Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have decided to end their marriage. According to sources close to the couple, divorce papers will be filed before the end of the summer. One of the deciding factors for this split seems to have been Lopez’s new Delola cocktail line, which was launched in April 2023.
Lopez’s alcohol venture was deemed “insulting and dangerous” by Affleck, who has battled alcoholism for years. “Lopez’s brand of alcohol was one of the things that broke the camel’s back,” a friend of the actor told the Daily Mail. According to this anonymous source, the fact that the singer promoted her love of drinking to “relax and let loose” turned out to be a personal affront to the actor.
The release of Delola appears to have marked the beginning of problems for the couple. “Lopez’s promotional campaign was seen as a personal insult,” another source told the British tabloid. Affleck, who has been in rehab multiple times since 2001, saw this as rubbing his addiction in her face, which increased her discomfort.
Media pressure on Ben Affleck
In addition to the conflict over Delola, differences in lifestyle led to a series of disagreements between them. While Ben Affleck preferred to maintain a more private life, Jennifer Lopez sought constant media exposure.
“His obsession with fame became too much for him,” an insider told the Daily Mail, adding that Lopez felt the need to be photographed and adored.
Another source of tension was the purchase of a mansion in Beverly Hills valued at USD 68 million. Affleck considered the acquisition excessively expensive and, according to sources close to the Daily Mail, “it never felt like a home to him”.
The disagreements over financial decisions and lifestyle would have contributed significantly to the breakup.
Jennifer Lopez documentary disappointment
The commercial failure of J.Lo’s documentary, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, also had an impact on the relationship. Ben Affleck opposed the project and was upset by the public exposure of his private life.
“She didn’t want her love story to be told so publicly,” a source told the same newspaper.
Affleck recently purchased a $20.5 million home in Los Angeles, close to his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their children. ET reports that the actor is “feeling hopeful for change” and looking to make co-parenting easier.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday last month in New York, surrounded by friends and family. According to a source told the Daily Mail, the singer is “doing her best to stay positive and focus on the good things in her life” amid divorce rumors. She also canceled her summer tour, citing the need to spend time with her family and friends.
The couple, who tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2022 and held a second ceremony in Georgia, have not been seen together in weeks. Both are focused on their children: Lopez’s 16-year-old twins and Affleck’s three children, ages 19, 15 and 12. Sources close to the couple indicate that the children are handling the situation as best as possible and that they maintain a close relationship with each other.
Ben and Jennifer rekindled their relationship in 2021, almost two decades after their first engagement in 2002. Despite efforts to reconcile in recent weeks, sources claim that "divorce documents are finalized but have not yet been filed." The couple is expected to issue a joint statement when the split is made official.