Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's marriage: On the brink?

Jennifer Lopez's career is flourishing. Many remember that she was a strong contender for an Oscar for her daring performance in "Hustlers" in 2019. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seemed wary of scandal, and the film about strippers avenging bankers who lost their savings was overlooked in the Oscar race. Since then, Lopez has led several box office hits, including Netflix's "The Mother" and the platform's latest production, "Atlas." While critics were not thrilled, Lopez managed to captivate audiences for millions of viewing hours.

"Atlas" attracted 28.2 million viewers in its debut. The interest in Lopez and her projects remains high. However, even greater attention has been given to her love life, especially with the recent unfortunate news about her marriage to Ben Affleck.

This story could be straight out of a Hollywood movie. The first time news broke about Lopez and Affleck being a couple was in 2001, after meeting on a movie set. Their relationship blossomed, and in 2003, they officially appeared together on the red carpet. They were set to marry the same year but canceled the wedding due to excessive media attention. Jennifer later mentioned having a "terribly broken heart," implying Affleck wasn't entirely committed.

Many were shocked when rumors emerged about Lopez and Affleck rekindling their romance after 17 years. Early paparazzi photos of them together went viral. By 2021, they were officially seen together at film events, and in 2022, they had a spontaneous, secret wedding in Las Vegas.

"We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient," Jennifer wrote. Their wedding resembled a scene from a romantic comedy. They stood in line with other couples, with a same-sex couple behind them and parents ahead, marrying on their daughter’s second birthday.

The story took another turn when they had a second wedding during a private family ceremony lasting three days, filled with grand celebrations. For a while, everything seemed blissful. Occasionally, memes of an unhappy Ben being dragged by his wife or slamming a door behind her made rounds, especially his expressions from the 2023 Grammys.

As time passed, the situation turned more serious. Early in 2024, rumors indicated that Affleck and Lopez were facing a marital crisis. Affleck's absence at various events, including the Met Gala, fueled these rumors.

During the May premiere of "Atlas," Lopez swiftly shut down questions about her marriage at a press conference, saying, "We’re not going to do this. You know that well." Shortly after, "ET" reported that JLo and Affleck needed time apart. According to reports, Lopez was dissatisfied with her career, while Affleck was content and unbothered by Hollywood. This purportedly began to frustrate Lopez.

Speculations intensified when Lopez canceled her first tour in five years, "This Is Me... Now The Tour," to spend more time with her "children, family, and close friends." She expressed her regret to fans, saying, "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."

The couple put their shared home up for sale and started spending vacations separately and appearing with their children independently. In June, paparazzi snapped Affleck without his ring. They spent Independence Day apart and missed their second wedding anniversary together.

On July 24, Lopez will celebrate her 55th birthday. In anticipation of her big day, she hosted a "Bridgerton" style party in the Hamptons, but Affleck was not present; he spent the weekend with the kids in Los Angeles.

Is their marriage falling apart? The American media are eager to uncover the truth and whether the fame that once strained their relationship is causing it to unravel again. What will happen next?