Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck
Hollywood stars Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are divorcing after two years of marriage.
According to court documents obtained by the BBC, Lopez filed for divorce on Tuesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The couple, often referred to as “Bennifer” by tabloids, officially wed in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a larger ceremony in Georgia the next month.
Their relationship began after meeting on the set of the 2003 film Gigli. Although they initially planned to marry that year, they called off their engagement in early 2004. Nearly 20 years later, they rekindled their romance.
In 2022, Lopez expressed her feelings about their reunion, saying, “Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” after announcing their Las Vegas wedding.
The BBC has reached out to their representatives for comment.
Court filings reveal that Lopez or her attorney must notify Affleck of her petition to dissolve their marriage.
Reports suggest that Lopez, who had legally changed her last name to Affleck, did not include details of a prenuptial agreement in her divorce filing.
A document from the Los Angeles Superior Court indicates that both Lopez, 55, and Affleck, 52, are required to share financial details, including income, expenses, properties, and debts.
The court has given Lopez 60 days to submit her financial disclosure, after which Affleck will have another 60 days to provide his own financial information. Both parties must keep the court updated on any changes to their finances until a final agreement on financial matters is reached.
The filing says if either fails to report or update financial information, it could result in a court-imposed sanction.
There have been months of speculation over their relationship. They reportedly put their Beverly Hills mansion up for sale at $65m (£50m) and were pictured out separately not wearing their wedding rings.
Affleck, a two-time Oscar winner, was previously married to the actress Jennifer Garner, who he met on the set of 2001 romance Pearl Harbor. They split in 2015 after a decade of marriage and have three children together.
Lopez has been married four times, first to Cuban-born waiter Ojani Noa from 1997-98; then to her former backup dancer Cris Judd from 2001-03; and to singer Marc Anthony, with whom she had twins, from 2004-14.
The singer and actress, known as J.Lo, was also once engaged to New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.