Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck: The Untold Story Behind Their Split

Neither Jennifer Lopez nor Ben Affleck ever publicly addressed the growing rumors about trouble in their marriage—whispers that started swirling in the spring. But on Tuesday, August 20, J.Lo, 55, let her actions speak louder than words. On the second anniversary of the lavish wedding celebration they held at Affleck's sprawling 87-acre estate in Georgia, Lopez quietly filed for divorce.
In her filing, she requested to change her last name from Affleck back to Lopez—a move that says it all, according to a legal source.
Citing "irreconcilable differences," Lopez's decision comes as no surprise to those close to the couple. Insiders say the pop superstar and the Oscar-winning actor-director struggled to reconcile their vastly different personalities, much like they did when they first parted ways in 2004. "They are very different people," shares a source familiar with both stars. "She's super public and loves the social scene, while he's more of an introvert who prefers staying home."
Another insider mentioned that Affleck's "mood swings" played a significant role, with "big highs and big lows" that created tension. "He didn’t realize how much his moods affected everyone around him," adds a source from Affleck's circle.
As the source further explains, the couple may have gotten swept up in the excitement of rekindling their romance—Bennifer 2.0 was a whirlwind. "It all happened so fast," the source adds. "They were two people deeply in love with the idea of love, and who wouldn't dive into that? They truly cared for each other."
Despite being the one to initiate the divorce, Lopez is reportedly "heartbroken." But she's also a realist and knew the marriage had reached a point of no return. Listing their separation date as April 26, Lopez and Affleck had spent most of the past four months apart.
During that time, Lopez was busy in the New York City area filming an adaptation of the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman—a project she co-produced with Affleck—while also fulfilling her duties as co-chair of the 2024 Met Gala and preparing for her This Is Me...Live summer tour. She ultimately canceled the tour on May 31 to "be with her children, family, and close friends," according to a statement from her reps.
Meanwhile, Affleck was back in Los Angeles, filming The Accountant 2 and staying in a rental house, just miles from the Beverly Hills mansion they purchased together in 2023, which they listed for sale at $68 million in July.
Though they reunited occasionally in the spring, mostly for family-related events involving their blended families, it became clear that Lopez was the only one trying to salvage their marriage. "She really gave it her all," says another insider, but Affleck—who bought a $20 million L.A. mansion in July while Lopez was on the East Coast—wasn't as invested. Rumors even swirled about Affleck spending time with actress Kick Kennedy, though a source close to him dismissed any romantic involvement.
As one Lopez insider reveals, "He was