Jennifer Lopez 'Enjoyed Spending Time' with Friend Matt Damon at TIFF amid Ben Affleck Divorce (Exclusive Source) (original) (raw)
Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon. Photo:
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty
Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon remain good friends amid her divorce from Ben Affleck.
After posing for group pictures together at the Unstoppable premiere on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a source tells PEOPLE that the singer is “very close with Matt [Damon]" and “enjoyed spending time” with him.
The two friends were spotted at an Unstoppable afterparty engaged in a "deep conversation" following the movie’s premiere, a source previously told PEOPLE.
Lopez and Damon, 53, chatted for over 20 minutes at the afterparty, held at EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton.
The insider told PEOPLE that Lopez sat at a table outside with the actor's wife Luciana Damon and costar Don Cheadle when Damon joined them.
“Jen and Matt began talking and had a long, deep conversation,” the source previously said, noting that the two friends laughed and spoke more seriously, and for several minutes, they clasped hands as they spoke.
(L-R) Bobby Cannavale, Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, and Matt Damon on September 06, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
Monica Schipper/Getty
Affleck, who is a co-producer on Unstoppable, was noticeably absent. The film was produced by Affleck and Damon's production company, Artists Equity.
The new drama follows the real-life story of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg and eventually won an NCAA national championship in 2011. Lopez portrays Robles’ mother, Judy Robles, in the film. She earned a standing ovation from the crowd as the credits rolled at TIFF.
On stage during the Q&A after the screening, Lopez underscored how important it was to do the story justice.
"I think it was my job really to help her feel safe," she said, "Both of them, Anthony and Judy, to feel safe and kind of put this in our hands and trust us with all the information that they could give us and know that we wouldn't misuse it in any way, but only use it to tell their story in the best and most beautiful way that it deserved. Because it is one of the most beautiful, most inspiring stories I think I've ever seen on screen."
Jennifer Lopez on September 06, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
Emma McIntyre/Getty
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The premiere was Lopez's first major public appearance since she filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, on Aug. 20, after two years of marriage. On the same day as the event, Affleck was seen stepping out in Los Angeles wearing a navy suit and sunglasses.
Sources previously told PEOPLE last month that Affleck would not attend the TIFF premiere, but Lopez and Damon intended to be there.
Matt Damon on September 06, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
Emma McIntyre/Getty
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Unstoppable is in select theaters in December, and coming soon to Prime Video.