Two years after their high-profile separation, actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck has shared words of respect for his ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez, praising her exceptional work ethic and arguing that she has frequently been overlooked by major Hollywood award bodies.
Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, Affleck opened up about his enduring admiration for Lopez, 57, with whom he recently worked as a producer on the film Kiss of the Spider Woman. The candid reflections arrive roughly two years after the pair split for the second time.
“I’m biased. I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for what she can do,” Affleck, 54, told the publication. He noted that the mechanics of industry accolades often fail to align with artistic achievement, describing Hollywood award recognition as part of a “weird, subjective business that people bring a lot of their own stuff to.”
Despite widespread critical buzz and commercial success surrounding several of her projects—including her acclaimed 2019 crime-drama film Hustlers—Lopez has never received an Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Addressing this absence of major institutional recognition, Affleck maintained that award tallies do not define artistic legacy.
“At the end of the day, it’s just a bunch of people voting on movie prizes,” Affleck remarked, adding that he does not view historical award lists as definitive measures of cinematic value.
Beyond traditional filmmaking and awards discourse, Affleck also reflected on the modern evolution of the entertainment industry, pointing to the deliberate effort required to build a personal brand across digital platforms. He singled out both Lopez and his former wife, Jennifer Garner, as prime examples of industry professionals who manage those spaces effectively.
“Now you’ve got your social media identity. You work to develop that,” Affleck explained, acknowledging the unseen labor required to maintain public presence. “I’ve seen both Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner do amazing jobs cultivating and accruing value in those spaces. Don’t think that’s not real work. I couldn’t do it.”
A Long History in the Public Eye
The relationship between Affleck and Lopez—frequently dubbed “Bennifer” by tabloids and fans—spanned more than two decades, marked by an initial romance, a cancelled engagement, and a high-profile reunion nearly twenty years later.
The pair first met on the set of the feature film Gigli and became engaged in 2002 before postponing and ultimately calling off their planned wedding the following year. Following their initial split, Lopez married singer Marc Anthony, with whom she shares 18-year-old twins Emme and Max, and subsequently dated former professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005, with whom he shares three children: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 14. The couple divorced in 2018.
After reconnecting in 2021, Affleck and Lopez officially married during a small ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a larger celebration in Georgia. However, following months of widespread public speculation and separation rumors, Lopez officially filed for divorce from Affleck in August 2024.
