Is the honeymoon officially over for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck?

December 2001 

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first met on the set of their film Gigli in late 2001. 

The movie, upon its eventual release two years later, won seven Razzies and was branded ‘unwatchable’ by some critics.

It garnered $7.2 million in the box office against a reported $55 million budget.

Yet all was not lost, as the film brought Bennifer closer together.

SEPTEMBER 2002

Ben and Jen had yet to be burned by their looming box office failure when they reunited in 2002 to film Jersey Girl, which was released two years later. 

He played a widower in the 2004 rom-com, while she had a supporting role as his character’s late wife. 

The movie marked the start of the A-list couple’s tumultuous romance. 

In May 2021, amid rumors that they had rekindled their love, Jersey Girl director Kevin Smith revealed on Twitter that he was first to dub the duo ‘Bennifer.’ 

‘”Bennifer” is trending. It’s a name I first gave the kids during Jersey Girl pre-production, before the world found out they were dating,’ he tweeted. 

‘I’d later drop the name in an interview with the @nytimes. Shortly thereafter, it appeared in the article and then entered the vernacular.’ 

NOVEMBER 2002

Ben popped the question to Jennifer with an eye-popping 6.1-carat pink solitaire diamond from Harry Winston while visiting his family in Boston.

The singer couldn’t help but gush as she described the proposal during an interview with Diane Sawyer in November 2002.

‘It’s just a blanket, a quilt of rose petals, all over the whole entire house. So many candles, and vases, bouquets. And my song Glad was playing… I walk in and I was just like overwhelmed,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t expecting it, and I was just like, “Oh my God.”‘

Jen was even more overcome with emotion when Ben shared that his mother Christopher Anne Boldt helped him put everything together.  

‘I just started sobbing. Crying. I was like, “Oh! My God!”’ she recalled.  

‘I had cried a lot over sadness over the years. And for the first time in my life, I cried incredible purging tears of happiness,’ she added. ‘It was the most cleansing feeling and the most wonderful feeling I had ever had.’

Later that month, Ben appeared in Jennifer’s Jenny From The Block music video, which showed him caressing her famous derriere in a scene that was designed to look like paparazzi footage. 

Jennifer also dedicated her sensual and gushing track Dear Ben from her third studio album This Is Me… to her to her husband-to-be that year. 

December 2002 

Jen and Ben made their red carpet debut at the premiere of her movie Maid In Manhattan the month after the announced their engagement. 

From their red carpet appearances to Juicy Couture tracksuits, they soon became one of the world’s most photographed couples thanks to their Hollywood good looks and glamorous style.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Days before their highly-publicized wedding, Ben and Jennifer stunned fans when they announced they were postponing their nuptials.

‘Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date,’ they said in a joint statement.

‘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 

The couple stayed together for a few more months before confirming their split in a statement released in early 2004.  

‘I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck,’ JLo’s representative said at the time. ‘At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.’

2004 – 2005 

Jennifer sought comfort in her longtime friend Marc Anthony while she was still heartbroken over Ben. 

She married the singer in June 2004, and they welcomed twins Emme and Max, now 14, in 2008. The couple divorced in 2014. 

JLo opened up about her split from Ben and her marriage to Marc in her 2014 memoir, True Love. 

‘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. My way of anesthetizing the pain was different. 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 wrote.

‘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. 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.’

Ben, meanwhile, wed actress Jennifer Garner in 2005, and they share three children, Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 10. They split in 2018.

October 2012

Nearly a decade after Ben and Jen broke up, he revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that they remained friends and were still in touch. 

‘We don’t have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice,’ he said of his ex, ‘but we do have the kind of relationship where there’ll be an e-mail saying, “Oh, your movie looks great.”

‘I remember when she got American Idol. I said: “This was really smart. Good luck.” I touch base. I respect her. I like her. She’s put up with some stuff that was unfair in her life, and I’m really pleased to see her successful.’

January 2015 

Two years after Ben opened up about their friendship, Jennifer told HuffPost Live she didn’t have any regrets about her past, including their failed romance. 

‘I would do it all over again, I think. I really would. Even the relationship part,’ she said. ‘I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you’re willing to look at it, and I’m willing to look.’ 

March 2016

Jennifer continued to reflect on her failed engagement with Ben in an interview with People in 2016. 

‘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,’ she said. 

‘I think different time different thing, who knows what could’ve happened, but there was a genuine love there,’ she added. 

APRIL 2021

Jennifer unexpectedly called off her engagement to MLB star Alex Rodriguez in the spring of 2021, two years after he proposed. 

‘We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects,’ they said in a joint statement.

Shortly after, Ben was seen arriving at Jennifer’s home in a white Escalade SUV that was said to belong her. He was later spotted being dropped off by the singer’s security.

They had also reportedly enjoyed several meet-ups at the the Hotel Bel-Air around the same time.

TMZ reported that Ben had reached out to JLo via email while she was in the Dominican Republic shooting her rom-com Shotgun Wedding in February 2021.

The pair was said to have continued communicating until Jennifer wrapped up filming in late April, with numerous sources stating that they were ‘just friends.’

MAY 2021 

Ben whisked his former flame Jennifer away on a private jet for a romantic getaway trip to a luxury ski resort in Montana, where the actor is understood to own a chalet.

In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the former couple appeared relaxed and at ease around one another as they sat side-by-side in an SUV, with the Good Will Hunting star in the driver’s seat.

They were later photographed arriving back in Los Angeles in together. They were both dressed comfortably as they exited a private plane following their trip, for which they had packed a considerable amount of luggage.

Sources told E! that they spent ‘about a week’ together at the Yellowstone Club in Montana, and they ‘were alone’ during their stay. 

Following their getaway, Jennifer made several trips to Los Angeles to spend time with Ben, before the Academy Award-winner jetted off to Miami, Florida, to visit her home. 

During his stay in Miami, Ben was seen hanging out on Jennifer’s balcony smoking cigarettes before joining the superstar for a gym session. 

Sources told In Touch that Ben and Jen ‘looked madly in love’ during their gym date and ‘were clearly picking up where they left off in their relationship years ago.’

The insider added: ‘They even shared a kiss on the gym floor and were super playful with each other between sets.’ 

May 31, 2021 – Rekindled romance CONFIRMED

After weeks of speculation and sources claiming they had taken their friendship to a ‘romantic’ level, Ben and Jennifer confirmed they were back together during a romantic date night in West Hollywood.

During the outing, they had their arms wrapped around one another while waiting to be seated at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant located at the swanky Pendry hotel

The On The Floor singer had her head nestled into the Academy Award-winner’s neck as he held her closely with one arm. 

JUNE 2021 

Jennifer sparked rumors that she may relocate from Miami to the West Coast for Ben when she was seen touring schools in the Los Angeles area for her twins Max and Emme.

A source told The Sun at the time that Jen was ‘looking towards LA’ because her Miami house reminded her too much of her ex.

The singer hunkered down in her $28 million mansion in LA and enjoyed several visits to Ben’s Brentwood home throughout the month. He also seen leaving her Bel Air abode on several occasions.

Proving their rekindled passions, Jennifer and Ben were spotted kissing one another on June 15, 2021, as they attended her sister Lynda’s 50th birthday dinner in Malibu.

Also present were Max and Emme, who Ben was seen bonding with during the family gathering at Nobu restaurant.

SUMMER 2021

Further blending their families, Ben and Jennifer decided to enjoy a day out at Universal Studios Hollywood ahead of the Fourth of July holiday in 2021. 

The couple, who walked with arms wrapped around one another, were joined by Jennifer’s twins, as well as Ben’s son, Samuel. 

They would then jet out of Los Angeles to celebrate July 4th in the Hamptons, along with Jen’s daughter Emme and a pal. 

Later that month, Ben was spotted driving his girlfriend around as he helped her on her ‘hunt for a mega-mansion’ in Los Angeles, according to TMZ, further fueling rumors that she planned to relocate to be closer to him.

JANUARY – MARCH 2022 

With their rekindled relationship moving from strength to strength, Ben and Jennifer continued to look for homes together in the Los Angeles area.

They were photographed on a number of occasions checking out sprawling properties across the city.

In March 2022, TMZ reported that the happy couple was ‘in escrow’ on a massive $50 million mansion with 10 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms in swanky Bel Air. 

That same month, Ben supported his pop star girlfriend at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, where she was honored with the coveted Icon Award.

The actor was seen sitting in the audience with Jennifer’s daughter Emme and his young son, Samuel. 

APRIL 2022 

Jennifer was spotted with a rare green diamond engagement ring on her finger last spring, sparking speculation that she and Ben were engaged for a second time.

On April 8, 2022, she confirmed the happy news in a newsletter shared on her official website and included a touching video that showed her getting emotional as she gawked at her engagement ring.

Earlier in the day, just hours before the news broke, Ben and Jennifer were captured touring real estate spaces in Santa Monica. The On The Floor singer was not wearing her engagement ring at the time. 

July and August 2022 – Not one but TWO weddings 

Jennifer and Ben first got married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, three months after their second engagement and 20 years after the actor first popped the question. 

The Selena actress confirmed they said ‘I do’ in her newsletter On The JLo, where she shared details of their intimate wedding held at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

The newsletter was signed ‘Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck’ and included candid selfies of the newlyweds on their big day. 

‘We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,’ she wrote in the post. 

‘Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world. Behind us two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, a young couple who made the three hour drive from Victorville on their daughter’s second birthday —all of us wanting the same thing — for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage.

‘We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight. They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed).

‘So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives. They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last.

‘When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving and good to one another. We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives. Thank you to the Little White Wedding chapel for letting me use the break room to change while Ben changed in the men’s room.

‘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. 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.’

The content included a video of Ben preparing for their nuptials inside the chapel’s pink bathroom.

‘And this was my wedding changing area!’ Ben, wearing a white suit, declared as he held the camera up to a scratched-up mirror.

Jennifer, however, had more luxurious accommodations. She wore a simple yet elegant dress and had her hair styled in voluminous waves as got ready inside a large bathroom. 

‘I feel amazing, excited,’ Jennifer said before doing several twirls in her dress.

The bride wore two different white dresses, a sleeveless frock ‘from an old movie’ and a lace gown designed by Zuhair Murad.

The couple collectively known as ‘Bennifer’ obtained a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada, and exchanged vows in a ‘super small’ ceremony.  

Their marriage license showed that the pop star would be changing her name to ‘Jennifer Affleck.’ Their marriage certificate was released in August 2022. 

A month later, Ben and Jen tied the knot for a second time in a breathtaking ceremony hosted at his $8.9 million mansion in Georgia on August 20. 

The bride wore a stunning white, Ralph Lauren couture gown complete with long train and veil, while the groom looked sharp in complementary white and black tuxedo.

Photographs shot from above showed the picture-perfect A-listers embracing one another through smiles at a waterside jetty, outside their enormous mansion and walking along a snowy white altar set up especially for the day.

This time around, they were surrounded by their family and friends, including Ben’s Good Will Hunting co-writer Matt Damon, director Kevin Smith, and actor Jason Mewes. 

Jennifer once again gave her fans the inside scoop on their wedding in her On The JLo newsletter, which included pictures from their lavish second ceremony. 

‘When he saw me appear at the top of the stairs that moment it both made absolute sense while seeming still impossibly hard to believe, like the best dream, where all you want is never to awaken,’ she wrote of walking down the aisle. 

‘I would have had many of the same thoughts probably had I not been focusing so hard on not tripping over my dress, but when I got close enough to see his face, it made the same wonderful sense to me.’ 

‘Some old wounds were healed that day and the weight of the past finally lifted off our shoulders. Full-circle — and not at all the way we planned it. Better,’ she added.