For celebrities, a trip down the red carpet is just another day at the office. Sure, the rest of us would find a star-studded evening super-fancy. But big names like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez can afford to take red carpet events for granted…after all, what could surprise two actors who have seen it all?
Recently, though, these two got quite the surprise after returning home from one such celebrity soiree. The two had a red carpet reunion that was genuinely sweet, and both of these former spouses were on their best behavior. But what they said (and didn’t say) took the internet by storm, resulting in viral complaints against both Affleck and Lopez.
What did they say that had everyone freaking out? What are fans saying, and when did “Bennifer” end for good? Keep reading to find out!
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s shocking divorce
Few celebrities have had a relationship journey as elaborate as that of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The two met way back in 2001, and they were engaged by the end of 2002. At this point, it looked like their romantic momentum would never let up. But by 2003, they had postponed their wedding, and in 2004, their relationship was over for good…at least, so we thought!
In 2021, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez began dating once again. They got engaged for a second time in 2022 and got married that same year. It looked like they’d have their own happily ever after, especially after taking multiple honeymoons. But Lopez filed for divorce in 2024, and proceedings were finalized in early 2025. Just like that, Bennifer was over for a second time, and we doubt these two are ever going to get back together.
The red carpet brings them back together
Recently, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez ran into each other at the one place every celeb is familiar with: the red carpet! They were there to celebrate the release of Kiss of the Spider Woman, a movie in which Lopez is the star. Furthermore, Ben Affleck produced the movie, making this musical drama a shared passion project with his former wife. Sadly, they divorced before this film hit the silver screen, and these two now have an obligation to help promote it together.
You might think that would have led to tension on the red carpet. However, the two are all smiles, and Lopez had nothing but praise for her ex-husband. Believe it or not, this was enough to anger many fans who were annoyed by their topsy-turvy relationship!
Jennifer Lopez’s surprise praise of Ben Affleck
As we said before, Ben Affleck serves as executive producer on Kiss of the Spider Woman. That means, among other things, that he helped to get the movie some much-needed financing. At the red carpet premiere, Lopez decided to be very open about her gratitude towards her ex-husband. “Thank you, Ben,” she said. “This movie wouldn’t have been made without Ben and without Artist Equity.”
Later, she praised Affleck again when a reporter asked whether it was weird to be working with him after their divorce. “If it wasn’t for Ben, the movie wouldn’t have gotten made,” she said. “And I will always give him that credit…yeah, things happen, you have to keep going.” In this way, Lopez revealed herself to be a true professional: regardless of how she felt about Affleck, she wouldn’t let her emotions get in the way of promoting her movie!
Fans get frustrated about the “will they, won’t they” relationship
So far, this probably seems like a very sweet story about exes who are on their very best behavior. Would you believe, then, that Lopez’s words kicked off a firestorm of internet criticism? And it mainly came from those who are sick of watching the Bennifer relationship go up and down every few years like a wobbly rollercoaster.
Some fans determined that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez didn’t take their marriage seriously, and this is why they broke up. Some have concluded that these two give the whole institution of marriage a bad name, while others threw their hands up and dubbed Ben and Jennifer the reigning king and queen of drama.
The divided fan criticism of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
After breaking up all those years ago, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez got back together and got married. It was almost like a fairytale come true…at least, until the bitter divorce. Now, fans find themselves divided over a simple question: should these two have gotten back together at all?
Some think the answer is “yes” because life is short and it’s always important to give love a chance. Others think the answer is “no” because it’s arguably worse to get married and then get divorced rather than never getting back together again. As for us, we’re just happy that these two split up before they could ever create a sequel to Gigli!