Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after 2 years of marriage: A timeline of their troubles
Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, Yahoo Entertainment can confirm, after two years of marriage.
Lopez filed papers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Aug. 20 — and the date is significant. Exactly two years ago, they said "I do" in Georgia at a lavish wedding ceremony in front of family and friends. The stars eloped weeks prior in July 2022.
Representatives for the couple did not respond to Yahoo's request for comment. Lopez lists the official separation date as April 26.
In May, reports first surfaced that Lopez and Affleck's marriage was on the rocks. Neither star has commented on the relentless rumors, but they didn't do much to dispel them either as they spent the summer on opposite coasts.
Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance in 2021 after two decades apart. After a series of high-profile outings, the couple noticeably lived separate lives over the last five months. Take a look.
March 2024: All seems well
March 30: The couple spent Easter weekend together in New York City and were pictured holding hands. The outing came amid a report Lopez was devastated by the flop of her Affleck-inspired love album This Is Me...Now. It was the last time they were pictured together for over a month.
May: Trouble in paradise
May 6: Lopez attended the Met Gala in New York City sans Affleck. It's notable as she co-chaired the evening and the date would have been on their calendar for some time. The outing came one day after the Oscar winner made a solo appearance at Netflix's Tom Brady roast in L.A.
May 16: People magazine reported it had been 47 days since Lopez and Affleck were publicly pictured together. It's notable coming from the reputable celeb-friendly magazine. Shortly after, Us Weekly claimed "Jen and Ben are having issues in their marriage" but were not splitting. Hours later, the couple were photographed together with their rings on.
Meanwhile, Lopez liked an Instagram post about relationship red flags.
May 17: A source claimed to People that the couple were living separately in Los Angeles as Affleck rented his own home.
May 30: The pair put on a united front to celebrate the graduation of Affleck's daughter Violet.
May 31: After reports of low ticket sales, Lopez officially canceled her "This Is Me...Live" tour at the 11th hour. In her newsletter, the triple threat said she was "completely heartsick and devastated" over the decision but called it "absolutely necessary." Concert promoter Live Nation added in a statement that she's taking time off to be with her "children, family and close friends."
June: They kick off summer separately
June 12: Lopez was seen entering Affleck's rental home, but it was for a graduation party for his and Jennifer Garner's son, Samuel. The superstars were photographed with their wedding rings on when they attended the ceremony earlier that day.
June 16: The singer shared a Father's Day tribute to Affleck calling him "our hero."
June 19: With a suddenly free summer, Lopez was spotted on an Italian vacation with friends. Affleck remained in L.A.
June 28:People reported that while Lopez was on vacation, Affleck quietly moved his stuff out of their shared home.
"Ben continues to live at the Brentwood rental. He’s been there for about two months now," a source claimed. "He seems OK. He's been at his office every day and seems focused on work. He’s also spending time with his kids."
An insider also told the magazine both stars seem "focused on their separate lives" this summer.
July: Bennifer publicly ignore milestones
July 4: The actors celebrated the holiday on opposite coasts, with Lopez in the Hamptons and Affleck in L.A. She "seems fine," an insider told People of Lopez. They both were spotted wearing their wedding rings.
July 12: Although it was reported weeks prior the pair were privately trying to offload their Beverly Hills mansion for $68 million, they officially listed it publicly.
July 14: Lopez was pictured arm-in-arm with Affleck's 18-year-old daughter Violet in the Hamptons.
July 16: The two-year anniversary of their Las Vegas elopement came and went without any acknowledgment on social media. Lopez continued her Hamptons vacation while Affleck remained in L.A.
July 24: Lopez turned 55 without her husband by her side — but she wasn't sitting around moping.
July 25: The singer gave fans a look at a lavish Bridgerton-themed birthday party she threw herself in the Hamptons.
In another video posted to Instagram, she sang that "happy days are here again."
July 27:TMZ reported that Affleck had closed escrow on the Brentwood mansion for $20.5 million. The outlet called a divorce "inevitable" and claimed that Lopez was looking for her own house to purchase in L.A. Lopez was said to be looking for a place of her own as the $60 million mansion they purchased together in 2023 is up for sale.
August: Lopez files for divorce
Aug. 4: Lopez returns from New York and is spotted out in Beverly Hills with Emme, one of her and ex Marc Anthony's 16-year-old twins.
Aug. 15: Affleck turned 52 without much fanfare — or a mention on social media from his wife. A source told People that he had a "small birthday celebration at home" with his kids. However, it was the first confirmed sighting of Lopez and Affleck together in months.
"It's exactly what he wanted. He didn't want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute," says the source. "Jennifer [Lopez] stopped by to congratulate him."
Aug. 20: News broke that Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck.
