Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Continue To Give Us Early Aughts Déjà Vu
As Bennifer’s rekindled romance progresses, our Y2K flashbacks only get stronger with each passing candid of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck together.
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 7: Celebrities, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend a game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers on December 7, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
While Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s first run at romance was almost 20 years ago now, their fresh start is giving all of us millennials major flashbacks. This week, the pair attended the Boston Celtics vs. LA Lakers game at the Staples Center in LA, calling to mind their PDA filled shots snapped by the paparazzi from when the couple sat court-side back in 2003.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 11: Actor Ben Affleck (L) and his fiance actress/singer Jennifer Lopez attend the Los Angeles Lakers v. San Antonio Spurs playoff game at the Staples Center May 11, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
No, it’s not a hallucination. History is merely repeating itself. Managing to find their way back to one another after all these years, the “Bennifer” reemergence is constantly having us recall the days of the Hollywood couple’s past and the word iconic doesn’t quite cover it. In a time before social media and scrolling timelines, paparazzi shots of our beloved “Bennifer” saturated our televisions and were plastered across grocery store tabloid magazine covers.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck arriving at the “Maid In Manhattan” world premiere at The Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City. December 8, 2002. Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images.NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 09: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend “The Last Duel” New York Premiere at Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall on October 09, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD – MARCH 23: Actors Ben Affleck and fiancee Jennifer Lopez, wearing Harry Winston jewelry, attends the 75th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater on March 23, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 10: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the red carpet of the movie “The Last Duel” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage)
With photos filled to the brim with unabashed PDA and some super chaotic Y2K ensembles (think Juicy Couture tracksuits and Timberland boots), Ben Affleck and J.Lo imbued the celebrity media landscape from 2002 to 2004. With having filmed the infamous film “Gigli” together, the two announced their engagement in 2002 only to call off their autumn 2003 wedding days prior due to “excessive media attention.” The pair ultimately split in early 2004, shattering all of our 6.1-carat pink diamond dreams.
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 27: (***EXCLUSIVE***) Actors Ben Affleck (L) and Jennifer Lopez (R) go for a walk October 27, 2002 in New York City. (Photo by Mario Magnani/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 04: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are seen on December 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
After Affleck and J.Lo suffered very public breakups with ex-wife Jennifer Garner and Alex Rodriguez respectively, the impassioned nostalgia surrounding the pervasive pair’s return as a couple is enduring to say the least. Internet sleuths have been identifying jewelry being pulled out of the woodwork today that was gifted during their previous relationship, a bracelet for Jenny From The Block and a watch for Ben. While their wardrobes have certainly received much needed updates, not much else has changed since their first merry-go-round. Gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes on red carpets, sitting court-side, and cheeky PDA, Bennifer 2.0 is as loved by the public as they always have been.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 20: (FILE PHOTO) Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck hold hands while filming her new music video at Barefoot restaurant on October 20, 2002 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ben-Ari Finegold/Getty Images)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 10: Ben Affleck (L) and Jennifer Lopez are seen in Midtown on October 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
