Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck spent Independence Day apart, with Lopez showcasing her wedding ring amid ongoing marital troubles. The “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” singer, 54, shared a series of Instagram photos on Thursday, highlighting her straw fedora as she posed in a garden and a field in the Hamptons. “Happy Fourth,” the Bronx native captioned the snaps, with the last photo subtly displaying her wedding ring peeking out of her khaki pockets. Meanwhile, Affleck reportedly spent Independence Day in Los Angeles.
Lopez’s solo photo shoot comes about a week after she and Affleck, 51, were both seen entering his Beverly Hills office building around the same time, following weeks of not being photographed together. Last month, Lopez embarked on a European vacation without Affleck, during which the “Gone Girl” star reportedly moved the rest of his belongings out of their $60 million Beverly Hills mansion. The couple is currently trying to sell the home for around $65 million.
The past few months have been challenging for Affleck and Lopez, who were engaged in the early 2000s before having families with and divorcing Jennifer Garner and Marc Anthony, respectively. The couple reconciled in 2021 and married the following year. Their on-off love story inspired a significant part of Lopez’s new album “This Is Me…Now,” as well as an accompanying self-financed musical and making-of documentary. An insider told Us Weekly last month that the couple “can’t get on the same page [and] have been discussing divorce as an option” less than two years after marrying.
Jennifer Lopez celebrated the Fourth of July in New York with friends, seemingly without her husband, Ben Affleck. Just days after returning to Los Angeles from a European trip, Lopez shared photos on Instagram showcasing her holiday activities. She was seen walking through fields of gorgeous flowers in the Hamptons and posing on a fence, all while wearing her wedding ring. The Instagram photos were captioned, “Happy Fourth 🌹🇺🇸.”
Meanwhile, 51-year-old Affleck was spotted having dinner with two of his children in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3. Photos published by The Daily Mail show Affleck also wearing his wedding ring during the outing. The 54-year-old singer and actress raised eyebrows with her fans as she opted not to wear her wedding ring in a video posted to her JLO Beauty brand account on Tuesday, which she later reposted to her personal Instagram Story.
While promoting some products, Lopez went without her ring, and it was readily apparent as she held up the products in question, giving fans a good look at her bare ring finger. The high level of wedding ring scrutiny comes amid her rumored ongoing marital strife with Affleck.
The pair, who tied the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, have faced months of reports that their marriage is crumbling. However, they’ve tried their best to present a united front in recent weeks, even as whispers have said they are headed for a split.
At the end of May, one source close to the couple told ET that Affleck and Lopez are all too aware of their issues and are desperately trying to save their marriage. “Ben and Jen don’t want to get divorced,” the source said, adding that the pair “are saying they won’t, but their relationship is simply not working at this point. They aren’t done yet and want to fix things because they love each other, but they are also both unhappy.”
ET learned last month that the couple is quietly trying to sell the $60.8 million estate that they bought together in May 2023. Affleck and Lopez have continued to be seen out and about together, often wearing their wedding rings. However, Affleck was seen sans ring late last month while grabbing dinner with his 18-year-old daughter, Violet.
Affleck shares Violet with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, along with daughter Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. Affleck and Garner, who tied the knot in 2005, announced their separation in 2015 and filed for divorce in April 2018. Their divorce was finalized the following October.
Lopez, who shares 16-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, was spotted wearing her wedding ring while out and about on a solo vacation to Europe last month. A source told ET last week that the pair are “trying to be as amicable as possible.” “They still want the best for everyone involved,” the source said, adding, “including their kids, the rest of their families, and shared friends.”
As speculation over their relationship status continues, the source said that Affleck and Lopez are not blind to the hyper-focus on clues to the health of their marriage, explaining, “Ben and Jen are aware that their fans are paying attention to see if they’re wearing their rings or not.”
Ben Affleck is stepping out without his wedding ring. On Sunday, June 23, the two-time Oscar winner grabbed lunch at the Tasty Noodle House in Los Angeles with daughter Violet, 18, as wife Jennifer Lopez has been vacationing overseas. Affleck, who wed Lopez in Las Vegas in July 2022, was photographed not wearing his wedding band, as seen in photos published by The Daily Mail. The actor and filmmaker, 51, was dressed casually in blue jeans and sneakers, with a white T-shirt under a flannel button-up shirt.
Lopez, meanwhile, has been soaking up the sun during her time in Italy with friends as of late. On Friday, June 21, the Atlas actress was spotted living it up on a yacht. She was also photographed on a boat earlier that week, on Tuesday, June 18. The two have been living separately, with the singer residing in the couple’s Beverly Hills marital home while Affleck stays in a rental a few miles away, amid the strain in their marriage.
Live Nation announced on May 31 that the actress and singer had canceled her planned concert tour because she is “taking time off to be with her children, family, and close friends.” The tour was originally scheduled to run from June to August, in support of her latest studio album “This Is Me … Now,” which was released in February.
Affleck, who shares Violet plus younger children Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, just wrapped filming his upcoming movie “The Accountant 2” in Los Angeles. Lopez is mom to two children, 16-year-old twins Emme and Max, with ex-husband Marc Anthony, whom she was married to from 2004 to 2014.
Despite their marital strain, Affleck and Lopez have come together on multiple recent occasions, celebrating Samuel at his graduation ceremony and Violet at hers, as well as at a graduation party for Samuel alongside Garner, 52. Lopez and Affleck were both pictured wearing their wedding rings at the latter event, which was held at the Argo star’s rental home in Brentwood, California.
In honor of the Father’s Day holiday earlier this month, Lopez posted a sweet message for Affleck on her Instagram Stories. “Our hero. Happy Father’s Day,” the Selena actress wrote in moving type over a black-and-white photo of her husband, including a white heart emoji.
A striking new billboard about Jennifer Lopez has grabbed the attention of passersby for its unambiguous message: “DON’T F WITH JLO.” The bold statement is emblazoned across the sign, which is located in Los Angeles. While it might initially seem like a personal warning from the star herself, the accompanying Netflix logo clarifies that it’s a clever promotion for her upcoming action thriller, “Atlas.”
In the upcoming action thriller, “Atlas,” Jennifer Lopez takes on the role of Atlas Shepherd, a data analyst who finds herself in a high-stakes situation where she must rely on artificial intelligence to save humanity. The billboard’s bold message reflects the no-nonsense, tough-as-nails character she portrays in the movie, promising audiences an exciting and action-packed experience when the film debuts on Netflix this Friday.
However, the promotional billboard also resonates with Lopez’s real-life persona. Known for her fierce determination and resilience, Lopez has always maintained a strong public image. This was evident during a recent panel discussion for “Atlas” in Mexico City, where Lopez firmly addressed a reporter’s intrusive question about her marriage to Ben Affleck. Her sharp retort, “You know better than that!” delivered with a smile, underscored her unwillingness to entertain unwarranted speculation about her personal life.
Indeed, the state of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s marriage has been a topic of considerable public interest. Reports have surfaced about the couple experiencing a rough patch, leading to them living in separate homes in Los Angeles. This speculation has been fueled by sightings of Ben with and without his wedding ring, contrasting moments of public togetherness, and Jennifer attending the “Atlas” premiere solo.
The billboard, therefore, can be seen as more than just a marketing tool for Lopez’s new movie. It also serves as a mirror of her persona—both on and off the screen. The bold statement not only encapsulates the spirit of her character in “Atlas” but also resonates with her real-life stance against unwanted intrusion into her personal life, adding a layer of authenticity to the movie’s promotion.
With the release of “Atlas” just around the corner, the billboard has effectively stirred up public curiosity, not only about the film but also about Jennifer Lopez herself, achieving the desired outcome of the promotional campaign.
Source: Us Weekly, ET, The Daily Mail
