Ben Affleck Breaks Silence on Jennifer Lopez Divorce
Ben Affleck is sharing his side of the story.
Over three months after the Good Will Hunting star and Jennifer Lopez finalized their divorce, he addressed the end of their two-year marriage—which followed an engagement in the mid-aughts before a breakup until 2021.
“There’s a tendency to look at breakups and want to identify root causes or something,” Ben explained to GQ in an interview published March 25. “The truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting.”
And while he acquiesced that he and the Maid in Manhattan star had some fundamental differences in their approach to fame, he emphasized of their breakup, “There’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue.”
The 52-year-old—who shares kids Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13, with ex Jennifer Garner—also added context to a widely circulated clip from Jennifer’s The Greatest Love Story Never Told, where he briefly compared their different perspectives on celebrity life saying, “you don’t marry a ship captain and say you don’t like water.”
As he added to GQ, “As happens in relationships, you don’t always have the same attitude towards these things.”
But while Ben stood by his previous comments made in the documentary, he noted that his and Jennifer’s different takes on fame were not what caused their divorce.
“You’ve got to own what you knew going into any relationship,” he continued. “I think it’s important to say that wasn’t the cause of some major fracture. It’s not like you can watch that documentary and go, ‘Oh, now I understand the issues that these two had.’”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
After opening up on his relationship with the “On The Floor” singer, Ben expressed that he has no hard feelings toward his ex, particularly when it comes to her desire for a more public life.
“This is somebody I have a lot of respect for,” he explained. “And I get wanting to divine or explore the kind of differences in perspective that we have in terms of how a person feels comfortable approaching the line between public and private life.”
He highlighted that when it comes to J.Lo’s desire for fame, he doesn’t have “any negativity or judgment or anything regarding that.”
As for what caused their breakup? It isn’t one thing, Ben noted, and he isn’t going to get into the nitty gritty details any time soon.
“The reason I don’t want to share that is just sort of embarrassing,” he added. “It feels vulnerable.”
Keep reading for a look back at Ben and Jennifer’s romance…
Mel/Getty Images
December 2001: Filming Gigli
The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.
Mel Bouzad/Getty Images
October 2002: Spotted in Beverly Hills
The two are spotted in the city.
Ben-Ari Finegold/Getty Images
November 2002: Filming Gigli and Engagement
The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.
James Devaney/WireImage
November 2002: Filming Jersey Girl
The two film the movie in New York City.
James Devaney/WireImage
November 2002: Leaving MTV’s TRL
Is there anything more ’00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?
Tom Kingston/WireImage
December 2002: Red Carpet Debut
The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
January 2003: Sundance
The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Chris Weeks/WireImage
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
March 2003: Oscars
The two attend the Academy Awards together.
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May 2003: Basketball Game
The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
July 2003: Canada Trip
The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
July 2003: Gigli Premiere
The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.
Moviestore/Shutterstock
August 2003: Gigli Is Released
…it flops at the box office.
Christopher Polk/Jason Merritt/Getty Images for DCP
September 2003: Wedding Is Off
The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
October 2003: Baseball Date
The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben’s favorite.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
January 2004: It’s Over
The two end their engagement.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
September 2021: Red Carpet Royalty
They’re baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images
September 2021: Look of Love
There’s no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one!
Robert Kamau/GC Images
September 2021: Back to the Stage
Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.
Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
September 2021: Met Gala Debut
The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
October 2021: PDA at Premiere
Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
April 2022: Engaged Again!
Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.
onthejlo.com
July 2022: Married!
On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
Pierre Suu/GC Images
July 2022: Post-Wedding Trip to Paris
The two vacation with her twins and two of his kids in the French capital soon after their wedding.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
June 2023: Red Carpet Fabulous
J.Lo steps out with Ben in support of his movie The Flash.
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
February 2024: This Is Them…Now
Jennifer release This Is Me… Now, an album about her relationship with Ben. The record is accompanied by a musical film titled This Is Me… Now: A Love Story and the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
Gotham/GC Images
March 2024: Jenny on the Block
The couple enjoys a day out in NYC on March 30, 2024.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
August 2024: Divorce
J.Lo filed for divorce Aug. 20, listing the date of separation as Apil 26, according to the filing obtained by TMZ.
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