Full relationship timeline as Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck
It's official - Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck and now we're left with the belief that true love doesn't exist after all.
The pair - who earned the iconic portmanteau 'Bennifer' in the noughties when they first dated - reconciled after two decades apart.
People all over the globe swooned when the A-list power couple let bygones be bygones and tied the knot in 2022.
Rumours of a split have been circulating for some time - J Lo listed the date of their separation on the divorce filing as 26 April, 2024.
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Without further ado, let's delve into the timeline of Bennifer's relationship and look back on the twists and turns.
2001: The pair meet on the set of Gigli
Although the film was panned by critics as somewhat of a hot mess when it was released in 2003, it didn't stop sparks flying behind the scenes.
So much so that J Lo filed for divorce from her then-husband Cris Judd in June 2002.
2002: Ben stars in the Jenny from the Block music video
Iconic to be honest and unforgettable - the music video gave us scenes of them frolicking on a yacht.
November 2002: J Lo and Ben go public with their romance
Not only that, but she's seen wearing a six-carat pink diamond engagement ring.
J Lo said of the ring in an interview with Diane Sawyer: "It’s the most magnificent thing I've ever seen."
January 2004: They split
Their wedding had been set for June the previous year, but had been postponed. In a joint statement at the time, J Lo and Ben explained: "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."
Ultimately, it all proved too much and they called it quits.
June 2004: J Lo gets married
The singer was wed to salsa artist Marc Anthony.
They went on to welcome twins, Emme and Max, in 2008 and finalised their divorce in 2014.
June 2005: Ben gets married
The Good Will Hunting star married 13 Going On 30 actor Jennifer Garner in a private ceremony.
The two went on to have three children together and split in 2015, before filing for divorce in 2017.
2014: J Lo reflects on her romance with Ben
In her book, True Love, J Lo wrote: "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.
"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.”
February 2020: Ben compliments J Lo
He told the New York Times of her work in the movie Hustlers: "She should have been nominated [for an Oscar]. She's the real thing.
"I keep in touch periodically with her and have a lot of respect for her. How awesome is it that she had her biggest hit movie at 50? That's f*****g baller."
April 2021: 'Bennifer' reunite
Their two most recent relationships, J Lo's engagement to Alex Rodriguez and Ben's relationship with Ana de Armas, came to an end.
Ben was then spotted visiting J Lo's home on several occasions.
The following month, they were snapped holidaying in Montana together.
June 2021: The reconciliation is official
The pair were spotted holding hands and looking cosy while on a dinner date in West Hollywood. The pictures of Ben and Jen packing on the PDA were then coming thick and fast, and fans knew they were trying again and taking it seriously.
August 2021: Ben is seen looking at engagement rings
Page Six published photos of the actor checking out engagement rings at was Tiffany & Co., joined by his mother and son.
April 2022: Engaged (finally!)
Via a video announcement on her newsletter, J Lo shared that Bennifer was back on and heading for the altar.
Her engagement ring was a stunning emerald cut, pale green diamond.
In the video, she included: "Ben came in and got down on one knee and said some things I'll never forget, and he pulled out a ring."
July 2022: They get married
In a Las Vegas ceremony, the two tied the knot.
J Lo wrote in her newsletter when announcing the news: "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.”
August 2022: They have a second ceremony
A much more upscale and lavish exchanging of vows is held in a private ceremony in Georgia, in the company of friends.
January 2023: J Lo opens up about her happiness
In an interview with Today, J Lo said: "We moved in together, the kids moved in together, so it’s been like a really kind of emotional transition.
“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 2024: Ben and Jen talk about their differences
In J Lo's documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, they confront a tension they have - Ben being Jen's muse, and appearing on social media.
Ben said: "Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media. Then I sort of realised it’s not a fair thing to ask."
Jen added: "He loves me, he knows I’m an artist, and he’s gonna support me in every way he can, because he knows you can’t stop me from making the music I made … he doesn’t want to stop me. But that doesn’t mean he's comfortable being the muse.”
May 2024: Rumours of a split begin to surface
An insider told Us Weekly that the two were having 'issues in their marriage'.
Lopez then cancelled her This Is Me... Now tour, with her newsletter stating she wanted to take time 'to be with her children, family and close friends'.
Rumours continued to swirl throughout June, July and August - Ben was missing from the premiere of Jen's film Atlas, J Lo was seen holidaying alone and was spotted without a wedding ring.
In July, they were reported to have put their shared California mansion on the market for $68,000,000.
August 2024: J Lo files for divorce
Court documents seen by the BBC show J Lo filed for divorce from Ben in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and there were no details regarding a prenuptial agreement.
The listed date of separation was 26 April, 2024.
Topics: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Celebrity, Sex and Relationships
Kya Buller