Before the world knew about Marc Anthony and Alex Rodriguez, before Jennifer Garner and Ana de Armas, there existed the iconic duo – Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, fondly known as Bennifer.
Their love story started in the early 2000s, faced twists and turns, a break-up, marriages to different partners, only to be reignited 17 years later. In 2023, the world witnessed Bennifer’s reunion, culminating in a surprise Vegas wedding. Let’s take a journey through their timeline, from the early 2000s to the present day.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Before there were Marc Anthony and Alex Rodriguez, before Jennifer Garner and Ana de Armas, there was Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. “Bennifer” was the It couple of the early ’00s. After being spotted on multiple loved-up outings and red-carpet appearances together, they finally got married in 2022.
2001
The Hollywood actors first met on the set of the 2003 rom-com Gigli. Despite the movie’s flop, sparks flew between the leading stars. At the time, J.Lo was still married to her second husband, dancer Cris Judd.
In a 2016 interview with People, Lopez reflected on the beginning of her relationship with Affleck, saying, “We didn’t try to have a public relationship. 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.”
2002
The iconic music video for “Jenny From the Block” featured a steamy moment from Bennifer. In a 2010 interview, Lopez revealed the pressures the media put on their relationship, saying, “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.”
November 2002
J.Lo confirmed their engagement in an interview with Diane Sawyer, showcasing a 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston that reportedly cost $2.5 million.
2003
The couple starred in another movie, Jersey Girl, in 2003. However, just days before their wedding, they released a joint statement postponing the ceremony due to excessive media attention.
January 2004
On January 22, 2004, J.Lo confirmed the end of their engagement. She stated, “I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck.”
June 2004
In June 2004, Jennifer Lopez married Marc Anthony. In her 2014 book, True Love, she reflected on the turbulent period between her split from Affleck and marrying Anthony.
April 2021
After J.Lo’s engagement to Alex Rodriguez ended and Affleck split from Ana de Armas, the two were spotted hanging out again. They spent time together in Montana, sparking rumors of a rekindled romance.
June 2021
Bennifer began “slowly starting to talk about the future” a few months after their reunion. A source stated, “This is not a casual relationship. They are taking it seriously and want it to be long-lasting.”
April 2022
In an exclusive video, J.Lo announced that she and Affleck had gotten engaged, a year after reuniting. The engagement ring was an emerald-cut, pale green diamond.
July 2022
The couple tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding, confirming the news on J.Lo’s newsletter. They shared their joy and gratitude for the love and family they have.
August 2022
A few weeks after their Vegas nuptials, the couple had a second wedding ceremony on Ben Affleck’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia, attended by celebrity guests.
August 2022
Lopez and Affleck enjoyed a honeymoon in Italy, visiting Milan and Lake Como, soaking up the sites and expressing their love for each other.
October 2022
A source revealed that Bennifer was still in their honeymoon phase, closer than ever, and looking at homes to purchase together.
November 28, 2022
J.Lo shared that her relationship with Ben inspired her to record her newest album, “This Is Me … Now,” during an Apple Music interview.
January 2023
Jennifer Lopez described 2022 as the “best year since my kids were born” after moving in with Ben Affleck.
February 5, 2023
The couple made their Grammys debut at the 65th Grammy Awards, arriving in elegant coordinating ensembles.
May 2023
Lopez and Affleck’s families began bonding, and they spent quality time together. The couple continued coordinating their kids’ schedules for the summer.
February 8, 2024
During a press conference for her movie musical, Lopez revealed how Affleck inspired her to finish writing the script and encouraged her to embrace her multifaceted talents.
Jennifer Lopez’s This Is Me Now Premiere
It’s a pre-Valentine’s Day date night for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck!The couple stepped out on the red carpet together for the Los Angeles premiere of her new Amazon original This Is Me…Now: A Love Story at the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday night.
Other stars at the red carpet premiere on Tuesday include Derek Hough, America Ferrera, Fat Joe and Xochitl Gomez. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2024.
This Is Me…Now: A Love Story is a musical and visual reimagining of the life events that inspired Lopez’s upcoming album This Is Me…Now, which serves as a sequel to her 2002 album This Is Me…Then.
The project —which includes cameos from stars like Trevor Noah and Jane Fonda — has been a long time in the making for Lopez, 54, who said at a press conference last week that her real-life love story with Affleck, 51, helped push her to get it done.
Jennifer Lopez Reveals Advice Ben Affleck Gave Her When She Doubted Her Writing Abilities on This Is Me…Now Film “I was like, ‘I don’t write, I don’t do this.’ He was like, ‘You do, you write, you direct, you produce, you choreograph, you do all the things. Start stepping into that, start owning a little bit of who you are,’” she recalled Affleck telling her.
The pair were married in July 2022, more than a year after rekindling their romance. They first dated for two years in the early 2000s before calling it quits just days before their 2004 wedding.
Jennifer Lopez Releases the Cinematic Trailer for ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’
Jennifer Lopez in This Is Me…Now: A Love Story. Their renewed romance inspired much of the direction of the film, director Dave Meyers said at the press conference, and noted one scene in particular that found her hard at work as a construction worker at a heart factory.
“Metaphorically, it is true,” Meyers said. “That stemmed from her telling me the pain that she’s been in, specifically the pain that she went through when she broke up with Ben the first time. There was a lot of honesty that was shared in that first meeting, and so the heart factory became sort of a Titanic-level meltdown, which was a metaphor for what she was giving me as far as her truth.”
Jennifer Lopez Reveals She Self-Funded This Is Me…Now Musical Film: ‘Everybody Thought I Was Crazy’ Lopez and Affleck also recently starred together in a Super Bowl commercial that featured Affleck forming a boy band called the DunKings with pal Matt Damon and New England Patriots legend Tom Brady.
An extended version of the ad opens with the Oscar winner asking Lopez for help developing some “beats.”
“Do you have any time today if I wanted to squeeze by and like…?” he asks. As he trails off, it’s clear his wife has no interest. “I understand,” he adds. “Jen, you know, not the only one with a dream.”
