Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Divorce: A Full Recap of Her Decision to File on Their Anniversary and More

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Lopez (left) and Ben Affleck.Photo:Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Franco Origlia/Getty

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Franco Origlia/Getty

After months of speculation, Jennifer Lopez has officially moved to dissolveher two-year marriagetoBen Affleck.The multi-hyphenatefiled for divorceon Tuesday, Aug. 20 — the second anniversary of the couple’s romanticSouthern wedding in Georgia in 2022. They legally married in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022.PEOPLE has reported for months that the couple was experiencing relationship turmoil, a shocking end to their rekindled romance after previouslybreaking upin Jan. 2004.“She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken,” a source told PEOPLE of Lopez.Keep reading for a full recap as PEOPLE covered the initial news of Lopez and Affleck’s divorce — including what happened and what’s next.

After months of speculation, Jennifer Lopez has officially moved to dissolveher two-year marriagetoBen Affleck.

The multi-hyphenatefiled for divorceon Tuesday, Aug. 20 — the second anniversary of the couple’s romanticSouthern wedding in Georgia in 2022. They legally married in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022.

PEOPLE has reported for months that the couple was experiencing relationship turmoil, a shocking end to their rekindled romance after previouslybreaking upin Jan. 2004.

“She tried really hard to make things work, and is heartbroken,” a source told PEOPLE of Lopez.

Keep reading for a full recap as PEOPLE covered the initial news of Lopez and Affleck’s divorce — including what happened and what’s next.

Ben Affleck Visited Japan with Ex Jennifer Garner and Their Kids Before New Divorce FilingAugust 21, 2024 03:20 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostBen Affleck recently joined Jennifer Garner and their three kids on a trip to Japan, PEOPLE confirmed. Affleck didn’t appear in a carousel of photos and videos from the trip thatGarner shared on Instagram on Aug. 15, but he was there.Theactressposted highlights from her “dream trip” to the country, which included eating ramen noodles, boat rides, and trying fresh abalone.Jennifer Lopez was not in attendance.Read the full story here.

Ben Affleck Visited Japan with Ex Jennifer Garner and Their Kids Before New Divorce Filing

August 21, 2024 03:20 PM EDT

Ben Affleck recently joined Jennifer Garner and their three kids on a trip to Japan, PEOPLE confirmed. Affleck didn’t appear in a carousel of photos and videos from the trip thatGarner shared on Instagram on Aug. 15, but he was there.

Theactressposted highlights from her “dream trip” to the country, which included eating ramen noodles, boat rides, and trying fresh abalone.

Jennifer Lopez was not in attendance.

Read the full story here.

Jennifer Lopez’s Divorce Filing Is Unusual — Here’s WhyAugust 21, 2024 11:24 AM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostJennifer Lopez opted to file her divorce paperwork without using a lawyer, a move that’s both unusual and indicates that she “just wanted to get this done” and move forward, a legal expert tells PEOPLE.Marilyn Chinitz, who is the matrimonial partner at Blank Rome LLP, said of Lopez filing pro se, “I think that she most likely just wanted to get this done, [that] there was a lot of hesitation and hemming and hawing back and forth, and it’s a statement, ‘I’m moving forward, I’m filing and I’m doing it on my own.'“Read the full story here.

Jennifer Lopez’s Divorce Filing Is Unusual — Here’s Why

August 21, 2024 11:24 AM EDT

Jennifer Lopez opted to file her divorce paperwork without using a lawyer, a move that’s both unusual and indicates that she “just wanted to get this done” and move forward, a legal expert tells PEOPLE.

Marilyn Chinitz, who is the matrimonial partner at Blank Rome LLP, said of Lopez filing pro se, “I think that she most likely just wanted to get this done, [that] there was a lot of hesitation and hemming and hawing back and forth, and it’s a statement, ‘I’m moving forward, I’m filing and I’m doing it on my own.'”

Ben Affleck Steps Out Without His Wedding Ring After Divorce FilingAugust 21, 2024 10:22 AM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostThough Ben Affleck has been spotted in recent weeks with and without his wedding band, it was definitely off when he stepped out in Los Angeles on Aug. 20 after Jennifer Lopezfiled for divorce.Affleck was photographed walking in the parking lot of the building while wearing a gray T-shirt, jeans and black-tinted sunglasses.Read the full story here.

Ben Affleck Steps Out Without His Wedding Ring After Divorce Filing

August 21, 2024 10:22 AM EDT

Though Ben Affleck has been spotted in recent weeks with and without his wedding band, it was definitely off when he stepped out in Los Angeles on Aug. 20 after Jennifer Lopezfiled for divorce.

Affleck was photographed walking in the parking lot of the building while wearing a gray T-shirt, jeans and black-tinted sunglasses.

Ben Affleck Didn’t Show ‘Any Interest’ in Fixing His Marriage to Jennifer Lopez, a Source SaysAugust 20, 2024 10:10 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostBen Affleck did not show “any commitment and interest” in making the marriage work, a source tells PEOPLE.Jennifer Lopez is “very disappointed and sad, but Ben [Affleck] hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” the source explains. “He hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work. It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.“Read the full story here.

Ben Affleck Didn’t Show ‘Any Interest’ in Fixing His Marriage to Jennifer Lopez, a Source Says

August 20, 2024 10:10 PM EDT

Ben Affleck did not show “any commitment and interest” in making the marriage work, a source tells PEOPLE.

Jennifer Lopez is “very disappointed and sad, but Ben [Affleck] hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” the source explains. “He hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work. It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.”

Source Explains Jennifer Lopez Choosing to File for Divorce on Her Wedding AnniversaryAugust 20, 2024 09:17 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostJennifer Lopez filed for divorce on the second anniversary of the date she and Ben Affleck celebrated their marriage with a wedding celebration in Georgia.“She was done waiting and the date she did it speaks a ton,” a source tells PEOPLE of Lopez, 55, who filed for divorce on Tuesday, Aug. 20, without a lawyer.The move “gives her control of the process,” adds the source. “It’s good that she did it.“Read the full story here.

Source Explains Jennifer Lopez Choosing to File for Divorce on Her Wedding Anniversary

August 20, 2024 09:17 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce on the second anniversary of the date she and Ben Affleck celebrated their marriage with a wedding celebration in Georgia.

“She was done waiting and the date she did it speaks a ton,” a source tells PEOPLE of Lopez, 55, who filed for divorce on Tuesday, Aug. 20, without a lawyer.

The move “gives her control of the process,” adds the source. “It’s good that she did it.”

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s Kids Are Their ‘Top Priority’ amid DivorceAugust 20, 2024 09:14 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostJennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s five kids remain “a top priority,”a source tells PEOPLE, as they move to end their marriage.“The kids are a top priority, as they always have been,” theinsider elaborates.TheHustlersstar has spent time with Affleck’s children as recently as Aug. 11. On that day, she visited his rental home in Brentwood and brought Ben’s son Samuel to the mall.And in In July, Lopez was spotted walking arm-in-arm with Ben’s daughter Violetin the Hamptons.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s Kids Are Their ‘Top Priority’ amid Divorce

August 20, 2024 09:14 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s five kids remain “a top priority,”a source tells PEOPLE, as they move to end their marriage.

“The kids are a top priority, as they always have been,” theinsider elaborates.

TheHustlersstar has spent time with Affleck’s children as recently as Aug. 11. On that day, she visited his rental home in Brentwood and brought Ben’s son Samuel to the mall.

And in In July, Lopez was spotted walking arm-in-arm with Ben’s daughter Violetin the Hamptons.

Jennifer Lopez Did Visit Ben Affleck on His 52nd Birthday on Aug. 15

August 20, 2024 08:47 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopezsaw Ben Affleck at least as recently as last week,when he celebrated his52nd birthdayon Thursday, Aug. 15.

A source previously told PEOPLEthat Affleck marked the occasion with a “small birthday celebration at home” with his kids, Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12.

Ben Affleck Just Returned to L.A. Ahead of the Divorce Filing After Taking Daughter to CollegeAugust 20, 2024 08:39 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostOnly hours before Jennifer Lopez filed to end her marriage to Ben Affleck, the actor landed back in Los Angeles after dropping his and Jennifer Garner’s daughter Violet off to college at Yale University.Garner, Ben and Violet were in New Haven, Connecticut, for the 18-year-old’s freshman year move-in.A sourcetold PEOPLE this weekthat Ben’s focus has been on preparing Violet for college: “It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks.“Read the full story here.

Ben Affleck Just Returned to L.A. Ahead of the Divorce Filing After Taking Daughter to College

August 20, 2024 08:39 PM EDT

Only hours before Jennifer Lopez filed to end her marriage to Ben Affleck, the actor landed back in Los Angeles after dropping his and Jennifer Garner’s daughter Violet off to college at Yale University.

Garner, Ben and Violet were in New Haven, Connecticut, for the 18-year-old’s freshman year move-in.

A sourcetold PEOPLE this weekthat Ben’s focus has been on preparing Violet for college: “It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks.”

August 20, 2024 08:34 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez has had time to process her split from Ben Affleck, and is ready to “move on,” an insider close to the This Is Me… Now singer tells PEOPLE.

Lopez listed an April 2024 separation date from Affleck in the divorce papers she filed in Los Angeles on Aug. 20. The pair married in July 2022.

“She’s very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” says the insider.

Jennifer Lopez Filed for Divorce Because She Was ‘Done Waiting’: SourceAugust 20, 2024 08:24 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostA source tells PEOPLE exclusively that Jennifer Lopez “was done waiting” to make the call to end her marriage to Ben Affleck after two years, which is why she self-filed for divorce on Tuesday.“She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken,” added the source. “The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”Lopez is mom to 16-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex Marc Anthony, while Ben Affleck has three children — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.Read the full story here.

Jennifer Lopez Filed for Divorce Because She Was ‘Done Waiting’: Source

August 20, 2024 08:24 PM EDT

A source tells PEOPLE exclusively that Jennifer Lopez “was done waiting” to make the call to end her marriage to Ben Affleck after two years, which is why she self-filed for divorce on Tuesday.

“She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken,” added the source. “The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”

Lopez is mom to 16-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex Marc Anthony, while Ben Affleck has three children — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Jennifer Lopez Says She Separated from Ben Affleck in AprilAugust 20, 2024 07:53 PM EDTCopy The Link To This Blog PostJennifer Lopez listed her date of separation from husband Ben Affleck as April 26, 2024 on the divorce paperwork she self-filed in Los Angeles on Aug. 20. On that day in April, Lopez wasphotographed in N.Y.C.It was not long after that PEOPLE first reported that something was amiss in the pair’s romance, after Affleckdid not attendthe2024 Met Galawith Lopez, a co-chair.Later in May,a source told PEOPLEthat the pair’s marriage was “not in the best place at the moment.”

Jennifer Lopez Says She Separated from Ben Affleck in April

August 20, 2024 07:53 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez listed her date of separation from husband Ben Affleck as April 26, 2024 on the divorce paperwork she self-filed in Los Angeles on Aug. 20. On that day in April, Lopez wasphotographed in N.Y.C.

It was not long after that PEOPLE first reported that something was amiss in the pair’s romance, after Affleckdid not attendthe2024 Met Galawith Lopez, a co-chair.

Later in May,a source told PEOPLEthat the pair’s marriage was “not in the best place at the moment.”

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source: people.com