Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, the couple famously dubbed Bennifer, may be heading towards another heartbreaking split. Despite their public appearances together and occasional displays of affection, sources indicate that their marriage has been troubled for months. Rumors of a potential divorce have been swirling, and recent events have only fueled the speculation.
Lopez, 54, and Affleck, 51, have reportedly been living separately for some time. According to Page Six, the couple's marriage has "allegedly been over for months." Despite being seen together wearing their wedding bands, insiders claim that they have been apart since March. In May, Affleck was spotted leaving a house in Brentwood without Lopez, sparking rumors that they were no longer cohabiting.
TMZ reported that Affleck had been frequently seen coming and going from the same house, suggesting he was spending nights there. Around the same time, Lopez was seen house hunting in Beverly Hills with her producing partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, further fueling the speculation.
"Ben already moved out, and they'll likely have to sell the dream house they spent two years searching for," an unnamed source told In Touch. "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."
"The writing is on the wall - it's over," the source added. "They're headed for a divorce - and for once, [Ben's] not to blame!"
The couple's $60 million mansion was put up for sale weeks after Affleck moved out, which only intensified the rumors of an impending divorce. Despite their marital issues, Lopez and Affleck have continued to unite for their children's activities. Lopez was seen joining Affleck for their son Fin's school play and attending Violet and Samuel's graduation ceremonies.
Lopez also took a solo vacation to Italy, but upon her return to California, Affleck was seen wearing his wedding band again. This led some to speculate that the couple might be attempting to reconcile. However, life and heartbreak coach Manj Bahra noted the changes in their dynamics. He suggested that the space might have helped them establish their priorities and strengthen their "conviction of wanting to be together." Still, he acknowledged the possibility that they met to finalize their separation.
"The presence of a wedding ring can often be misleading," Bahra said, referring to Affleck wearing his wedding band.
Jacqueline Newman, a managing partner at the matrimonial law firm Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP, weighed in on the couple's marriage. She believed they might have already settled their differences and potentially signed divorce papers, noting that they were "dropping hints about their marriage ending."
Speculation about their relationship has been rife on social media. A Reddit thread collected comments from users who observed Affleck moving his belongings out of the marital home, leading many to believe a second Bennifer downfall might be imminent. "We doing 2004 over again?" one user asked, referring to Lopez and Affleck's first relationship.
Lopez and Affleck met on the set of their film Gigli in early 2002. They quickly became a high-profile couple, announcing their engagement only a few months later. However, the intense media scrutiny led them to postpone their wedding, and they ultimately called off their engagement in January 2004. Both went on to marry other people.
Two decades later, they rekindled their romance, leading to a second engagement in April 2022 and a wedding in July 2022. However, the past few months have been tumultuous for the couple. Some critics suggested that Lopez's efforts to stay in the limelight might have strained their relationship. "This was her last-ditch effort to get back in the limelight since her tour got canceled, and that silly documentary went nowhere," one Reddit user speculated.
Others pointed to Affleck's past infidelity and his recent time spent with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, as potential sources of tension. After a meeting with Lopez at his office, Affleck was seen at Garner's home in Los Angeles, raising further questions about the state of his marriage with Lopez.
According to insiders, Lopez's attempts to save their failing marriage have ended. "The marriage is completely over, and Jennifer is heartbroken. She loves love and wanted this to work so badly," a source told Fox News Digital.
As the couple navigates this challenging period, the world watches closely, speculating on what lies ahead for Bennifer. Will they find a way to overcome their differences, or is this the end of their Hollywood love story? Only time will tell.
