Mindy Kaling uses DNC stage to tell Ben Affleck to 'hang in there' amid J.Lo divorce (original) (raw)

America might be at a political crossroads between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, but Democratic National Convention host Mindy Kaling is choosing the path to love amid news of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's divorce.

As she emceed night three of the DNC at Chicago's United Center, the comedian and Office actress closed out her hosting gig with a message of support for both her home state and one of its most famous former residents as Affleck navigates a highly publicized split from Lopez.

"Guys, I couldn't leave here without saying a shout-out to the amazing delegation from my own state, Massachusetts. I love you, Massachusetts! Everyone is always hating on us, but they just don't get it," the 45-year-old told the cheering audience at the DNC. "Go Sox! Go Jayson Tatum! Ben Affleck, hang in there! Dunkin' Donuts is the best coffee in the world!"

Kaling's speech came days after Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck after two years of marriage, making the second time the couple has broken up across the last two decades. They were previously engaged to be married in the early aughts, before announcing their separation in 2004. They rekindled their romance in recent years, and eventually tied the knot on July 16, 2022. Lopez filed for divorce on Aug. 20, the same day they held a symbolic ceremony to celebrate their nuptials in 2022.

While Kaling lightly referenced Affleck and Lopez's love story at the DNC, she also celebrated the significance of the political moment as she prepared to host the event. She previously shared a photo of herself to her Instagram Story, in which she rehearsed for the evening while wearing a sweater bearing the first names of influential women in American history, including "Sojourner, Harriet, Shirley, Barbara," with "Kamala" joining at the end of the list.

Mindy Kaling at DNC; Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.

Getty(2)

Other hosts for the DNC's multi-night proceedings included Kerry Washington and Republican View cohost Ana Navarro, while celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Pink, and Lil Jon, as well as political icons like Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, spoke on stage in support of Harris.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

"We are not so different from our neighbors. When a house is on fire, we don't ask about the homeowner's race or religion. We don't wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No. We just try to do the best we can to save them," Winfrey told the DNC audience on Wednesday night, referencing Trump running mate J.D. Vance's controversial past comments likening single women to "childless cat ladies" running America. "And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady? We try to get that cat out, too."

Watch Kaling discuss Affleck in the clip above.