It’s the greatest love story ever told. — and it’s already cold.
But don’t cry for Jennifer Lopez or Ben Affleck, even though the two are reportedly separated after a much-publicized reunion in 2021 and two splashy weddings in 2022. Not to mention Jennifer Lopez’s splashy album, her $20 million, hour-long musical film, and a documentary about her deep love for Ben, all of which were released just a few months ago.
A Lopez rep told The Washington Post that the couple are “separated,” while People magazine quoted a source this week as saying their marriage is “not in the best place at the moment.”
Bennifer 2.0 may be on life support, but sources who know them say there are no villains or victims here, just two big clashing egos who don’t seem to care about headlines suggesting the end is near.
“They both have that great Donald Trump quality of shamelessness,” a Hollywood source who has worked with Lopez told The Post. “I would hide under the carpet, but they both go out separately and confuse us with their big smiles. They could clarify this with a simple comment but they don’t. Don’t feel sorry for them. She loves it, but what people don’t realize is that Ben loves it even more.”
But other sources close to Lopez say she isn’t enjoying it and is particularly upset about being cast as a villain who craves the spotlight at all costs, while Affleck is portrayed as a publicity-shy guy who is overwhelmed by the media scrutiny that comes with marrying a diva.
In fact, one industry source said that in the aftermath of the furor surrounding the musical film about Lopez’s lifelong search for love, Affleck is cheating on her.This is me now… a love storythe accompanying album This is Me … Now, and the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
A source said Affleck company Artist EquityThe company, which he co-founded and runs with longtime collaborator Matt Damon, produced and financed “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
“Affleck every “Jennifer is largely responsible for every aspect of the production, including the editing,” an industry source said of the film and its negotiations to sell it to Amazon. “As soon as the documentary was released, there was an explosion of hate and negativity against Jennifer online.”
“His wife was torn apart. She was criticized for exposing her private life. People called her a narcissist and said she was an embarrassment for Ben. But not once did Ben defend his wife and say, ‘Actually, it was my idea and my company that made this documentary.'”
At a press conference for her film “Atlas” in Mexico last week, Lopez sharply dismissed rumors of her and Affleck’s breakup, saying, “You know those things.”
People began noticing earlier this month that the couple, who famously called off their 2003 wedding three days before it was due to be married, hadn’t been seen together in public since March 30.
Affleck has since been spotted going in and out of a new rental home in Brentwood, close to the home of his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their three children, while Lopez has been alone in her $60 million Beverly Hills mansion. The pair spent two years house hunting, with Jennifer Lopez She bragged to her 253 million Instagram followers. It was heavily promoted last fall.
Affleck, who is currently filming the sequel to 2016’s “The Accountant,” has been spotted at least once without his wedding ring, visiting his new home with Garner, his ex-wife who supported him through his past missteps and was loyal enough to send him to rehab after an intervention in 2018.
“Ben is a deeply damaged man who attracts women who want to fix him, and gives them enough hope to believe it’s possible,” a source told The Post. “Spoiler alert: It’s not possible. No one has tried as hard or for as long as Garner. Jennifer Lopez just learned the same lesson sooner.”
Sources close to Affleck and Lopez will only say that the couple are separated and no one has said the word “divorce” yet, and that Affleck sometimes takes off his wedding ring while filming.
Meanwhile, Lopez attended the Met Gala solo on May 6, wearing a glittering mermaid-style Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown accessorized with over 100 carats of Tiffany & Co. diamonds.
Sources say Affleck’s absence was expected during Lopez’s recent red carpet appearances in Los Angeles and Mexico to promote her new Netflix movie “Atlas,” as his busy schedule filming “The Accountant” also meant he missed his daughter Violet’s high school graduation this month.
But a source close to Lopez said Affleck should have been by her side when she hosted the Met Gala.
“It’s a matter of respect,” a source who knows Lopez well told The Post. “Unless you’re in prison or trying to ruin your life, there’s no excuse for not being there.”
In March, Lopez was released after her new album flopped, dropping off the Billboard 200 chart one week after debuting at No. 38, her worst performance since her debut. Some concerts were cancelled She performed highlights from her upcoming “This Is Me…Now.” tour before rebranding the tour as her Greatest Hits Tour.
According to the Ticketmaster website, venue tickets for the tour are priced as low as $49 for some shows, and there are still plenty of seats available.
“It looks like a disaster,” a veteran concert promoter told The Post.
But while Lopez is doing well in her career, some say the problem lies in her choice of men.
Affleck is Lopez’s fourth husband. She was previously married to Cuban waiter Ojani Noa (1997-1998), backup dancer Cris Judd (2001-2003), and Latin music superstar Marc Anthony (2004-2014), with whom she has 16-year-old twins Emme and Max. She was previously engaged to baseball player Alex Rodriguez, but the couple split in 2021 and she remarried Affleck.
“If there was a way to get a divorce on the grounds of temporary insanity, he would,” an Affleck source previously told Page Six. “He feels like the last two years have been just a fever dream and now he’s come to his senses and understands this is not going to work.”
But some say Affleck would tax the women he’s with.
“His PR team has cleverly portrayed Ben as a brilliant director and actor who hates being a star.” “Naughty but nice” podcast Ben, who was Lopez’s publicist when she was first engaged to Affleck, told the Post, “That’s a lie. Ben loves being a star. He just doesn’t want to be a minor star.”
“Jennifer is strong, but Ben is even stronger,” says a Hollywood insider who has worked with both Lopez and Affleck. “He’s very talented, but difficult to work with. The only reason he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight with Jennifer is because it’s her spotlight, not his.” [reunion] Stories sound beautiful in theory, but sometimes you just can’t go back in time.”
Sources denied online speculation that Jennifer Lopez and Affleck were playing a 2024 version of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in order to drum up interest in Jennifer Lopez’s new film and concert tour.
“I doubt it,” she said, “but if it was a ploy, it’s inexcusable, especially since all of their children are involved. Really, I don’t know why they wouldn’t handle it better, given all of their children and what they’ve been through.”
Another source who has worked with Lopez also assured us that she’s not the bad guy: “Everyone’s going to think this is all Jennifer’s fault, but no. She was in love and adores Ben. That’s not a crime. It takes two to tango, no matter what the situation.”
