Jania Ashlynn
There’s simply nothing sweeter than a second-chance romance. No matter the place, time, or decade, rekindled love has a way of convincing us that soulmates just might be something we can all believe in.
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As we take a look at some of the iconic places Cupid’s arrow has flown, we must anchor our hearts and eyes on the rollercoaster romance of two Hollywood elites: Actor Ben Affleck and the multi-talented performer Jennifer Lopez.
When Benny Met Jenny
Our journey begins in 2002 when the lovers starred in a mobster film called Gigli. Critics say that the pair’s on-screen chemistry was moot, but it seems as if this poorly-rated film was merely setting the stage for something else entirely.
During this time, Lopez was bound in matrimony to her second husband Cris Judd, but this nine-month courtship ended in crisis when Jennifer filed for divorce from the dancer. Soon after, she officially announced her relationship with Affleck to the public.
Here Comes The Bride…Again
Apparently, love does cost a thing. Jennifer began sporting a massive six-carat diamond engagement ring from the Deep Water actor just five months after they began seeing one another.
Spectators suspect that the two sparked their romance long before they announced it and even longer before Jennifer was officially signed and unsealed from her previous marriage, but both celebs have denied these allegations stating that they maintained a platonic friendship throughout Lopez’s marriage and didn’t begin dating until she was divorced.
Their engagement lasted a little over a year, but the long-awaited “I Do’s” were never said between the two. The couple announced their split in January 2004, citing unwarranted public eyes as the reason they parted ways.
Seeing Other People
The Jenny From The Block singer married Marc Anthony in June 2004 and another Jennifer won Ben’s heart and wedding vows that following year. Garner and Affleck enjoyed a quiet ceremony in the Turks And Caicos in the summer of ’05.
The two welcomed a total of five children with their early-2000s partners. Lopez gave birth to twins with Marc Anthony and Ben’s then-wife, actress Jennifer Garner, had three children during their thirteen years of marriage.
Marc Anthony filed for divorce from Lopez in 2012, but it was not finalized until mid-2014. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck confirmed their split in late-2018.
As the years passed, both Lopez and Affleck were involved in a few serious relationships including Lopez’s engagement to MLB icon Alex Rodriquez and Ben’s one-year romance with actress Ana De Armas; both of which were null and void by the spring of 2021.
Second Chances
Glamour magazine began reporting sightings of the two that same year. As the months sprawled forward, they shared several moments together at award ceremonies, quick trips to Big Sky, and galavanting around the busy streets of Los Angeles.
By summertime, photos leaked of the two engaged in passionate PDA, and Jennifer later confirmed their relationship in an Instagram post for her 52nd birthday.
They donned red carpets, sparkled at several public appearances, and attended the premiere of Affleck’s 2021 film The Last Duel arm-in-arm.
After a year of being on-again, Lopez announced their second engagement through her personal newsletter On The JLo in April 2022 and by July, they shocked the entertainment world with a swift marriage that took place in none other than Las Vegas, Nevada.
Since then, the two have been loved-up cover-to-cover on every platform and publication reminding us that all things, and all flings, deserve a second chance.
