Jennifer Lopez Breaks Silence on Ben Affleck Divorce (original) (raw)
Originally appeared on E! Online
Jennifer Lopez is in her self-love era.
More than a month after filing for divorce from Ben Affleck, the “Let’s Get Loud” singer got candid about the year her “whole f--king world exploded” and how a shift in perspective led to her and the Oscar winner’s breakup.
“You have to be complete, if you want something that’s more complete,” Lopez told comedian Nikki Glaser in an Interview magazine profile published Oct. 9. “You have to be good on your own. I thought I learned that, but I didn’t. And then, this summer, I had to be like, ‘I need to go off and be on my own. I want to prove to myself that I can do that.’”
Without mentioning Affleck by name, Lopez added, “Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself.”
And that notion will continue on into the “Jenny From the Block” singer’s approach to dating moving forward. After all, she’s not interested in romance at the moment.
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“Here’s the thing,” Lopez, who officially filed for divorce in August after two years of marriage, shared. “There’s no new bar because I’m not looking for anybody. How’s that?”
As she put it, “I’m not looking for anybody, because everything that I’ve done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I f--king do when it’s just me flying on my own. What if I’m just free?”
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
While admitting that her current single status was “not what I thought it was going to turn out like,” the Wedding Planner star added, “This is exactly where I needed to be, to lead me to where I want to go.”
But despite the pain that came with her split from Affleck—to whom she was engaged in the early aughts before their 2021 reunion—she has no regrets about their love story.
“Not one second,” she emphasized. “That doesn’t mean it didn’t almost take me out for good. It almost did. But now, on the other side of it, I think to myself, ‘F--k, that is exactly what I needed.’”
As for the false narratives surrounding the end of her marriage and her current state, Lopez had to reconcile her truth with what was being put out into the world.
“I know that everything that’s being written and said about me, and all the conjecture of who I am as a person, is not who I am. I learned that a long time ago,” she said. “I know I’m a good person. I know I’m a good mom. I know who my friends are. I know my friends know who I am, my mom, my dad, all that stuff.”
The Hustlers star—who is mom to 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony—is glad she took the time to re-center herself, even though it meant canceling her tour earlier this year.
“I was so devastated to let anybody down, but I just needed to be with my kids and myself and really dig down deep into things that were happening in my life,” she explained. “And I’m glad I did, because it was a really difficult time for me. Probably the hardest time of my life, but it was also the best time because I got to do that work on myself.”
But soon, she’ll be back on stage.
“I’ll be out there entertaining you,” she said, “and shaking my ass sooner than you know.”
For more a look back on Affleck and Lopez's romance, read on.
December 2001: Filming Gigli
The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.
October 2002: Spotted in Beverly Hills
The two are spotted in the city.
November 2002: Filming Gigli and Engagement
The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.
November 2002: Filming Jersey Girl
The two film the movie in New York City.
November 2002: Leaving MTV's TRL
Is there anything more '00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?
December 2002: Red Carpet Debut
The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.
January 2003: Sundance
The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
March 2003: Oscars
The two attend the Academy Awards together.
May 2003: Basketball Game
The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
July 2003: Canada Trip
The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.
July 2003: Gigli Premiere
The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.
August 2003: Gigli Is Released
...it flops at the box office.
September 2003: Wedding Is Off
The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.
October 2003: Baseball Date
The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben's favorite.
January 2004: It's Over
The two end their engagement.
September 2021: Red Carpet Royalty
They're baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel.
September 2021: Look of Love
There's no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one!
September 2021: Back to the Stage
Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.
September 2021: Met Gala Debut
The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.
October 2021: PDA at Premiere
Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.
April 2022: Engaged Again!
Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.
July 2022: Married!
On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.