Jennifer Lopez made a brief mention of her husband Ben Affleck during her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, May 20, amidst swirling rumors of marital trouble between the celebrity couple. The "On the Floor" singer, 54, shared a story about meeting Barbra Streisand for the first time two decades ago, recalling how the Funny Girl star, 82, had commented on the engagement ring Affleck, 51, had given her "years ago" before their initial split in 2004.
"'So that's a big diamond,'" Lopez remembered Streisand telling her. "And I'm like, 'Yes it is,'" she quipped in response. Despite the opportunity to address the rampant divorce speculation, Lopez refrained from directly commenting on the current state of her marriage to Affleck.
During the interview, Kimmel inquired about Lopez's upcoming This Is Me... Live tour, set to begin in late June and conclude in August. When asked if her 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, would be joining her on tour, Lopez admitted that it can be "awkward" for her children to watch her performances due to her "s---" choreography onstage.
"You don't do s--- things at home?" Kimmel jokingly asked, to which Lopez replied, "I do do s--- things at home sometimes but they don't know about that."
Hours after her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Lopez attended the premiere of her new movie, Atlas, solo, further fueling speculation about the state of her marriage. This solo appearance seems to be a recent trend for the actress, as Affleck has been notably absent from recent red carpet events.
Despite the mounting divorce rumors, a source recently confirmed that the couple has no current plans to separate, although they have been facing "issues in their marriage." The insider explained, "They started having issues a few months ago as Jen had started ramping up work commitments and prepping for her tour."
The source also noted that Lopez is "very focused on work," with a packed schedule that includes numerous movies, concert dates, and advertisement campaigns. "They are on two completely different pages most of the time," the confidante added, suggesting that the couple's busy careers may be contributing to the strain on their relationship.
The brief mention of Affleck during Lopez's Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance comes amid a flurry of reports indicating tension in their nearly two-year marriage. Just days after the couple was seen together in public on May 16 for the first time since March 30, Lopez "liked" social media content about unhealthy relationships. However, on May 19, the pair were spotted together wearing their wedding rings, potentially signaling a united front.
In recent months, Lopez has been busy filming the movie Kiss of the Spiderwoman and promoting her new Netflix film, Atlas, in New York. She also attended the 2024 Met Gala without a date. Meanwhile, Affleck has remained on the West Coast, filming The Accountant 2 and appearing solo at Netflix's live May 5 Roast of Tom Brady.
As speculation about the state of their marriage continues to mount, fans and media outlets alike are eagerly awaiting any definitive news regarding the couple's future. While Lopez's brief acknowledgment of Affleck during her late-night talk show appearance may not have provided the clarity many were hoping for, it serves as a reminder of the intense scrutiny the celebrity couple faces as they navigate their high-profile relationship in the public eye.
