Divorce rumors between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck explained

Photo Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images

After months of speculation, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck divorce rumors are piling up. From the couple's mansion being up for sale to quotes from (alleged) friends, here's a timeline of the speculation and reports that led to today's news that J.Lo has filed for divorce.

May 17, 2024: Don't be fooled by the stones they have – Bennifer 2.0 may not be running as steady as it seems. It started a week and a half ago when Affleck was not by his wife's side when she co-hosted the Met Gala on May 6. A spokesperson said People and other media that he was busy filming The Accountant 2 in Los Angeles. Sure, shooting an action sequel is a Sorry, but not entirely watertight. That set the stage for this May 15 bombshell from In contact weekly: “Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck 'heading for divorce,' he 'has already moved out.'” Now, In contact is not the kind of magazine you can trust without reservation – but this report gives us reason to keep snooping.

So what else do we do? knowledge? Let us start with a fact from People: Jen and Ben were last photographed together on March 30, making today the 48th day that the paparazzi's favorite couple has been missing. People notes that J.Lo was busy working on films and the Met Gala, while Affleck, as we know, was attending the oh-so-important Accountant 2However, the couple was photographed separately – and according to E! Newsboth were Despite it have been wearing their wedding rings since May 16. Lopez's ring was seen on the way to a dance studio in LA, while Affleck showed off his during a car ride. But waitask yourself, where did Affleck go? TMZ has this scoop: He left a house in Brentwood where, according to paparazzi, he stayed overnight without Lopez. Aha! Moreover, the day before the In contact TMZ also reportedly caught J.Lo house hunting in Beverly Hills. Could she be giving up on the $60 million mansion after just one year?

Maybe not. Two sources said We weekly that Jen and Ben are still working on their marriage and are not splitting up. A third confirmed that they “have issues” and “are on completely different wavelengths most of the time,” due to their busy schedules since J.Lo began preparing for her summer tour. (As if she wasn't busy while filming an album, a movie and a documentary – financed by Affleck, no less!) But while Affleck has Lopez has been living in a separate house but doesn't want to move out, she's just looking for an investment, a source said. How about a house in need of renovation that they can work on together?

May 17, 2024: We must retract: This was not Day 48 of Bennifer not being photographed together, because actually they were photographed together last night, May 16. The couple came together to see Affleck's child Fin in a school play and were seen in a parking lot holding bouquets of flowers. TMZ reported they arrived separately but spoke when they got there. Also present? Emme, J.Lo's child who formed a close friendship with Fin during her parents' marriage. At least They are still on solid ground!

After the show, Affleck reportedly dropped Jennifer and Emme off at the mansion before returning to his Brentwood condo — meaning this interaction may be less enlightened than expected. TMZ's take? “Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are still speaking to each other as they go through whatever they're going through.” For once, that actually seems to be true, yes.

May 20, 2024: If a picture is worth a thousand words, Jen and Ben wrote a whole new chapter of that saga over the weekend. It began on Friday night, just one day after Affleck's public reunion with Lopez, when he returned to his child's school without his wedding ring on his hand (as TMZ zoomed out to notice). Perhaps something went wrong on the drive home — or perhaps Affleck simply misplaced the ring somewhere in his current house, because on Sunday he was wearing it again when he went to pick up J.Lo, according to Peoplefrom a theater in Santa Monica before going for a walk together. At least they're smiling?

May 22, 2024: Lopez made an informal statement while doing press work for Atlas in Mexico City. Recorded by Univisions El Gordo and La FlacaLopez was asked if she wanted to comment on the rumors. “You know better,” she said. Well, actually she said, “Tú sabes más que eso,” but you get the idea. Maybe she and Ben can make a joint statement in Spanish (he speaks fluently, you know).

May 30, 2024: Since his shock a few weeks ago, Affleck likes to show his ring to the paparazzi – and also his wife’s contact details in his phone. (He did take it off when filming The Accountant 2but he gets a passport for it.) Now it is Lopez who was seen without her Wedding ring. Lainey Gossip noticed J.Lo's hand was a little lighter as she left a meeting on May 28. Sources say she's still focused on work as she and Affleck continue to live apart. Too focused to think about her ring in the morning?

June 3, 2024: Jennifer Lopez announced she was cancelling her tour “to be with her children, family and close friends.” Later that weekend, J.Lo and B.Af were spotted exchanging air kisses while having lunch with Affleck's mother. Meanwhile, TikTok has become a sea of ​​Affleck-Damon-shipping under the hashtag #WhichCouldMeanNothing. So who Really is Ben's “loml”?

June 8, 2024: TMZ reports that the couple has allegedly been working with a real estate agent to sell their Beverly Hills mansion for around $65 million over the past two weeks. They are reportedly living separately, with Affleck renting and J.Lo using the rocks she got to find a new house as divorce rumors continue to swirl.

June 16, 2024: Jennifer Lopez wants to keep the co-parenting machine running. TMZ reported that Lopez posted two IG stories on Father's Day: one of Affleck (seemingly a press photo of Pearl Harbor) and one of her own father. Both pictures were black and white, the men stood in vehicles and looked somewhat stoic. What keeps these crazy kids together now that graduates-and-dads season is over?

June 28, 2024: Could Affleck really be moving on? As Lopez and Affleck prepare to sell their mansion, People also reported that Affleck has been moving his belongings out of the house. A source said he has been living in Brentwood for two months now and “seems OK.” OK? “He's in his office every day and seems to be focused on work,” the source added. “He's also spending time with his kids.”

July 11, 2024: The move is official, folks. Lopez and Affleck's Beverly Hills mansion is now publicly for sale. The property description states that the home has been “renovated with the highest quality within the last 4 months.” If you're willing to pay the $68 million list price, Bennifer Hills could be yours. In the meantime, People Reports that Affleck was seen wearing his wedding ring today. What is true?

July 16, 2024: Bennifer reportedly spent her second wedding anniversary apart. According to Page Six, Lopez was being driven around the Hamptons with her manager Benny Medina that day. Affleck was on a completely different coast, working in LA. But hey, at least J.Lo was able to spend some time with Violet Affleck last weekend. They ate ice cream. That's nice, right?

7 August 2024: Lopez and Affleck are functionally living apart, as multiple reports more or less confirmed earlier this week. According to TMZ, the couple hasn't spoken to each other and has been delaying the divorce, which was supposed to be a quick one thanks to a prenuptial agreement. They just have to divide up their mansion, which is already up for sale. A source added to Page Six that J.Lo is “angry” and “humiliated” and that she “hasn't quite accepted that it's over.” But by the day, it's looking more and more like that. Lopez celebrated her birthday without Affleck on the same day that Affleck bought a new house for himself. Oh, and did you seen his appearance lately?

9 August 2024: Another bad sign for Bennifer: Jennifer Lopez's own (alleged) friends aren't even holding back in the press. First, one of those friends told Page Six that her marriage was “the most elaborate and expensive graduation exercise ever.” Phew! This so-called friend also called her relationship “unfinished business” for J.Lo and said she had been dreaming of her wedding to Ben Affleck “for decades.” At least this friend thinks they have found closure. “They've seen everything they needed to see and it's over,” she added.

Apparently, they're far from the only ones who weren't fans of the marriage. Additional sources told Page Six that many of Lopez's closest confidants — including her longtime manager Benny Medina and good friend Leah Remini — don't like Affleck either. “There's still bad blood” between Medina and Affleck, a source said. (Lopez dumped Medina in 2003 when she first started dating Affleck before rehiring him shortly after their engagement ended.) Meanwhile, Remini, who wasn't invited to Lopez's wedding, reportedly reconnected with Lopez several months ago to support her during the split. The same goes for the two of them. anyone in J.Lo's circle like Affleck? Take it from another source: “Nobody, except [Lopez’s] Mother, likes Ben Affleck. He's an asshole of the highest order.” Oh well! Page Six also claimed Lopez and Affleck would officially split before the end of the summer. Keep your eyes peeled to see if Affleck's friends react by then.

20 August 2024: And there we have it. TMZ broke the news today that Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck. It's worth noting that August 20 also happens to be the second anniversary of the wedding ceremony the couple held in Georgia. (They previously eloped in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.) J.Lo has listed a separation date of April 26, 2024, which is three weeks before the time of this post. The divorce filing reportedly makes no mention of a prenuptial agreement, and sources told TMZ there isn't one. Maybe the two will get back together in 20 years. For now…bye, Bennifer.