Some exes avoid one another at all costs, and then there’s Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The ex-spouses had an affectionate reunion at the premiere for Kiss of the Spider Woman, showing the world that sometimes it’s possible to dissolve a romantic relationship without the irresistible urge to hurl insults at each other on sight. Despite the divorce papers, the two still have more chemistry than most rom-coms.
Here’s the scoop on Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s romantic history — “Bennifer 101,” if you will. Ben Affleck is an Oscar-winning actor, director, producer, one-time Batman, and perpetual broody boy from Boston. Jennifer Lopez is a global superstar, singer, actress, dancer, fashion icon, business mogul, and yes, she’s still Jenny from the block. The couple originally met in 2002 on the set of Gigli, were engaged in 2003, and broke it off prior to the wedding. Fast forward nearly 20 years, and we have Bennifer 2.0. They reunited in 2021, became engaged again, and this time went through with the wedding in Vegas in 2022… and then the divorce was finalized in 2025. It’s OK though — they still seem to be one another’s favorite plus-one.
Lopez is the star and producer of the recently released Kiss of the Spider Woman, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical (itself an adaptation of a novel). Ben Affleck may be her ex-husband, but his and Matt Damon’s company, Artists Equity, was pivotal in bringing the story to life — showing that even post-divorce, you can still have a beautiful creative partnership. Lopez has spoken publicly about how much the project meant to her, explaining that it became her emotional outlet during the breakup. Affleck, apparently, provided crucial behind-the-scenes support. Think: funding, producing, championing the film’s vision — y’know, all the little things that aren’t so little. Him handling all that allowed Lopez to keep her focus on her performance, creating a piece of work she can be proud of.
When it came time for the premiere, there were sparks, there was support, and there was a former couple showing the rest of the world how to go about supporting one another after the romantic relationship ends. Onlookers weren’t exactly expecting the joint appearance on the red carpet, but they met one another with warm smiles and friendly affection. Each publicly praised the other — with Jennifer thanking Ben and Artists Equity for making the film possible, and Ben calling Jennifer “incredible” and applauding her talent, versatility, and relentless dedication. Recently, Jennifer was interviewed by a Today host who asked her about the divorce. She brushed off the question with a playful “look at this guy,” showing that she’s steering the narrative and will be protecting both her privacy and Affleck’s as they move forward. Honestly, their moment on the red carpet together had more warm fuzzies than many Hollywood couples who are still very much together.
This romantic chapter may be over (for now?), but Bennifer is forever. Their creative and personal bond is clearly as strong as ever, and we can optimistically look forward to more artistic collaborations between the two. Maybe “happily ever after” doesn’t always require a traditional ride off into the sunset. Maybe sometimes, it means cheering on your ex on a big night when they’re being celebrated. They may not be Mr. and Mrs. anymore, but Bennifer is still proving that you don’t have to follow the Hollywood rulebook on breakups.
