Jennifer Lopez 'Devastated' as She Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck on Wedding Anniversary; Affleck 'Threw in the Towel'
Jennifer Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, marking the end of their highly publicized reunion and subsequent marriage. The filing, submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, August 20, coincides with the second anniversary of their lavish wedding celebration in Georgia, adding a poignant note to the dissolution of their relationship.
Sources close to the couple have revealed to PEOPLE and Fox News Digital the emotional toll this decision has taken, particularly on Lopez. "She's very disappointed and sad," an insider told PEOPLE, adding that Lopez is "devastated" over the split. The source emphasized that the singer-actress "gave it her all to make this work" after the couple rekindled their romance in 2021.
The timing of the divorce filing is noteworthy, coming exactly two years after their grand wedding ceremony in Georgia. This event followed a more intimate Las Vegas wedding on July 17, 2022. Lopez's petition for dissolution of marriage listed April 26 as the date of separation, according to People magazine, providing insight into the timeline of their marital troubles.
Contrasting with Lopez's reported devastation, sources suggest that Affleck has been coping differently with the end of the marriage. An insider told Fox News Digital, "Ben has been his usual, high-energetic self. He's been busy with his kids and work and seems to be doing just fine." This source went further, claiming that Affleck "threw in the towel a long time ago" on the marriage.
The couple's relationship has been under scrutiny for months, with rumors of marital strife circulating in the media. In June, reports emerged that Lopez and Affleck were living separately while attempting to sell their $60 million Beverly Hills mansion. "He started moving out a while ago," a source confided to Fox News Digital at the time. "The marriage is completely over, and Jennifer is heartbroken. She loves love and wanted this to work so badly."
Despite the apparent finality of the divorce filing, those close to Lopez suggest that she held out hope for reconciliation until recently. "She's very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn't given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage," a source told PEOPLE. "He hasn't shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work. It's gotten to the point that she just needs to look out for herself."
The couple's journey has been nothing short of a Hollywood saga. They first met while filming "Gigli" in 2002, leading to an engagement that was called off in 2004. Both went on to marry other partners and start families before reuniting in April 2021. Their rekindled romance quickly became public, with Lopez telling PEOPLE in February 2022, "I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It's a beautiful love story that we got a second chance."
As news of the divorce spreads, attention has turned to the couple's future plans. "They're moving on separately. Jennifer is trying to find a new home to start fresh," an insider revealed to PEOPLE earlier this month. The source added that Lopez "hasn't seen Ben for weeks" but is "having a good summer" despite the circumstances.
The divorce marks the end of Lopez's fourth marriage and Affleck's second. Both bring children from previous relationships into this separation, adding another layer of complexity to their situation.