We have now to be trustworthy. We’ve been so enthusiastic about the potential for Bennifer taking place once more… we didn’t cease to suppose whether or not this was actually a good suggestion!
OK, let’s rewind. As you little doubt have heard by now, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are so completely again on — they have been even noticed on a week-long romantic getaway to Huge Sky, Montana!
From what we’ve heard, it was Ben who began issues anew — presumably even whereas she and Alex Rodriguez have been nonetheless collectively! In line with a TMZ report on Tuesday, he was sending her letters about how nice she appeared in photographs, apparently realizing she cherished his writing and the way he used to “personal her coronary heart” together with his pen.
Associated: How A-Rod Responded To Bennifer Reuniting
A supply backed up that account to ET, claiming:
“Ben has all the time had an affinity for Jennifer and was the one who initially began pursuing her and making an effort to reconnect, romantically talking. He needed to discover issues together with her past a friendship and so they’ve each actually been having fun with spending time collectively.”
At all times had an affinity… That parallels what one other insider needed to say to the outlet about Ben’s emotions for this specific ex over the previous 17 years.
Talking concerning the “pure chemistry” the couple have all the time had, the supply mentioned on Monday:
“They’ve stayed in contact through the years, so the 2 of them reconnecting isn’t an enormous shock to their mates. Ben is protecting over J.Lo and so they’re making an attempt to be as low key as attainable.”
“Ben is protecting over J.Lo.” Protecting.
It’s that wording that lastly felt like the primary drop of rain on our early 2000s celeb tabloid nostalgia parade. “Protecting.” Sorry, but it surely simply pressured us to consider why the 2 broke up within the first place…
How Bennifer Started
When you don’t know the story, Ben and J.Lo met whereas filming the debacle of a criminal offense caper Gigli in 2001. They fell in love immediately, and after the little matter of Jennifer’s divorce from second husband Cris Judd, the pair went public with their relationship.
The phrase public doesn’t even start to explain it — they have been the “it” couple for an entire yr. Paparazzi adopted them all over the place; they have been on each journal cowl. Their love even offers beginning to the thought of a celeb couple title: Bennifer.
Associated: Kevin Smith Says He Created The Identify ‘Bennifer’
In a 2016 interview with Folks, J.Lo appeared again on the whirlwind romance, saying she “felt like ‘Okay, that is it.’” Nevertheless…
“…generally I really feel like what you suppose individuals are and the way you see them if you love them is totally different than once they reveal later.”
A secret id one may even name it… like a superhero has…
Daredevil
Enter the Daredevil film from the summer season of 2002 wherein Ben co-starred with Jennifer Garner. They’d truly met beforehand on the set of Pearl Harbor, wherein she had a small function, however this time — enjoying onscreen lovers, working so intently collectively — one thing simply clicked.

Years later, in an interview with Playboy, Ben admits this was once they fell in love:
“We met on Pearl Harbor, which individuals hate, however we fell in love on Daredevil. By the way in which, she gained a lot of the fights within the film, which was a reasonably good predictor of what would occur down the street — my spouse, holding swords and beating the residing s**t out of me.”
Once more, he and J.Lo have been nonetheless collectively. Not solely that, they bought engaged a number of months later, in November 2002! Whereas he was in love with one other lady…
Dinner For 5
In January of 2003, through the press tour for Daredevil, Ben and Jen (Garner) seem on the IFC roundtable dialogue present Dinner For 5 with co-stars Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, and Kevin Smith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gt3NZbWbCg
All through the discuss, Garner is simply so clearly smitten with Affleck. The way in which she talks to him, the way in which she appears to be like at him. It’s plain as day. At one level his outdated pal Kevin busts his chops, and she or he responds by saying:
“I really feel like I might need to kick your ass.”
To which Ben responds:
“Come on, child! Inform him!”
At Smith’s confusion, Favreau explains:
“She’s very protecting of him. They’ve…”
However the future Iron Man director, maybe correctly, doesn’t end the thought. However he doesn’t should.
In March 2003, Garner and her then-husband — sure, she was with another person, too — Scott Foley announce their separation. They get divorced simply two months later.
The Endifer
It takes till September 2003, over a YEAR since Ben has been in love with one other lady, for the 2 to separate. At first it’s only a joint assertion delaying the marriage, supposedly “as a result of extreme media consideration” — simply days earlier than they have been scheduled to say their I do’s. However in January 2004, J.Lo releases a press release by means of her spokesperson:
“I’m confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck.”
Only a few months later, in June, J.Lo strikes on — actually strikes on — marrying longtime pal Marc Anthony.
Bennifer 2.0 — that’s, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner — don’t make their first public look as a pair till October 2004, once they go to see Ben’s beloved Crimson Sox play within the World Collection, wanting very a lot like a longtime couple. They get engaged the next April.
OK, in order that’s the historical past. However that doesn’t convey what Ben put J.Lo by means of. At worst, what number of months was he stepping out of their relationship with Jennifer Garner? Or, on the very finest, secretly pining for an additional lady? Whereas buying a $2.5 million engagement ring and professing his love??
Oof.
And but, in some way, now he’s all the time been protecting of this lady? Is it as a result of he’s felt so responsible all these years? Has he owned as much as his mistake?? We have now to imagine so, someplace in these love letters…
We simply don’t understand how wholesome this will presumably for Jen, who simply bought out of a relationship with a person whose alleged infidelity has been the topic of headlines for the previous few months. Has Ben grown previous being the f**kboy who would deal with her like that? We positive hope so. Time doesn’t all the time change individuals, however generally, simply generally, it does.
What do YOU suppose??
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN/Mirek Towski/DMI.]