A love story in the spotlight: The rise and fall of Bennifer
The beginning of a Hollywood romance
There’s a certain bittersweetness in the news that Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on the very day of their wedding ceremony in Georgia in 2022. Their love story, which has been a public spectacle, now faces a somber chapter.
Lopez’s career took a bold turn with the release of her album and feature film, This Is Me… Now. The album, filled with love songs, chronicles her journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, ultimately leading her back to Affleck. The couple, who were together from 2002 to 2004 and even got engaged, reunited and first wed in a Nevada chapel in July 2022. This event was immortalized in Lopez’s song Midnight Trip to Vegas, followed by a private ceremony at Affleck’s Georgia compound the next month.
The creative endeavor
The film This Is Me… Now, into which Lopez invested $20 million of her own money, features Affleck in a cameo as her onscreen lover. The project also included a behind-the-scenes documentary titled The Greatest Love Story Never Told, where Lopez and Affleck discuss the inspiration behind her opus. These three creative projects were dedicated to their love story.
However, This Is Me… Now was not well-received by the public. Lopez’s tour in support of the album was rebranded to a greatest-hits set, Let’s Get Loud, before being scrapped entirely. This cancellation fueled rumors that Lopez needed space to cope with developments in her marriage. The steady stream of ominous news, from their physical separation to the sale of their shared home, seemed relentless.
The irony of public love
In the documentary, Affleck’s support for Lopez is evident, yet there’s a haunting observation he makes: the irony of taking The Greatest Love Story Never Told and then telling it. This sentiment underscores the doomed quality of the entire endeavor.
Their first relationship, during the glossy-tabloid era they helped create, was marked by a showiness that ultimately blinded them. They were young, glamorous celebrities who made their private lives public. Their engagement was announced in a high-profile interview, and they appeared together in Lopez’s Jenny From the Block music video, which mimicked paparazzi footage.
The era of supercouples
Affleck and Lopez were the original “Bennifer,” preceding other famous supercouples like “Brangelina” and “TomKat.” These couples used the media to their advantage, understanding that their public displays of affection were good for their brand. However, Affleck and Lopez’s relationship was more genuine, and their willingness to humiliate themselves for love set them apart.
Affleck, who has struggled with alcohol addiction and completed two stays in rehab, has seemed uneasy with his fame. Yet, he has been willing to place himself in uncomfortable settings for Lopez. Lopez, on the other hand, effectively risked her career to convey her love for Affleck. Their first breakup set Lopez’s career back years, and it’s unclear how she will recover this time.
The enduring legacy
Despite the challenges, Lopez remains a savvy celebrity with a unique quality that sets her apart. Watching This Is Me… Then, one is struck by its lack of irony and Lopez’s openness. She acknowledges that there was no market desire for the project, but she couldn’t not do it. Similarly, Affleck couldn’t not appear as her date at awards shows he clearly didn’t want to attend. Their need to be together in public ultimately contributed to their downfall.
Their relationship wasn’t about image management; it was simply how they lived. They weren’t peak Brangelina, but in their love and media presence, they were more like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. These superstars married and divorced twice, bringing the world along for the ride as their work and personal lives intertwined. Now, like Liz and Dick, Bennifer belongs to another era, more earnest than our own.
the story of Bennifer is a poignant reminder of the complexities of love in the public eye. Their willingness to share their love with the world, despite the consequences, makes their story both tragic and endearing.