Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have filed for divorce – and people online have been reacting to the “shocking news”.
Earlier this month (Aug 1), reports emerged that the couple were filing for divorce after two years of marriage.
The news came after Affleck purchased a new $20.5million (£17.5million) “bachelor pad” mansion in Pacific Palisades on the day of Lopez’s 55th birthday in July. Days before, the pair listed their Beverly Hills mansion for $68million (£52.1million).
Around the same time, Lopez also finalised the sale of her four-bedroom New York City penthouse for $23million (£17.6million), People reported.
Now, as confirmed by Variety, Lopez has filed papers with an official separation date listed as April 26 this year.
It is the second time Lopez and Affleck have separated, as the pair were engaged in 2002 before splitting in 2004. In 2022, after rekindling their relationship, it was partly documented in Lopez’s documentary film, The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
The news has reverberated on social media, with many people referencing the couple’s on-off history and joking that the news is “shocking”.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting divorced.
The public: pic.twitter.com/YPpn2t3tCG
— chibi’s world (@chibilia_) August 20, 2024
The year is 2004. Wesley Snipes stars as Blade alongside Ryan Reynolds. Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez split up. Israel & Gaza are at war.
The year is 2024. Wesley Snipes stars as Blade alongside Ryan Reynolds. Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez split up. Israel & Gaza are at war. pic.twitter.com/9LeHibmzH9
— Elijah Williams (@ComradeBearJew) August 20, 2024
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck when they get married again in 20 years pic.twitter.com/YN5pDQuct8
— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) August 21, 2024
The BEFORE trilogy, but it’s about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez reuniting every 20 years to give it another go https://t.co/rFpda6wvuY
— Isaac Feldberg (@isaacfeldberg) August 20, 2024
Jennifer Lopez and Ben affleck were getting a divorce the day this video dropped lmao pic.twitter.com/fg5d5Ms5Es https://t.co/5wwuoy0oh5
— John (@iam_johnw) August 20, 2024
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got engaged, broke up, married other people, had children, reunited, got married, broke up again, and I've been single that whole time.
— sneeeerr (@sneeeeeerrrr) August 21, 2024
The pair were last pictured together on March 30, and reportedly spent their second wedding anniversary on July 16 in different cities.
Back in May, Lopez hit back at a journalist who asked about the divorce rumours during a press conference in Mexico City for her Netflix film Atlas.
While not sharing any details about her marriage, Lopez leant into the microphone, looking at the reporter and said that they should “know better than that.”
Elsewhere, Affleck is reportedly eager to take on the role of Hulk Hogan in a new film about the wrestler’s sex tape legal saga with Gawker. His and Matt Damon’s production company Artist Equity are said to be working on Killing Gawker, with filming set to start in January 2025.
Affleck is also directing Damon in a new thriller titled Animals that centres on a kidnapping plot and is being made via Netflix.
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