What Ben Affleck Was Up to When Jennifer Lopez Filed for Divorce

While Jennifer Lopez was taking formal steps to end her two-year marriage to Ben Affleck, he was focused on a different milestone.

After months of speculation, J.Lo filed for divorce from Affleck at the Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 20, the two-year anniversary of the former couple’s formal wedding ceremony in Georgia.

Meanwhile, the Justice League star was across the country at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, helping move his and ex-wife Jennifer Garner’s eldest daughter, Violet Affleck, into college for her freshman year.

The 52-year-old—who is also dad to Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with Garner—was photographed landing back in Los Angeles after sending his eldest off to start her college career.

As for the details behind Bennifer’s second breakup, the stars did not have a prenuptial agreement, an insider told NBC News, meaning that the money earned by the stars since their 2022 wedding is considered communal property.

The “Jenny from the Block” singer listed her date of separation from the Argo director as April 26, which is just days before the rumors of marital strife surfaced at the 2024 Met Gala, when she arrived as a cohost without her husband.

Split speculation followed the stars for months as they were rarely spotted together and often seen not wearing their wedding rings. They put their Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $68 million in June.

After spending the second anniversary of their Las Vegas wedding apart and choosing not to be together to celebrate Lopez’s 55^th birthday, the estranged spouses reunited on Aug. 15, Affleck’s birthday, when Lopez was seen visiting his Brentwood, Calif. rental home.

E! News has reached out to reps for Lopez and Affleck but has not received comment.

Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance in 2021, nearly two decades after calling off their wedding in 2003. The “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” singer documented their renewed love story in her album and subsequent accompanying film This Is Me… Now and the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.

Read on for a full rewind on Lopez and Affleck’s relationship.

(E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.

The two are spotted in the city.

The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.

The two film the movie in New York City.

Is there anything more '00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?

The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.

The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.

The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

The two attend the Academy Awards together.

The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.

The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.

The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.

...it flops at the box office.

The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.

The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben's favorite.

The two end their engagement.

They're baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel. 

There's no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one! 

Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.

The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.

Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.

Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.

On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

The two vacation with her twins and two of his kids in the French capital soon after their wedding.

J.Lo steps out with Ben in support of his movie The Flash.

Jennifer release This Is Me... Now, an album about her relationship with Ben. The record is accompanied by a musical film titled This Is Me... Now: A Love Story and the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.

The couple enjoys a day out in NYC on March 30, 2024.

J.Lo filed for divorce Aug. 20, listing the date of separation as Apil 26, according to the filing obtained by TMZ.