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After her family's breakup, Jennifer Lopez faced devastation but found strength in gratitude and self-reflection. At 40, she embraced a deeper appreciation for life's blessings, especially love. Her relationship with Alex Rodriguez blossomed, fueled by a shared understanding of life's value and the profound connection they shared. What really made Jennifer fall for Alex?
Jennifer Garner’s Reaction to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s wedding may not be what you think it is. When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were married, the couple owned the title of being Hollywood’s power couple. It was not because they showed up at every red carpet event together — the duo based their relationship on a strong friendship, constantly had each others’ back, and never forgot to appreciate one another. And that made all the difference.RELATED: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s “Reunion” Carries an Important TruthEven though they separated years ago and Affleck has dated many renowned names in the industry — Ana de Armas, Lindsay Shookus, and Shauna Sexton — Garner continued to stick by his side as a loyal friend who truly cared about his life and goals.Jennifer Garner Was a Positive Force in Ben Affleck’s Life A year after his breakup with Jennifer Lopez in 2004, the Justice League star got hitched to Jennifer Garner and remained married to her for the next ten years. During this time, the couple not only embraced parenthood with the birth of their three children but also strengthened their bond by being there for each other. While Affleck raved about the “rare” kindness and empathy that Garner possesses, she told Parade magazine how her husband was the whole package — "Ben is sexy and kind, but he's also a riot.”RELATED: The Truth About Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s RelationshipWhen Affleck married Garner, he was struggling with a severe dip in his career as well as his long-term addiction to alcohol. Thanks to the constant support of his wife, something he candidly shared in a chat with Loaded magazine, he mustered enough courage and confidence to turn his life around. He decided to give his directorial skills a try and went on to helm acclaimed dramas and films like Gone Baby Gone and Argo. His career received another boost when he starred in the critically and commercially successful Hollywoodland. "Getting to know Jennifer, falling in love with her and being connected with her gave me a foundation to reach out and say, 'Okay, I'm going to do Hollywoodland. I'm going to direct Gone Baby Gone.' Those were the steps forward I needed to put positive stuff on the board."Jennifer Garner Stood by Ben Affleck Even After They SplitEven after the couple separated in 2015 — though their divorce was finalized in 2018 — Jennifer Garner, who could have chosen to be a criticizing ex, continued to support Ben Affleck. In a tell-all interview with Vanity Fair in 2016, Garner talked about the end of her marriage with Affleck and admitted that even though he is a “complicated guy,” if given the chance she “would go back and remake that decision” of marrying him as he is “the love of [her] life.”RELATED: What Jennifer Garner Learned From The Horror Show Of A Divorce From Ben AffleckJennifer Garner’s support hasn’t just been limited to praising Affleck and showing the world how modern co-parenting can work smoothly and without any hard feelings. In 2018, Entertainment Tonight reported that despite all the efforts the Argo director was putting into steering clear of his alcohol addiction, he had fallen off the wagon again. But Garner was there to help him even though his addiction had played a major role in their divorce and drove him to the rehab facility. While Garner has been undeniably instrumental in the betterment of Affleck’s health and career, she has always opted to not comment on his love life, even when “Bennifer” started grabbing headlines in 2021. As reported by E! News in May 2021, a source told the publication that Garner has no interest in being dragged into the media circus around Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship as she would prefer to remain focused on herself and her children. "She's trying to live her life and raise her kids, and the last thing she wants to be doing is be dealing with Ben's love life. Her focus is always on the kids' happiness and Ben being a good father."Jennifer Garner Is Busy Winning in LifeWhile the world was going crazy over the surprise wedding ceremony of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas last Saturday, the Alias star was busy having the time of her life in Lake Tahoe, California. Unlike the many celebs who choose to throw not-so-subtle shade at their exes when they get re-married, Jennifer Garner’s Instagram stories were instead giving us major how-to-have-fun-the-right-way goals. From her story updates, it is evident that Garner had a blast while spending her weekend biking, paragliding, and enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of nature around her. There are many who are expecting her to make some comment on her ex-husband’s sudden wedding but the actress is evidently feeling no pressure to meet these expectations. She had not been helping Affleck in hopes of reconciliation, she has been helping a friend, taking care of a person for whom she wants nothing but good things.RELATED: Ben Affleck’s Accountability Journey Starts With Acknowledging The Women In His PastEven though Affleck has dated many women since his split from Garner, no one has stuck around and continuously supported him like the Elektra actress. Since the rumours, swiftly followed by a confirmation, started swirling that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez had tied the knot, Jennifer Garner also became a trending topic on social media. Her fans have been sending her warm wishes and wondering how she is holding up in the face of Affleck's marriage to a woman he was dating before he married her. Jennifer Garner Doesn't Let He Past or Present Relationships Define HerBut no matter how heartfelt the wishes of her fans are, Jennifer Garner is sticking to her mantra - to keep her distance from her ex-husband’s romantic endeavors and live her own life. While Affleck’s many romances have always been in the spotlight, Garner has kept her personal life away from the media’s eye. For some time now, she has been dating businessman John Miller and is loving the fact that he is not interested in all the attention he can grab by flaunting their relationship. As reported by Us Weekly, “[Jennifer] loves how little [John] cares for the limelight or the whole Hollywood scenester stuff.” The outlet added that the couple’s bond is “very different from Ben and J. Lo’s relationship in that way. You’ll never see them ham it up for the cameras or fixate about what events to attend together, it’s just not their style.” RELATED: Why We Need To Talk About The Jennifer Lopez vs Jennifer Garner ConversationThe Adam Project star chilling in Tahoe, trying new things, and acing the title of amazing mom shows how she chooses to truly live and experience life regardless of the social chatter and drama around Ben Affleck and J.Lo’s wedding. Sidestepping the expectations that come with the boon and the curse of being a celebrity while not letting negative feelings cloud a positive mindset? Now, that’s what we call living life to the fullest and Garner is hands down, acing it.KEEP READING: How Jennifer Lopez’s Breakup With Alex Rodriguez Exposes Double Standards
When you wage a battle between the two Jennifers, it’s only women that end up on the losing side. Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner are two of the most beloved, accomplished, and charming personalities of our time, with each boasting monumental accolades in film, television, and music. Yet, what unites them is not their triumphant careers or their ubiquitous first name — it’s the man they’ve both been romantically associated with at different points of their lives: Ben Affleck. The comparison between the two Jennifers is unfair and sexistAs the wildly astonishing reunion of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez soars and flourishes before the frenzied paparazzi, a lot of questions have been raised about Jennifer Garner and the role she’s played in her ex-husband’s life over the years, including whether she’s indirectly driven him into the arms of J-Lo. Of course, these questions inevitably lead to baseless comparisons between the two women that not only erase their individuality but also disparage the man at the center of it all. Here’s why the phenomenon needs to be closely examined.As soon as it emerged that Bennifer, the iconic portmanteau referring to the coupledom of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, had resumed their relationship following a 17-year break, the press went into overdrive. Their initial romance was so widely covered and so obsessively monitored that it essentially epitomized, if not coined, the term ‘power couple.’ To no one’s surprise, the second iteration has been receiving as much, if not more, attention among the public. What’s problematic is when the collective fixation on the pairing also ropes in other individuals that don’t want to be part of the conversation. For example, when J-Lo went Instagram-official with Ben via a PDA-filled photo on her 52nd birthday, a peculiar phrase started trending on the internet. Not ‘Bennifer’ or ‘J-Lo’ or ‘Ben Affleck.’ It was ‘Jennifer Garner vs. Jennifer Lopez.’ All of a sudden, the masses wanted to compare the two women and investigate Ben’s alleged preference for one over the other, as if it was the primary factor that led to the dissolution of Ben and Jennifer Garner’s marriage. The discourse was unnecessary from the get-go and only served to strengthen the tabloid-oriented culture of pitting women against each other. Some publications went so far as to juxtapose photos of Jennifer Garner running around in ordinary clothing with those of J-Lo posing glamorously in her designer bikinis — indicating that there must be an issue with Jennifer Garner’s attractiveness, something so horrific that alienated Ben and triggered the split. Activist and actress Jameela Jamil spoke out about the sheer malice involved in setting these women in opposition to each other. “ This bulls-t comes from patriarchy and is repeatedly infused into our psyche via the mostly but not only tabloid media. Let the Jens live. Let women live. Let girls live. Stop the rot,” she wrote in an Instagram post. It also doesn’t address the complete picture and has no basisThere are a number of concerns with such a compare/contrast mindset. For starters, there’s very little achieved in the way of empowerment if you begin to measure women based on how desirable they appear to the opposite sex. You’re reducing their worth to how a man might perceive them, and if the man in question selects one and ‘rejects’ the other, it must mean there’s a clear winner and that the other woman is as good as useless as far as anyone is concerned. In reality, you can’t determine love and marriage like it’s an athletic race; these women aren’t gold, silver, or bronze medals where one is clearly superior to the other. Determining their value solely on whether they can land a particular man is not sustainable in the least; it means that a women’s ‘worth’ fluctuates with the whims of her lover. If he finds her desirable, she indeed must be beautiful; if he leaves for another woman, well, there is something wrong about her, isn’t it? This sort of framework only breeds hostility among the women, who might find themselves seething with jealousy over being jilted by their partner in favor of another woman. Jealousy leads to judgment, which can incite harmful manifestations of aggression and self-loathing.The Lopez vs. Garner debate is specifically nonsensical because it’s not like Ben Affleck left Jennifer Garner to hook up with J-Lo. He’s dated quite a few women since his separation from Jennifer Garner. He isn’t some naïve dog who couldn’t resist J-Lo’s hotness, choosing to abandon his family to have a go with his ex. Ben is an adult who understands his priorities and has sight of the bigger picture. If he was really going for sexy women, he could have opted for just about anyone in Hollywood. Clearly, there’s something else about J-Lo that draws him to her. Besides, if rumors are anything to go by, Ben’s split from Jennifer Garner is said to have been caused by his relapse into alcoholism and a potential nanny affair, not by J-Lo’s arrival as she’d been dating Alex Rodriguez until April 2021. It also debunks the assumption that Jennifer Garner must be heartbroken at seeing her ex rekindle the passion with his ex. Why are we just presuming Jennifer Garner is pining over him when she’s the one who likely decided to end the marriage? Ben called the split “the biggest regret of [his] life,” so there’s no rhyme or reason to portraying Jennifer Garner as the pathetic sadsack in this scenario. In fact, sources say Jennifer Garner is “supportive” about Bennifer’s reunion, adding that she just wants what’s best for her ex-husband and her family.Let women thrive As Jameela Jamil said about the matter, “let women live.” Don’t stir up controversy where it’s not warranted. Don’t manufacture drama only because it’s entertaining to you, and the chaos seems worthwhile. Most women grow up feeling severely inadequate and insecure, slipping into shame spirals that eat away at their sense of self. They blame themselves for occurrences outside of their control and will develop intense emotions of resentment and anger for women they deem as enemies. It doesn’t mean that women aren’t allowed to hate other women or that they aren’t supposed to have personal or professional rivalries. They can very well take place in your life, and you’ll have to learn how to deal with them without losing your sanity. What’s worse is when it’s not two women fighting but the rest of the world conspiring to create animosity out of thin air. You have to remember that it’s always best to leave women up to their devices and keep these comparisons at bay. They don’t matter, they don’t make sense, and they don’t do justice to the women working hard to preserve their self-esteem and sense of agency. More inspiring stories:What Convinced Jennifer Lopez She Had To Break Things Off With DiddyHow Jennifer Lopez’s Breakup With Alex Rodriguez Exposes Double StandardsBen Affleck’s Accountability Journey Starts With Acknowledging The Women In His PastWhat Jennifer Garner Learned From The Horror Show Of A Divorce From Ben Affleck
Feel free to pinch yourself — Bennifer is well and truly alive. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck finding their way back into each other’s lives was an unlikely, nay impossible, scenario. Well, following an unimaginable year marked by immense tragedy, loss, and isolation, it’s only fitting that we’re blessed with their astonishing reunion. It’s safe to say that Ben and Jennifer’s first coupling back in 2002 reshaped what it means to be a celebrity couple in the internet age. They’re actually reported to be the first couple with their own portmanteau, that is, a word featuring a blend of both their names: “Bennifer.” They attracted such an unprecedented scale of obsession from both the press and the public that it eventually wrecked their engagement and hastened their break-up. It appears that not much has changed; Bennifer has sent a frisson of excitement through the airwaves and is convincing everyone of the unyielding, powerful nature of love. However, it’s time we take a beat and consider the implications of their reunion.Ben and Jennifer’s devastating breakup never tarnished the love they carry for one anotherBen Affleck and Jennifer Lopez during Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck On Location for "Jersey Girl" at Park Avenue and 55th Street in Manhattan in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)Over the years, both Ben and J-Lo have expressed disappointment at how their relationship panned out as well as at the enduring consequences of their public romance. Jennifer told Graham Norton in 2010 that the media coverage was staggering and that it likely did play a part in pulling them apart. “Our relationship did suffer because of that. That was one of the reasons. I mean, I would never blame the media for anything, but it definitely played a part of the dynamic of our relationship.”Jennifer described their split as her first “big heartbreak,” which is saying something as she’d already been divorced twice before getting together with Ben. She’s also stated that her whirlwind marriage to Marc Anthony had partly been driven by a desire to mend her heart post-Ben. Marc had been a “Band-Aid on the cut,” and the Bronx native eventually realized that her pain couldn’t be “stitched or healed” through a rushed dance through the aisle. She and Marc separated in July 2011 and finalized their divorce in June 2014. Ben, on the other hand, said in 2007 that the outrageous fixation on ‘Bennifer’ was “probably bad for [his] career,” as his cinematic work was often ignored in favor of the “salacious stuff” leaked and fabricated by the tabloids. He couldn’t stand the “amount of venom” directed at him and thus found himself getting more and more disillusioned with being in the public eye. He may have been together with the girl of his dreams, but was the scrutiny worth it? The Batman actor ultimately decided that it wasn’t. I think I just ran away. You can only handle so much. I moved for a while to this place in Georgia that I have, was able to get away, by and large, from stuff. Ben Affleck to GQThe unique circumstances surrounding their relationship may have inflicted a world of hurt on them, but Ben and J-Lo still persevered in maintaining cordial relations with one another. She characterized him as “brilliantly smart, loving, charming, affectionate” in her memoir True Love, adding that she respects him a great deal and that he’s continually teaching her new things. Ben told The New York Times in February 2020 that he too has a “lot of respect for her” and that he tries to catch up with her “periodically” when he can. But have they truly evolved since their first go? Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)It’s clear that the two hold plenty of love and adoration for each other, but just because they share a special connection doesn’t mean that they were destined to make their way into each other’s hearts. It’s a matter of coincidence that the two became single at the same time in April 2021 — Jennifer split up with former MLBer Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez the same month, and Ben Affleck broke up with actress Ana de Armas in January 2021 following a year-long courtship. You only have to glance at social media a few times to realize that there’s nearly unanimous support for this pairing. People are truly rooting for them to make it work this time around. Their groundbreaking reunion reinforces the age-old craze of exes rekindling their passions and rediscovering what they’d been missing all these years. It’s a wildly romantic notion and inspires a little bit of hope in all of us that we might also get to earn a second chance with the one who got away; that it’s possible to lick our wounds and recapture the magic that sparked the romance in the first place. The fact that Ben Affleck was spotted wearing the same watch J-Lo had gifted him nearly twenty years ago is just the cherry on top. You can’t blame people for feeling like it was meant to be and that Ben and Jennifer had never overcome the attraction they felt for one another. The two jetting off to mountainous Montana to escape the paparazzi is the stuff of movies, too. The romantic allure is undeniable, but we also have to keep in mind that the two are significantly different people today than they were twenty years ago. They were married to other people, had children with their spouses, achieved a number of career milestones, and experienced overwhelming personal strife — it’s not fair to chalk their reunion up to raw passion and evade the growth they’ve undergone individually over the past twenty years. Ultimately, there’s nothing particularly wrong with getting back together with your ex, but you can’t afford to make the same mistakes twice. You can’t afford to jump back into something without evaluating the bearing it may have on your overarching journey. You have to earnestly examine your development and make a call on whether you’re prepared for the risk associated with an old flame. It’s conjecture at this point as to how Jennifer and Ben are justifying their second-go endeavor at love, but one would hope that they have an action plan on how they can avoid repeating history. Perhaps they’re mentally stronger in their middle ages, perhaps the culture of celebrity has transformed and evolved, perhaps they have a firmer grasp on what they mean to each other — it’s anyone’s guess, really. Until you learn to love yourself, you can't completely love (someone else) in a way that is pure and true. Once you do that, you can have relationships that are based on love and respect, that are supportive and nourishing. Jennifer Lopez on Harper’s BazaarLove isn't possible without growth Ben and Jennifer’s chaotic journey may yet have more twists and turns, but it’s notable in that it teaches us that nothing is out of the realm of possibility when it comes to love; it’s up to us to think and act sensibly and ensure that we don’t lose ourselves within the capricious whims of love. It’s not passion that builds a relationship for the long haul; it’s individual and collective growth that gives you an edge and allows you to maintain your love through thick and thin.
Jennifer Lopez’s love life may seem like it’s all the rage these days, but in reality, it’s dominated the zeitgeist for well over twenty years. Long before Ben Affleck, A-Rod, or Marc Anthony was another A-list megastar who stole her heart and promised her a happily-ever-after: P. Diddy. They hadn’t been an item for too long, but their year-long romance attracted more media attention than what most celebrities receive in their entire lives. J-Lo became acquainted with Diddy while working with him for her debut album On the 6. She had been a wide-eyed ingenue, whereas he’d been one of the most prominent, sought-after music producers in the scene. Yet they immediately clicked. They were one of the buzzworthy couples through the turn of the century and grabbed headlines nearly every day, whether it was for their fashion style, their musical collaborations, or their steamy PDA moments. So what occurred between the two of them that destroyed their connection in one fell swoop?They had a “tumultuous relationship” involving infidelities, outbursts, and an arrest Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Jennifer Lopez, and father David Lopez (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)Looking back, P.Diddy and J-Lo’s relationship had been ill-advised from the very beginning. Diddy had been on and off with Kim Porter when he crossed paths with Jennifer on his music video for Been Around The World in 1997. He explained years later that he decided to “test the waters” with Jennifer in part to make Kim jealous so that she would come running back to him. In fact, he used to call Kim “fifty, sixty times a day,” while still seeing Jennifer. Kim wouldn’t respond to his pleas, so Diddy and J-Lo had to reckon with a volatile relationship that inspired no commitment or maturity in either party. Jennifer said she spent the majority of her time with Diddy, “totally crying, crazy and going nuts, and it really took [her] life in a whole tailspin.” Jennifer also couldn’t endure his alleged infidelities. As a high-profile music mogul in the 90s, Diddy had a reputation of being a ladies’ man. He worked hard and partied harder, sometimes at the same time. The producer, also known as Puff Daddy, went to nightclubs daily to socialize with other artists and fans and often didn’t come home until the next day. His irresponsible, reckless behavior sparked suspicion in Jennifer, and she had a feeling that he was cheating on her. “I never caught him, but I just knew,” she told The Vibe in 2003. Jennifer even recalled how she used to rummage through hotel rooms searching for him. It all came to a head when Diddy and Jennifer were arrested in December 1999 in connection with a triple shooting outside a Manhattan nightclub. Law enforcement charged them with criminal possession of a weapon and stolen property. Jennifer was released shortly after; the cops had determined she had nothing to do with the crime scene. Diddy’s charges were not dropped, and he went on to stand trial for bribery and gun possession, though he did get acquitted at the end. It wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the arrest and the subsequent trial did weigh down on the couple’s relationship significantly. Diddy told an outlet at the time, “It’s a rough year, and I just want her to be happy,” The Jenny from the Block artist echoed his sentiment and reaffirmed that the trial was “extremely painful and draining.” The Puffy era was just kind of a crazy, heightened time in my life [...] He had been in the music business and had all this success; I was just starting and making my first album when I met him...We had this kind of crazy, tumultuous relationship that ended in a bang. Jennifer Lopez on CBS This MorningThey might have been incompatible, but Diddy’s presence was “necessary” in her lifeThe arrest did put a strain on their rapport, but Jennifer maintains that it wasn’t what caused the demise of their relationship. Ultimately, they were very different people on very different pages. Compatibility had been an issue from the get-go, but it became far more apparent when they had to deal with the pressures of being in the public eye and going through the hardship of a Diddy’s arrest. Our relationship was so in the press that people didn’t really take it as a serious relationship [...] It didn’t work out. For me, it was a little more gradual. It wasn’t right for me. Jennifer Lopez on The Oprah Winfrey ShowAs much she loved Diddy, the Bronx singer couldn’t overcome their disparate lifestyles. Puffy was the type of person to head to the clubs at every opportunity, whereas she preferred to kick back and relax at home. She couldn’t envision a future where he could be a dependable father to their hypothetical children: “I had to think, do I want to be home with kids in 10 years wondering where somebody is at three in the morning?” she said in 2003. Reflecting on her time with Diddy in recent years, Jennifer said they “were kids” and weren’t prepared to take their relationship to the next level. Diddy had been more of a mentor to her than a beau, and she has learned over the years to appreciate the influential role he played in her career. He introduced her to the nuances of the music industry and helped her develop her sound and image — shaping the incredible, iconic artist she is today. It was necessary. He was meant to be at that moment to teach me what I needed to know about the music business, about what kind of artist I wanted to be in the music industry.Jennifer Lopez to CBS This MorningPerhaps some people are better suited to be co-workers and friends than lovers. It’s exactly how it worked out with Jennifer and Puffy following their breakup in 2001. In 2016, Diddy said, “Me and Jennifer, we gotta, people gonna be friends, man. People gonna grow, and, you know, any of my exes, they smile and they're happy to see me.” They’ve given shoutouts to each other at concerts, hung out at parties together, and even danced together on Instagram Live during lockdown — the friendship carries on. Everyone plays a part in your life, whether you like it or notDiddy and J-Lo’s brief but explosive relationship tells us that everyone is “meant to be” in your life for one reason or the other. Sometimes you get along well with them, and you genuinely cherish spending time with them. Sometimes they’ll come into your life expecting to play one role but end up activating something completely unexpected. Jennifer never thought she’d gain such an ally in the music industry in the form of Diddy; she’d only seen him as a chaotic ex-boyfriend without knowing that he served a much deeper purpose. But when you switch perspective and examine the full extent of a person’s influence in your life, you gain a broader understanding of their character. Even the people we despise push us into realizing our emotions and improving ourselves. So, a good rule of thumb is to assume everyone in your life plays a part of some sort. Then, it’ll be up to you to approach them with a positive outlook or not.
Yet another celebrity romance bites the dust. On Thursday, April 15, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez announced that they were officially calling it quits as a couple. Rumors had been rumbling for a while that something was amiss between the power couple. The press first reported in early March that they were heading to splitsville, but insider sources debunked the narrative quickly by claiming that the couple had only been going through a rough patch at the time. This clarification was further supported by paparazzi photos of J-Lo and A-Road appearing affectionate towards each other in the Dominican Republic. Alas, their efforts at patching things up didn’t work in the end, and they decided to respectfully go their separate ways. As per People, the joint statement issued by both parties reads: “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another's children.” They concluded the statement by thanking everyone for sending “kind words and support.” In the wake of the announcement, the public rushed to jump to conclusions and point fingers at J-Lo for messing up yet another relationship, but do they indicate a double standard? Here’s what we can learn from J-Lo and A-Rod’s breakup:Both Jennifer and Alex have histories of failed relationships, but does J-Lo get singled out for it?It’s no secret that J-Lo has had trouble in the love department. She’s been married three times and has been involved in a number of high-profile relationships. Her first marriage to Cuban server Ojani Noa lasted for a year. Her explosive, widely-publicized romance with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs ended at six months. Her second marriage to background dancer Chris Judd also perished within a year. Her iconic love story with Ben Afflected made it nearly two years before the pair decided it wasn’t working anymore. Her marriage to Marc Anthony had been Jennifer’s longest at seven years, but it didn’t work out yet again. Nevertheless, the two did become parents to twins, Max and Emme, who continue to be Jennifer’s pillars of strength through thick and thin. Of course, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out a pattern of whirlwind romances and untenable marriages. Yet, social media users decide to band together to fault J-Lo specifically for the breakdown in her relationship with A-Rod — ignoring the fact that he himself has a history of unsuccessful relationships.Alex was married to psychology graduate Cynthia Scurtis from 2002 to 2004. The divorce proceedings were ugly, and Cynthia accused Alex of extramarital affairs, “emotional abandonment” of their family, and other “marital misconduct” on his part. Following his divorce, he dated a steady stream of celebrity women: Bethenny Frankel, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, Torrie Wilson, even Silicon Valley executive Anne Wojcicki. Yet, when it was time to hold someone responsible for the relationship’s demise, J-Lo ended up with the short end of the stick. She’s been receiving a barrage of critical remarks on how she can’t keep a man or how she is likely a “nightmare” of a girlfriend. Instead, Alex is depicted as a sympathetic figure who fought for her for as long as he could before being thwarted by her so-called difficult personality. The vitriol leveled at J-Lo is nothing but a demonstration of misogyny. Are the same people judging her for allegedly “driving” out her fiancé also commenting on Alex’s disastrous dating history? How much flack is he receiving for breaking it off with yet another Hollywood A-lister? The fact that men are allowed to revel in behaviour that gets women lambasted speaks to a society that still can’t come to terms with women’s choices. Rumours of infidelity or the beginning of the end?Quite a few outlets have stated that tensions between the former couple had been brewing for a while. Before the first split was reported, allegations arose that Southern Charm starlet Madison LeCroy had had a dalliance with Alex Rodriguez. A fellow Southern Charm cast mate, Craig Conover, accused Madison of exchanging flirtatious messages with an ex-MLB player, which Madison revealed as Alex Rodriguez. She said that while they never met in person, they had sent a few messages back and forth over Instagram. Madison went on to disclose that she and Alex had had “innocent” phone conversations during quarantine, but it didn’t go further than that. She stated that Alex has “never physically cheated on his fiancée” with her. Madison also added that these exchanges occurred during March 2020 — nearly a year before the rumors started circulating — and that she had signed a non-disclosure agreement of some sort with Alex’s team. While we don’t know the details of what transpired between Madison and Alex, it could have very well played a role in how his relationship deteriorated with J-Lo. Or perhaps it made no difference to what was already a sinking ship. Her treatment mirrors that of another JenniferNevertheless, those condemning J-Lo are not taking this issue into account at all and have instead latched onto the theory that something must be wrong with her if her relationships fall through. Not that people should instantaneously assume that Alex’s alleged affair was what doomed their engagement, but you also can’t declare J-Lo to be in any way unfit as a romantic partner. The treatment being meted out to Jennifer Lopez is not dissimilar to the nationwide investment in yet another Jennifer’s love life — Aniston. Aniston continues to be portrayed as the ultimate sad sack spinster by the vicious press. She’s a cool, level-headed, wildly successful actress who’s always taken life in stride, but the media is convinced that she won’t truly be content until she’s happily — and continuously — married. Moreover, people try to attribute her broken marriages to a perceived defect in her character, even if the men in her life were clearly the perpetrator in some cases. Until you learn to love yourself, you can't completely love [someone else] in a way that is pure and true. Once you do that, you can have relationships that are based on love and respect, that are supportive and nourishingJennifer Lopez on Harper's BazaarDon’t jump to conclusions without evidenceThe key takeaway from this blatant showcase of double standards is that both parties need to be given their privacy and space in the wake of their split. Admonishing one person while defending the other person without any solid evidence is meaningless and only contributes to a toxic environment. We need to be more conscious of other people’s feelings when discussing sensitive subjects such as breakups, marriages, or divorce. Sometimes, the connection isn’t there anymore, and no one can be faulted in such a case. Therefore it’s up to us to approach these areas with empathy, patience, and understanding. If there is sufficient reasoning to clearly favor one side over the other, go ahead. If there’s not, best to leave the situation as it is and keep minding our own business.
Talk about aging like a fine wine! It’s hard to believe "Jenny from the Block" has turned 50.With a career spanning almost three decades, Jennifer Lopez’s private life has, at times, seemed to grab just as much attention as her professional success.The iconic singer and actress had her share of high profile relationships, but her romance with actor Ben Affleck is the one that filled the tabloids throughout their 18-month relationship.Bennifer: the name that changed everythingJennifer and Ben, or “Bennifer” as the media nicknamed the couple, officially met on the set of the movie Gigli in December 2001.Jennifer was still married then to her second husband, Cris Judd, so the boundaries were very clear. In spite of this, Ben decided to try his luck and gift her with a diamond bracelet -- and just as Marilyn Monroe said, it seems that diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. She filed for divorce soon after Ben made his intentions known. They dated for a few months and by November 2002, the couple was engaged to be married.Affleck's mom helped him plan the proposal. When Jennifer arrived at the house, there were rose petals everywhere. “So many candles, and vases, bouquets. And my song ‘Glad’ was playing … I walk in and I was just like overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting it, and I was just like ‘Oh my God,'” Jennifer told ABC News. They seemed to have it all"Bennifer" shared the red carpet, many laughs during interviews, and exchanged expensive gifts. We will never forget those paparazzi-esque shots of Ben and Jennifer recording the iconic music video “Jenny from the Block”. They were both young, beautiful, and on the front page of every tabloid magazine.There was too much public pressureEven for people who are used to getting all that attention, when does “too much” become too much?Rumors started to spread that the couple’s relationship was struggling. Add this to the stories that swirled about Ben's supposed gambling problem and you get the perfect topic to exploit in a tabloid story.Everyone was now focused on Bennifer’s relationship problems In September 2003, the couple was all set to tie the knot, but the public pressure became too hard to handle. Just four days before the date, they announced that the wedding was postponed due to “excessive media attention.” They didn’t set a second date and confirmed their split in January 2004. Jennifer's devastation -- and recovery“We just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids,” Lopez told People in 2016. “It was just a lot of pressure. I think different time, different thing, who knows what could've happened? But there was a genuine love there."Back then, she was devastated. The movie she starred in with Affleck was getting plain awful reviews. Months of planning the perfect wedding had gone to waste because "Bennifer" was not a couple anymore.Jennifer began to question her self-worth: “I lost my sense of self, questioned if I belonged in this business, thought maybe I did suck at everything. And my relationship self-destructed in front of the entire world. It was a two-year thing for me until I picked myself up again.” she told Vanity Fair.Shelooked forward instead of backwardsJennifer didn't let either the coverage of the split or the colossal failure of her Bennifer movie legacy, Gigli, hold her back. In 2004, she began working on her new album Rebirth while also working on her solo acting career. Most importantly, she never lost her faith in true love. In June 2004, she married music star Marc Anthony and welcomed beautiful twins Max and Emme. Their marriage ended in 2011, but Jennifer now knew how to handle a life's challenge. So instead of feeling sorry for herself and avoid the public eye, she reinvented her career.Everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you’re willing to look at it, and I’m willing to look.Jennifer Lopez, People MagazineJennifer signed on as lead judge of reality show American Idol in 2011, even though others told her to quit and warned her that the decision could be the death knell to her career. It was nothing of the sort. American Idol was a breath of fresh air for Lopez, as well as a guaranteed steady gig.She knew her worth and hoped that the show would display her actual character -- not the one attributed to her by the press during and immediately after "Bennifer." Know you are limitlessJennifer has now once again become the center of the spotlight with her highly publicized romance with baseball player Alex Rodriguez. The couple became engaged in March 2019, when Rodriguez got down on bended knee with while they were on holiday in the Bahamas. Lpez calls A-Rod her “twin soul," but they haven’t really planned a wedding yet.While her personal life and acting career have been a constant roller coaster, Jennifer has no plan to slow down, with the much hyped Hustlers out this fall. Through her focus and dedication to her true self and her passion for performing, Jennifer was able to move out of the shadow of the celebrity romance that made her a focus of obsessive tabloid coverage. It's a powerful lesson for anyone trying to move on from their own breakup.“I have worth, I have value, I belong here.”Jennifer Lopez, MTV The RideAll the low points and the failures helped her grow and stand up for herself; Jennifer gained strength from everything she learned. She can sing, dance, and act –- she is limitless. And so are you.More inspiring musicians:The Misunderstood Brilliance of Pop’s Party Girl, Ke$haSocial House on Turning Pain Into Pop ArtAaliyah’s Forgotten Light: Her Powerful Legacy Beyond Death — and R. KellyDead Set on Living: How Going “Straight Edge” Manifested Greatness for Liam CormierAriana Grande is Proof of the Power of Crying in Public
Welcome to #RelationshipGoals, where we’re giving the stage to the power couples we admire. From admirable long-term relationships to inspirational newlyweds, these are the couples we love and hope to take cues from in our own relationships.In 2005, pop superstar and entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez and then husband Marc Anthony attended a Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium in New York.When she posed with the Yankees superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez (then married), she -- nor he -- had any idea how they’d eventually hit it off more than a decade later.That was the beginning of A-Rod and J-Lo.Why A-Rod and J-Lo are a true power couple"I describe it as the luckiest day of my life," Rodriguez said in an interview with Ellen.Lopez tapped Rodriguez on the shoulder one ordinary day in 2017 (as ordinary as a day is for a baseball legend) when she spotted him looking for his car after he had just left a meeting in L.A.He hesitated for a moment, unsure of who had approached him, Lopez donning curly hair and in plain clothes."'Oh my god, Jennifer, you look beautiful,'" he recalled telling Lopez. "I was so embarrassed and then I got a little nervous...And she says, 'You have my number, reach out.' And I went home that night and reached out."Part of what makes the pairing of A-Rod and J-Lo special is their shared beginnings. Each grew up in New York (A-Rod later moving to Florida), have become high-profile entrepreneurs and fitness fanatics (Lopez herself having first risen to stardom as a backup dancer on 90’s comedy show In Living Color and has a love of sports like A-Rod), and each has two children of similar ages whom they’re devoted to.Many have referred to them as the male and female counterpart of the same person. However, there’s much more to their magic. Each has had a long and winding road they had to travel through to arrive at the point where they finally got together. And it’s these experiences, and the lessons that came with them (and their shared never-give-up attitude), that have helped them forge such a strong bond so quickly.RELATED: 3 Subtle Differences Between a Twin Flame and a Life Partner"We both entered the public eye in our early twenties and overachieved right from the start. And that affects every dynamic in your life, from your family to your work to your relationships. We have a similar makeup,” said Lopez in a recent interview with Bazaar.All the times they inspired us with their loveOne of the most inspiring aspects of A-Rod and J-Lo’s relationship is the shared devoted they have for their children, A-Rod with two daughters Natasha, 14, and Ella, 10, from his previous marriage with Cynthia Scurtis and J-Lo with 10-year-old twins Max and Emme from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony.But even more than just their dedication to their children, it’s the fact that their children have hit it off so well.“Kids are so beautiful and open to love and new friends,” Lopez told PEOPLE. “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away. [It was as if] ‘I get a new bonus brother and sisters to hang out with all the time and it’s nice.'”And A-Rod says, “Our kids have become best friends and that keeps us both grounded and appreciative. We couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along as they do.”"Jennifer's an amazing person...She has like 10 jobs," Rodriguez said in an interview with Nightline. "She loves sports, she's an athlete herself, a great mother, great daughter, great friend.""It's good, it's healthy; we communicate well," said Lopez to Bazaar. "We understand each other's lives in a way that most other people couldn't."Their biggest relationship takeawayLove is the priority, but not just love for one another, for those around them whom they love as well. A real relationship makes you and the people around you better and feel more loved and that’s the greatest sign of the power of their pairing.On a recent trip to the Bahamas for J-Lo and A-Rod’s birthdays (which are just three days apart, go figure!), the couple enjoyed spending time with the entire family:"...the day and night was filled with lots of laughter, tears and of course dancing...:)" Lopez captioned in a pic of her and Rodriguez kissing in front of a giant pink cake.Alex popped the question in 2019 taking their relationship to the next level and cementing their love. The rest is truly history.Other inspiring love stories: How Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Prove Friendship Is the Strongest Base for LoveWhy John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s Relationship Offers An Incredible Lesson in Trust and SupportWhy Will and Jada Will Never Divorce – And What Their Commitment Can Teach Us
Jennifer Lopez - Make Anything Happen Jennifer Lopez reminds us that people will attempt to interfere in the pursuit of our dreams and to not listen to the naysayers and follow your heart. Transcript: If I tell you all the people who told me I wasn't going to act or sing or dance or I wasn't good at it or I should stop or I should quit or even after I became famous for doing these things, I would be locked in a house somewhere doing nothing. The truth is nobody knows what's inside of you. Only you know what's inside of you. only you know what you can accomplish and what you're capable of and what your gut and your dreams and your desires and your wants and your ability, you only know. Nobody else knows. Whatever you feel in your heart and in your gut, you should follow that. Follow that. Then if that changes one day, that's fine too. Then you follow that. You're the only one who knows. Nobody else. You only learn really in this world from the mistakes you make, from hard times, from going through difficult periods. That's when you grow. We should look at these moments as opportunities for growth as almost blessings, because if everything went smoothly all the time, we'd be very complacent, and we'd stay in one place. We'd never, ever stretch ourselves or question ourselves or want to be better people in a certain way. These moments, they force us to do these things. Nobody likes to work out. Nobody likes to eat all the right foods all the time. But those simple things are really the secret to it. It's about things like your portion control or being consistent. Honestly, these are the things that have to do with success as well not just looking physically fit. All of it is a mindset. All of it is about being consistent and doing the right things. Staying healthy and staying fit is no different than that. You have to follow your dreams and work hard. That's what you have to do. You will create your own beautiful path and existence in life. When they ask me, "What would you want to be up there?" And they gave me a choice of all these words, and I said, "Be extraordinary," because I feel like we're all extraordinary. Nobody's the same. There's no two people that are alike. Honestly, we all have the capacity. We all have it in us the ability to do whatever it is that we want to do. All we have to do is just put our minds to it and just work hard. You can make anything happen.
