Are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Back Together?

Jennifer Lopez

Are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Back Together?

Movie stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez had a high-profile romance between 2002 and 2004, appearing together in a pair of infamous movies, “Gigli” and “Jersey Girl,” and even getting engaged for a time, before splitting up in early 2004. Could they be back together again? 

Movie stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez had a high-profile romance between 2002 and 2004, appearing together in a pair of infamous movies, “Gigli” and “Jersey Girl,” and even getting engaged for a time, before splitting up in early 2004.

Since then, both have dated multiple famous people, with Lopez recently breaking off her engagement to retired baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez, and Affleck, following his divorce from Jennifer Garner, was dating Ana de Armas.

But now, it appears, the couple formerly known as “Bennifer” may be back together.

According to People, the pair recently spent some time together in Montana, where Affleck has a home. The Daily Mail published photos of the two famous people together.

Another recent People report said that the two had remained friends for nearly two decades since their split. Per Page Six, “while sources close to the stars have previously insisted that the pair are still strictly friends, insiders are now wondering about the exes’ current relationship status.”

They also recently both participated in “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World,” where Lopez sang the Neil Diamond song “Sweet Caroline,” which is associated with Affleck’s favorite baseball team, the Boston Red Sox. Lopez is known to root for the New York Yankees, who play in her home borough of The Bronx, although she and Rodriguez were part of a group that made an unsuccessful bid to buy the New York Mets. Rodriguez has gone on to reach an agreement to purchase the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

Affleck has waxed and waned in popularity and stature throughout his career. He starred in such films as “Mallrats” and “Dazed and Confused” as a young man, and broke through as an as adult actor in 1997 with “Chasing Amy” and “Good Will Hunting,” the latter film winning him an Oscar for co-writing with Matt Damon.

A few years of movie stardom followed, before Affleck had a series of flops. But Affleck later became a director, making three films, “Gone Baby Gone,” “The Town,” and “Argo,” between 2007 and 2011; “Argo” won the Oscar for Best Picture. After that, Affleck was cast as Batman in the DC comic book movies, although his tenure won mixed reviews. More recently, Affleck has drawn acclaim for his performance in “The Way Back,” and also for his turn as Batman in Zack Snyder’s cut of “Justice League,” which was finally released on HBO Max in March.

Lopez, well known as a singer and dancer as well as an actress, drew rave reviews for her performance in the dramatic movie “Hustlers.” Her hit movies earlier in her career included “Selena,” “Out of Sight,” and “Maid in Manhattan.”

 Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.