Jennifer Lopez's 55th: Career thrives, but marriage falters

The fate of Jennifer Lopez is complicated. Her romantic escapades have been talked about for several decades. Now, as she approaches her 55th birthday, it is being reported that Ben Affleck will not be by her side.

Jennifer Lopez's career is thriving. We often remember that she had a chance for an Oscar for her daring performance in "Hustlers" in 2019. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seemed to shy away from scandal, and the film about strippers who take revenge on bankers after losing all their savings was overlooked in the Oscar race. After that, Lopez had several box office projects to her name, led by Netflix's "The Mother" and the latest production for the platform – "Atlas". Critics were not thrilled, but Lopez attracted audiences for millions of hours.

"Atlas" attracted exactly 28.2 million viewers at launch. The interest in the production with Lopez was enormous. However, the interest in the star’s love life has been considerable for several years, and recently, her fans have been receiving rather sad news. One can read about her crumbling marriage with Ben Affleck almost every day.

And let us remember, this is a story from a Hollywood film. The first time news broke about the actors being a couple was in 2001. They met on a movie set, feelings developed, and only in 2003 did they officially appear together on the red carpet. That same year, the star couple were supposed to marry but cancelled the wedding. The reason was that too much media attention was paid to their relationship. Jennifer mentioned in the media that she had a “terribly broken heart,” suggesting that Affleck was not entirely devoted to her.

That’s why many people watched with undisguised surprise as rumours surfaced about Lopez and Affleck getting back together after 17 years. The first photos paparazzi took of the couple were an internet hit. By 2021, they were officially appearing together at film events, and in 2022, they secretly and spontaneously married in Las Vegas.

"We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient," Jennifer wrote. The whole event looked like a scene from a romantic comedy. They stood in line with other couples. She wrote that behind them was a pair of men waiting to marry, and in front of them were parents deciding to marry on their daughter’s second birthday.

Then it got even more interesting when the couple had a second wedding during a private family ceremony that lasted three days and was done with great fanfare. The bliss was in full swing. From time to time, a meme appeared with an unhappy Ben being dragged by his wife or one where he slammed a door behind her. Everyone also remembers his expressions from the Grammys in 2023.

And so over time, in the early months of 2024, these were no longer just mocking memes but reports that Affleck and Lopez were going through a crisis. The actor was already missing from JLo’s side at various show-business events, with the Met Gala at the forefront. A wave of rumours began.

After the May premiere of the film "Atlas," Lopez was asked about her marriage at a press conference. The star quickly shut down the topic that one of the journalists tried to start: "We’re not going to do this. You know that well." Shortly after, "ET" reported that JLo and Affleck needed time apart. It was written that Lopez is perpetually dissatisfied with her career, while Affleck is professionally and privately content, not caring about Hollywood, fame, etc. Reportedly, this began to irritate Lopez.

Rumours exploded with double force when in May Lopez announced that she was cancelling her first tour in 5 years, "This Is Me… Now The Tour," to devote more time to her "children, family, and close friends." She wrote to her fans in a statement: "I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. ...Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. ...I will make it up to you and we will all be together again."

Ben and Jennifer put their shared home up for sale. They started spending holidays separately and appeared with their children separately. In June this year, paparazzi caught Affleck without his ring. They spent Independence Day apart. They were not together on their second wedding anniversary.

In July, on exactly the 24th, Lopez will celebrate her 55th birthday—an important date. A few days before her big day, she threw a "Bridgerton" style party in the Hamptons. Affleck wasn’t there. He spent the weekend with the children in Los Angeles.

Is the marriage falling apart? American media are desperately trying to find out what’s happening and whether the story from years ago, when the fame of both spouses caused them difficulties, is repeating. What will happen next?