Superstar Jennifer Lopez cancels her summer tour amidst swirling speculation about the stability of her marriage to Ben Affleck. Our correspondent Christina Coleman delves into the latest on their relationship and the reasons behind JLo's sudden decision.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, two years after their lavish nuptials in Las Vegas, are facing a potential roadblock in their marriage. The superstar has canceled her summer tour, sparking rumors of marital disharmony that have been escalating in recent months.
Lopez, who will celebrate her 55th birthday on July 24, spent the weekend on the East Coast in the Hamptons without her husband. The "Waiting for Tonight" singer was seen out and about throughout the weekend with Ben's oldest daughter, Violet Affleck, 18.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Meanwhile, back home on the West Coast, Affleck, 51, was spotted cruising through town while on a joyride on a motorcycle in between filming obligations for "The Accountant 2."
Lopez and Violet bonded over ice cream and shopping in the affluent New York community, known as a favorite summer vacation destination for celebrities. Jennifer stepped out wearing a white blouse and jeans while Violet, 18, wore a pink T-shirt and a matching floral skirt.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
On another mother-daughter excursion, Jennifer rocked a black maxi dress as Violet opted for a quirky pair of slacks and a vibrant red shirt.
However, Mr. Affleck was nowhere to be seen. The couple also spent the Fourth of July holiday weekend apart with Jennifer enjoying time in the Hamptons with friends, while Ben was seen in Los Angeles with his children.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Back home in California, split rumors reached an all-time high between the couple when their Beverly Hills mansion hit the market for $68 million.
Affleck and Lopez purchased the six-acre estate in cash last year after searching for a new love nest for their blended family for more than two years. The mansion offers extreme privacy with views of L.A. from high atop a hill and boasts 17 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms, and parking for 80 vehicles.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Jennifer Lopez is currently living at the estate while Affleck is staying in a rental in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to People magazine.
Sources close to the couple have confirmed the marital troubles, with one insider revealing that Affleck "has been working nonstop and spending a lot of time at his office" while Lopez is "heartbroken."
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Affleck has become more focused on his work, according to another source, as he attempts to cope with the marital distress.
Affleck co-parents his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. Garner and Affleck initially met on the set of "Pearl Harbor," but their relationship began years later. They married in June 2005 and ultimately went their separate ways in 2015, finalizing their divorce in 2018.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Lopez has teenage twins with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony. The former couple met in 1998, became engaged in 2004, and married at her Beverly Hills home.
They announced their separation in 2011 and finalized their divorce in 2014.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Relationship at Crossroads Amidst Rumors of Marital Trouble
Ben and Jen were first engaged in 2002 after meeting on the set of their film, "Gigli." Affleck proposed, and they were set to be married in 2004, but the wedding was called off at the last minute.
Twenty years later, Lopez and Affleck married in Las Vegas during a surprise wedding ceremony.
"We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient," she wrote in her newsletter at the time.
"They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love.’ We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to. Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for."
She signed off her post with her new last name, as confirmed in court documents: "With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck."
One month later, the newlyweds hosted a backyard ceremony for friends and family at the $8 million Georgia mansion Affleck purchased when the couple first began dating 20 years ago. Lopez's twins, Max and Emme, and Affleck's three children were the only people who stood by their sides as they recited their vows.
"Ben and I laughed the night before about getting married again at our age. We had both been married before and we aren’t exactly kids any more but somehow now seemed like the only age that made sense," Lopez wrote in a newsletter shared with fans.
"The truth is everyone’s story is different and we all have our paths to travel. No two people are the same. But for us, this was perfect timing. Nothing ever felt more right to me, and I knew we were finally ‘settling down’ in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy and you are battle tested enough to never take the important things for granted or let the silly insignificant nuisances of the day get in the way of embracing every precious moment.
"We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven ..." ". Each article should have at least 10 paragraphs.
