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The news cycle surrounding Hollywood’s greatest reunion story, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, has been a little confusing lately. From shock reports that the two had resorted to living separately amid marriage troubles to loved-up paparazzi pictures and blurry shots of Affleck with and without his wedding band, the past week has been a rollercoaster for fans of the couple.
So, let’s break it down based on the facts.
May 15
InTouch reports that the newlyweds were heading for divorce, with Affleck already moved out of their home amid high tensions with his wife. According to a source, the duo still faces the same issues that caused them to break up almost two decades ago.
“[They] said they’d matured and learned from their mistakes, but some of the bigger issues that tore them apart the first time remained the same,” the source told the outlet. “They’ll never stop loving each other, but she can’t control him, and he can’t change her. There’s no way it could have lasted.”
May 16, 2024
The next day, TMZ published photos of the Argo star driving back and forth from a house in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
While the couple only just bought their Beverly Hills property last year, the rumours cast a more sombre light on photos of Lopez house hunting around L.A. a few weeks ago. ‘Bennifer’ haven’t been photographed together since March this year.
May 17, 2024
With rumours ramping up, J-Lo was snapped on March 17, proudly donning her wedding ring and smiling ear-to-ear.
On the same day, though, Affleck was spotted without his wedding ring while driving around, per photos captured by TMZ.
May 19, 2024
Two days later, the actor stepped out with his ring back on.
That same day, Lopez ‘liked’ a cryptic post on Instagram that explained why you cannot build a healthy relationship with anyone who; “doesn’t know who they are or what they want,” “lacks integrity and emotional safety,” “doesn’t respect your time, doesn’t think it’s important to call/text back in a respectable time frame,” and “lacks effective communication skills.”
Paparazzi photos then emerged of the two smiling from their car, effectively shutting down rumours of a split… kind of.
May 20, 2024
Lopez attends the premiere of Netflix’s Atlas alone in Los Angeles.
Despite rocking a ginormous ring on her right hand, it was her understated wedding band that really made a statement.
It’s been reported that Affleck is busy filming for the sequel to The Accountant, but sources have seemingly confirmed that there is a rift.
One insider alluded to InTouch that the two want different things.
A major point of contention between the pair has always been their respective relationships with the spotlight. Lopez has never shied away from attention, while Affleck prefers to keep a low profile. In Lopez’s documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, her husband admitted to struggling with this.
“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,” he said. “It’s sort of, like, you’re going to marry a boat captain, and you go, ‘Well, I don’t want the water.’ We’re trying to learn to compromise.”
Affleck and Lopez first dated in the early 2000s after meeting on the set of Gigli. They were just days away from tying the knot when they called off their wedding in 2003, remaining together until calling it quits altogether in January 2004.
Then in 2021, after Lopez ended her engagement to Alex Rodriguez and Affleck split with Ana de Armas, the couple reconciled and got married in July 2022.
