Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are one of the most talked-about couples in Hollywood, especially after they tied the knot in July 2022. But before they became husband and wife, they had a tumultuous history that spanned two decades.

The pair first met in 2001 on the set of the movie Gigli, where they played love interests. Jennifer Lopez was married to her second husband, Cris Judd, at the time, but she filed for divorce in 2002. Affleck and Lopez soon started dating and became a media sensation, earning the nickname “Bennifer”.

Ben Affleck proposed Jennifer Lopez with a stunning pink diamond ring in 2002

In November 2002, Lopez confirmed her engagement to Affleck in an interview with Diane Sawyer. She said he proposed in a “traditional, but also in a very spectacular way” and that she felt “bigger and realer” than anything she had experienced before.

Affleck had chosen a custom-made Harry Winston pink-diamond solitaire ring for Lopez, which reportedly cost $2.5 million. The ring became one of the most iconic celebrity engagement rings of all time.

The couple postponed their wedding in 2003 due to media pressure

Jennifer Lopez and Affleck were set to get married in September 2003, but they decided to postpone the date just days before the ceremony. They released a statement saying that the “excessive media attention” surrounding their wedding had made them realize that “something was awry”.

They also said that they were contemplating hiring “three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations” to avoid the paparazzi. The couple had already faced intense scrutiny from the press, especially after their movie Gigli flopped at the box office and was panned by critics.

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They broke up in 2004 and moved on with other partners

In January 2004, Jennifer Lopez and Affleck announced their split, ending their 18-month romance. According to sources, they had different visions for their future, with Lopez wanting to settle down and have kids, and Affleck not ready to give up his bachelor lifestyle.

Both of them went on to marry other people and start families of their own. Lopez married singer Marc Anthony in 2004 and had twins, Max and Emme, with him. They divorced in 2014. Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005 and had three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, with her. They separated in 2015 and divorced in 2018.

They reconnected in 2021 and got married in 2022

In April 2021, Lopez and Affleck were spotted together for the first time in over a decade, sparking rumors that they had rekindled their romance. They had both recently ended their previous relationships, with Lopez breaking up with baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and Affleck splitting from actress Ana de Armas.

The pair soon confirmed their relationship and were seen traveling, spending time with their kids, and attending red carpet events together. They also exchanged sweet messages on social media, with Affleck calling Lopez “the love of my life” on her 52nd birthday.

In July 2022, Lopez and Affleck surprised their fans by getting married in a private ceremony in Malibu. They reportedly exchanged vows in front of their close friends and family, including their children from their previous marriages. Lopez wore a white lace gown and Affleck wore a black suit. They also showed off their wedding rings, which were designed by Jennifer Meyer.

Lopez says she and Affleck were not meant to be in 2004

In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lopez opened up about her past and present relationship with Affleck. She said that she and Affleck had a “real love” in 2002, but they were not ready to handle the challenges that came with it.

“We were young and we were in love and we had this crazy, intense relationship that was very public, but we didn’t know how to deal with it,” she said. “We didn’t feel like we were going to make it, so we called it off.”

She also said that she and Affleck remained friends after their breakup and that they always had a “special connection”. She said that when they reconnected in 2021, they felt like they had a “second chance” at happiness.

“We realized that we still loved each other and that we had grown and changed in the right ways,” she said. “We felt like we were meant to be together, but at the right time. And this was the right time.”

Lopez added that she and Affleck are very happy and grateful for their marriage and that they are looking forward to their future together.

“We are so blessed to have each other and our beautiful blended family,” she said. “We are living our dream and we can’t wait to see what’s next.”