during their talk that both times—twenty years ago and now—Affleck had motivated her to enter the recording studio.
“That album, This Is Me… Then, really captured a moment in time where I fell in love with the love of my life. It’s all just right there on the record and I didn’t even realize what was happening or what I was doing. It was just everyday going from the set to the recording studio, doing the thing, being in love, him coming into the studio,” she reflected. “When I listen to the lyrics now, I didn’t even realize that I was writing some of our story that would happen, which was sick. … I didn’t even realize it was kind of prophetic in a way.”
She added, “When he came back into my life, again the same thing happened where I felt so inspired and so overtaken with emotion that it was just pouring out of me. When I feel good, I write music. And I wrote music and I got in the studio in I think May and by August when we got married, it was done.”
Lopez also spoke candidly about her initial breakup with Affleck back in 2004. “It was so painful after we broke up. Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. And I honestly felt like I was gonna die,” she said. “It sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I … couldn’t get it right. But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending. It has the most, would-never-happen-in-Hollywood ending. They would be like, ‘That would never happen so we’re not gonna write that because nobody would believe it’ ending.”
January 2023: J. Lo Says She Had The “Best Year” After Moving In With Ben!
The singer discussed the significant year, 2022, in a conversation with Today.
“We moved in together, the kids moved in together, so it’s been like a really kind of emotional transition,” she said. “But at the same time… all your dreams coming true, it’s just been a phenomenal year.”
She added that 2022 was the “best year, I think, since my kids were born.”
February 5, 2023: They Make Their Grammys Debut!
The Afflecks arrive at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards wearing tastefully coordinated outfits. The “Let’s Go Loud” singer gleams in a navy and silver Gucci gown with crystal embellishments and coordinating accessories. The actor is standing next to her and is dressed sharply in a black suit, tie, new white shirt, and vest.
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