November 22, 2024
Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck
Hollywood stars Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are divorcing after two years of marriage.
Lopez filed for divorce on Tuesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to court documents seen by the BBC.
The pair – dubbed Bennifer by tabloids – formally tied the knot in Las Vegas in July 2022 and held a larger wedding ceremony in Georgia the following month.
Their romance began after they met while working on the set of the 2003 crime caper Gigli. They had originally planned to marry that year, but called off their relationship early in 2004.
Almost two decades later they rekindled their relationship.
“Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” Lopez said in 2022 after announcing the Las Vegas wedding.
The BBC has contacted their representatives for comment.
A court filing in the case says Lopez or her attorney has to notify Affleck with a copy of her petition to dissolve their marriage.
Media reports indicate Lopez, who had legally changed her last name to Affleck, did not list any details of a prenuptial agreement in her petition for divorce.
A document filed in LA’s Superior Court in the case says both Lopez, 55, and Affleck, 52, must share financial information, including their current income, expenses, properties and debts.
The document says both are mandated to divulge any changes to their finances “until there is a final agreement about all financial issues in your case”.
The court gave Lopez 60 days to file a financial disclosure and Affleck will have another 60 days after she submits her information to do likewise.
The filing says if either fails to report or update financial information, it could result in a court-imposed sanction.
There has 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 her former back-up 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.
