“They just have very different approaches when it comes to media attention. Ben hates all attention and it makes him very uncomfortable. Jennifer has always had a different approach,” one source said.

Another source in the film industry added that while Affleck has always “been impressed” by Lopez’s work ethic, he struggled with the public aspect of her life.

“Even though he admires that about her, it doesn’t make him happy and causes stress in his life and then in hers. There is no question their different styles clash,” the source said.

A third source in the music industry echoed their sentiments, adding that Lopez “needs that expression but Affleck simply is not comfortable with it.”

“After a while it causes tension in the relationship,” the source said. “He is more introspective and private. She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world. This makes them considerably different, and it has been difficult in the day-to-day relationship.”

“There have always been clashes in their styles, how they handle issues, and their actions, but nothing has stopped their love over the years,” they added. “This is a great love story.”

May 20, 2024: Jennifer Lopez steps out solo for the premiere of Atlas in Los Angeles

Lopez attended the Atlas premiere in Los Angeles solo, sharing a little bit about her character, a driven data analyst, with PEOPLE.

“We are so different because she’s like … doesn’t wear any of her emotions. She’s so closed off and I am too much emotion sometimes,” she said. “But at the same time we are both very strong and sure of what they feel. At times.”

She continued, “She was very sure. She was like, ‘This is what’s happening, please listen to me. Please tell me.’ And felt very misunderstood at times. I can also relate to that a bit.”

May 20, 2024: Jennifer Lopez mentions Ben Affleck during a late-night show appearance

After the Atlas premiere, Lopez appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and name-dropped Affleck while sharing the story of how she first met Barbra Streisand. She shared that Streisand had commented on her engagement ring “at the time, that Ben had given me years ago” (they were engaged in 2002 before calling it off in 2004).

“’So that’s a big diamond,’ ” she said of Streisand’s reply before agreeing, “And I’m like, ‘Yes it is.’ “

May 21, 2024: Ben Affleck steps out in Santa Monica wearing his wedding ring while Jennifer Lopez promotes her movie Atlas in Mexico

As Lopez took her promotional tour for Atlas to Mexico City, Affleck stayed behind in Santa Monica. The Gone Girl actor was seen out with a group of guy friends with his wedding ring on full display on his left hand.

Meanwhile, Lopez stunned in an all-white flowing gown on the red carpet at the premiere at the Plaza Toreo Parque Central.

May 22, 2024: Jennifer Lopez evades a reporter’s question about her “situation” with Ben Affleck

While participating in a press day in Mexico, a reporter interrupted proceedings with a personal question for Lopez.

“Is your divorce with Ben Affleck real? These rumors?” the unidentified reporter asked. “What is the truth? Para le press le Mexicana [for the Mexican press], what is the truth of the situation?”

Lopez’s costar, Simu Liu, immediately said, “Okay we’re not doing that,” while Lopez leaned in and looked directly at the reporter, responding, “You know better than that.”

May 30, 2024: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck hold hands while attending his daughter’s high school graduation

Lopez joined Affleck and his family to celebrate his daughter Violet’s high school graduation. They were also accompanied by Affleck’s two younger children, Seraphina and Samuel, as well as Lopez’s twins, Emme and Max.

Photos from the event published by The Daily Mail showed the couple holding hands. “She seemed upbeat and engaged,” an onlooker said.

June 2, 2024: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend his son’s basketball game together

In another public outing supporting Affleck’s kids, Lopez was by her husband’s side at his son Samuel’s basketball game in Santa Monica, Calif. The couple were photographed kissing each other on the cheek as they met up outside the YMCA with Affleck’s mother Chris Anne Boldt.

“It’s a good sign they were at the game together,” an insider told PEOPLE.

June 8, 2024: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are selling their Beverly Hills mansion

TMZ reported that the couple were listing their Beverly Hills home that they bought together in 2023 amid their marriage strain.

The 38,000 square-foot home is located on five acres of land, and the house has “12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a 12-car garage and a pool, plus a sports complex with basketball and pickleball facilities, a gym and a boxing ring,” per the Wall Street Journal.

June 11, 2024: A source tells PEOPLE that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are still on good terms

A few days after Lopez was seen solo at Giorgio Baldi wearing both her wedding and engagement ring, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the two were still on good terms.

“They’re still friendly and see each other every few days,” the source close to Lopez said.

June 23, 2024: Ben Affleck photographed without his wedding band in Los Angeles

In photos published by the Daily Mail, Affleck was seen without his wedding band when he stepped out for lunch at Tasty Noodle House in Los Angeles with daughter Violet.

Meanwhile, Lopez was vacationing in Italy with friends.

June 28, 2024: Ben Affleck moves his belongings out of the home he shared with Jennifer Lopez

A source told PEOPLE that Affleck took the opportunity to move his belongings out of his shared home with Lopez while she was in Europe. The move took place less than a month after the mansion was put on the market.

“Ben continues to live at the Brentwood rental. He’s been there for about two months now,” another source said. “He seems okay. He’s been at his office every day and seems focused on work. He’s also spending time with his kids.”

July 8, 2024: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck spend the Fourth of July weekend apart

A source close to Lopez told PEOPLE that the actress spent time “with family and friends” in the Hamptons in New York over the Independence Day weekend, and “always enjoys” the spot.

Meanwhile, another source told PEOPLE that Affleck spent the weekend in Los Angeles with his three children and in his office.

July 21, 2024: Ben Affleck spotted without his wedding ring as Jennifer Lopez celebrates her birthday without him

On July 21, Affleck was photographed without his wedding ring again while out and about by himself in L.A.

That same weekend, Lopez celebrated her July 24 birthday early with a Bridgerton-themed party in the Hamptons.

August 6, 2024: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are “moving on separately”

A source told PEOPLE that Affleck and Lopez had gone “weeks” without seeing each other.

“They’re moving on separately. Jennifer is trying to find a new home to start fresh,” the source said, later adding that she had been “keeping a good attitude” despite the couple’s split.

August 11, 2024: Source says Jennifer Lopez spent time with Ben Affleck at his home in Los Angeles

After spending the summer apart, Lopez stopped by Affleck’s home in Los Angeles, according to a source. More recently, the actress has been spending a lot of quality time with Affleck’s kids.

“Just because she’s not with Ben doesn’t mean that she doesn’t care about his kids,” the insider told PEOPLE. “She always cared about them. She spent months looking for the perfect house for their blended family last year. Now when she’s back in L.A. she wants to spend quality time with them before school resumes and Violet is off to college.”

August 20, 2024: Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck

Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck on the second anniversary of their Georgia nuptials and listed April 26, 2024, as the date of separation. Sources told TMZ that the couple doesn’t have a prenuptial agreement in place.

“She’s very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” an insider told PEOPLE. “He hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work. It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.”

October 9, 2024: Jennifer Lopez says split from Ben Affleck almost took her out “for good”

During a conversation with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview, Lopez said she doesn’t regret filing for divorce from Affleck but admitted that the pain almost broke her.

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t almost take me out for good. It almost did,” she said. “But now, on the other side of it, I think to myself, ‘F—, that is exactly what I needed. Thank you, god. I’m sorry it took me so long. I’m sorry that you had to do this to me so many times. I should have learned it two or three times ago.’ “

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Reveal Bromantic Reason They Got Into Business Together: ‘How Much Life Do We Have Left?’

“Life is just a lot more fun and rewarding when we’re spending time together,” said Ben Affleck

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are pinpointing the sweet reason they decided to get into business together.

The longtime friends, who grew up together in Boston, won Oscar gold for writing the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting, in which they also starred, before launching major Hollywood careers on their own.

In November 2022, they announced they were forming a production company together called Artists Equity, which has since produced movies like Air, The Instigators, Small Things Like These and Unstoppable.

Speaking to Deadline, Damon, 54, and Affleck, 52, shared what inspired their decision, which sparked while they were both acting in the Ridley Scott film The Last Duel, which came out in 2021.

“We had this experience on The Last Duel. Ben and I hadn’t written together in so long, and I watched that Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, the one that ends with that performance on the roof,” recalled Damon.

“These guys are playing, and it’s The Beatles, and they’re live and you can see the joy that they’re playing with. They’re so excited, and then Peter Jackson puts a chyron up that says, this is the last live performance that the Beatles ever gave.”

Damon said he watched The Beatles: Get Back documentary with his youngest daughter Stella when he got emotional thinking about his own legacy.

“… She turned and looked at me. She said, ‘Dad, why are you crying?’ I had tears running down my face because of the missed opportunity that these four incredible musicians who clearly loved each other never got,” he said. “That was the impetus behind putting this company together.”

Damon said, “I was like, what are we doing, man? Both of us, this is what we love to do more than anything. The only thing better is doing it together, in any capacity, whether he’s directing or whether we’re acting together or whether we’re producing together, or whether we’re just facilitating for other filmmakers.”

“How much life do we have left and what are we going to do with it?” he added.

Damon is chief content officer of the Los Angeles–based company, while Affleck works as CEO and Damon’s wife Luciana plays a key role. One of their next projects is a movie with Netflix titled RIP, in which Damon and Affleck star as undercover cops. (They’re growing out their beards together for the roles.)

In the same Deadline interview, Affleck explained that he and Damon wanted to spend more time working together.

“… Really at the root of this company was Matt and my realization that your life is defined so much by the people that you spend time with every day,” he said. “On The Last Duel, we agreed we ought to do more stuff together. Life is just a lot more fun and rewarding when we’re spending time together, and working together.”

“If we can choose who we want to be around, let’s make that a really rewarding part of our lives. And that was as much a guiding principle of this, going forward,” he continued. “Who do we want to be partners and making movies just in terms of who do we want to spend time with, who do we want to be partners with? What do we want?”

Damon previously told Entertainment Tonight of his long-lasting friendship and partnership with Affleck, “I’ve known him for 35 years, and we grew up together. We were both in love with the same thing: acting and filmmaking.”

“I think we fed on each other’s obsession during really formative, important years,” he added, “and that bonded us for life.”

Jen Affleck Sets the Record Straight on Whether She’s Actually Related to Ben Affleck (Exclusive)

The rumors about the possible Utah-Boston connection had fans talking in season one

Jennifer Affleck is an Affleck, through and through.

Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively about the upcoming season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Jen coyly addresses another topic of conversation from the first season: her supposed relation to Ben Affleck.

The subject of her husband Zac being a cousin to the Hollywood power family first came up in season 1 of the hit Hulu series. However, in the months after it aired, many called into question the validity of Jen’s claims.

“I brought it up once and press ran with it, and I feel like that’s all I’ve ever talked about since then,” she tells PEOPLE. “But at this point, I’m like, ‘Hey, if I meet Ben Affleck and J.Lo on the way, then great.'”

 

In season 2, the possible connection between the families comes up between the couple, who has been vulnerable with their highs and lows.

Poking fun at the controversy, the two debate dressing up as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (who finalized their divorce in January 2025) for a group Halloween party.

“You’re not gonna make me feel stupid when that’s all I’ve been told from your family,” Jen tells Zac, who tells her if she’s ever heard that from his family, it’s “as a joke.”

“No one’s ever taken it seriously until you ran with it,” he says.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s Marriage Problems Aren’t Over Her Fame: ‘There Are Deeper Issues’ (Exclusive Source)

“The idea that Ben thinks Jennifer is too famous … isn’t true,” says a source

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez‘s marital problems have nothing to do with her status as a superstar, according to a source.

“The idea that Ben thinks Jennifer is too famous and that he didn’t know what he was getting into with the attention on their marriage isn’t true,” a source tells PEOPLE, adding, “There are deeper issues.”

Lopez and Affleck’s two-year wedding anniversary came and went earlier this week as they spent time apart. She was in the Hamptons, on outings with Affleck’s 18-year-old daughter Violet and friends, while he was on the opposite coast in Los Angeles.

They’ve been living separately in recent months, putting on a united front for family milestones, like holding hands at for Violet’s graduation, for example. They weren’t together on Mother’s Day in May, but Lopez shared a short Instagram tribute to Affleck on Father’s Day the following month.

Neither Affleck, 51, nor Lopez, 54, have publicly commented about any issues in their romance.

Insiders close to the couple (who rekindled their former early-2000s romance before eloping in Las Vegas in 2022) have shed some light on the state of their marriage.

In mid-May, a source connected to Lopez told PEOPLE their relationship was “not in the best place at the moment.” Around the same time, another source from the music industry said the two stars simply have different approaches to dealing with the spotlight and what they share with the public.

On one hand, Lopez “needs that expression, but Affleck simply is not comfortable with it,” and that “causes tension in the relationship” over time.

“He is more introspective and private. She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world. This makes them considerably different, and it has been difficult in the day-to-day relationship,” that source said, adding at the time, “There have always been clashes in their styles, how they handle issues, and their actions, but nothing has stopped their love over the years.”

Affleck participated in Lopez’s documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, which debuted earlier this year. “Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media,’ ” the Oscar winner said in the documentary. “Then I sort of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like you’re gonna marry a boat captain and you go, ‘Well, I don’t like the water.’ ”

The actor also called himself and Lopez “two people with different kinds of approaches trying to learn to compromise.”

Lopez acknowledged in the documentary that she did not think Affleck was “very comfortable with me doing all of this,” in terms of pulling from their private life for her creative work.

“He loves me, he knows I’m an artist, and he’s gonna support me in every way he can because he knows you can’t stop me from making the music I made,” she said in the film. “But that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable being the muse.”