After nearly two decades apart, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez decided to give their relationship another shot, rekindling a romance that once dominated headlines in the early 2000s. However, not long after their second chance at love, whispers began to circulate that all was not well in paradise.

On the day Lopez officially filed for divorce, both stars were seen in public, but their contrasting demeanor told very different stories. See why Affleck’s whereabouts and attitude left some social media users feeling bad for Lopez.

The Rise and Fall of Bennifer

Months after rekindling their romance and announcing their engagement in April 2022, Affleck and Lopez obtained a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada. The duo then exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony on August 20.

According to sources close to the couple, the wedding was deliberately understated. “It was super, super small. They just wanted to be married, so they got married,” an insider revealed.

However, their marital bliss was short-lived. Cracks in their relationship started to appear, and reports surfaced that Affleck showed little “commitment and interest” in resolving their issues.

Affleck’s lack of effort and indifference came as a painful blow to Lopez, who was reportedly “very disappointed and sad” as the reality of their faltering marriage set in.

An allegedly “devastated” Lopez gave the marriage her all and wanted to make things work after the couple rekindled their romance, a source noted. However, an insider revealed, “It’s gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself.”

The Divorce Filing and the Day It All Ended

After months of swirling rumors and speculation, Lopez took the decisive step to end her two-year marriage to Affleck. On August 20, 2024, exactly two years to the day after their romantic Southern wedding in Georgia, the singer officially filed for divorce.

The timing of the filing was poignant, marking what should have been a celebration of their second wedding anniversary. In the divorce papers, Lopez listed the official date of separation as April 26, 2024.

That same day, paparazzi in New York City photographed Lopez exiting the luxurious apartment building, The Whitman. Dressed in a cozy, fuzzy sweater paired with oversized blue jeans and boots, Lopez appeared to be in no mood for the cameras.

Her expression was unmistakably grim; she pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, radiating a sense of frustration and sorrow. The actress was in New York City working on her upcoming project, a movie musical adaptation of the classic Broadway show, “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

Just weeks before this sighting, Affleck had visited Lopez in New York City. However, as she emerged from the apartment building, he was on the opposite coast, in Los Angeles, busy filming his upcoming movie, “The Accountant 2.”

As news of the separation date spread, social media was abuzz with reactions. Users expressed sympathy for Lopez, with one person writing, “I don’t know much about her but feel sorry for her. Of course she must be sad & upset it’s a horrible time she is going through and all played out in public.”

However, other people had less sensitive things to say about the singer’s appearance. “What on earth is she wearing, it’s actually scary,” one person commented.

Another person shared the same sentiment, typing in part, “JLo looks no bueno — just ridiculous in those faux dirty distressed jeans and sweater in summer and some platform shoes that look like they belong on a 15-year-old.”

Where Was Ben Affleck on the Day of the Divorce Filing?

On August 20, while the world was just learning about Lopez’s decision to end their marriage, Affleck was focused on a different kind of family matter. Hours before the news of the divorce filing broke, the actor was spotted arriving back in Los Angeles with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

The former couple had just returned from dropping off their eldest daughter, Violet, at college. The two had traveled to New Haven, Connecticut, to help Violet settle in at Yale University.

Affleck was spotted in good spirits as he deboarded a private jet alongside Garner. Dressed in a button-up shirt and black slacks, the actor carried a leather duffle bag as he walked down the steps of the plane, a smile on his face despite the absence of his wedding ring.

Garner followed closely behind, casually dressed in a black T-shirt and green cargo pants, with a backpack slung over her shoulder. Their other daughter, Seraphina, also accompanied them, wearing a Yale sweatshirt. The three then climbed into Affleck’s matte black BMW, with Garner taking the passenger seat as they drove away together.

A source close to the family highlighted the strong bond between Affleck and his ex-wife, particularly when it came to their children. “Jen and Ben are great at coming together for family events. Violet’s brilliant and very responsible. Jen and Ben know she’ll do fantastic,” the insider shared.

The insider further revealed that Affleck had been “very focused on getting Violet ready for move-in” in the weeks leading up to the college drop-off, even as his marriage to Lopez was unraveling. “It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks,” the source added.

As news of the divorce filing spread, social media quickly reacted to the contrasting images of Affleck’s day. “Man is happy!” one person shared. Another person shared the same sentiment, typing, “He is so happy. I have never seen him smile like that. Whoa.”

“Unstable man,” another person commented. A fourth added, “I kinda feel bad for jlo. I think she tried too hard to make it work, but he always showed a bad face with her and with his kids mom all happiness. Imagine how your wife may feel.” Someone else said, “This is so strange.” Another person shared, “He looks SO happy!”

As Lopez took the difficult step of filing for divorce, Affleck’s focus remained on his children and co-parenting with his ex-wife. Ultimately, the split served as a reminder of the challenges that even high-profile couples face in maintaining relationships under the glare of the spotlight.