Jennifer Lopez on Ben Affleck's 'wonderful love story': 'We've been given a second opportunity

Jennifer Lopez discusses her "second chance" relationship with Ben Affleck

Updated on February 02, 2022 19:43 PM by Andrew Koschiev

Jennifer Lopez discusses her "second chance" relationship with Ben Affleck.

The 52-year-old Marry Me actress shares rare details about their revived romance — or, as she puts it, their "wonderful love tale" — in two new interviews.

Nearly two decades after they called off their engagement, J.Lo told People magazine she's "glad, happy, and proud" to have Affleck back as her partner.

"I've never been better," she remarked, adding, "it's a lovely love tale that we got a second chance."

When they reconciled this spring, she said there was "a little bit of fear." "However, it feels extremely different than it did years ago," she says.

"We kind of put [our relationship] out there, and we were naive, and it got a little trampled" when they were dating from 2002 to 2004. Now it's your turn "'Wow, we're so thrilled, and we don't want any of that to happen again,' we both said. Now that we're older, smarter, and have more experience, we're at different stages of our lives, and we have children, we have to be extremely aware of those things. We're quite guarded because this is such a special time for all of us."

While there was speculation that Lopez was furious with Affleck over recent statements he made about Jennifer Garner, the mother of his three children, Lopez only spoke highly of The Tender Bar star — and the emotional work he's done in recent years to better himself.

"I've watched from afar because I'm so proud of the guy he's become," she said. "To witness the person, the human being, the man, the parent, the partner that he is now — he is so much of what I always knew he was and wanted to be."

Lopez said it's worth the effort uniting their families, including her 13-year-old twins with Marc Anthony and Affleck's three children with Garner.

"I honestly feel that love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love usually triumphs over all — relationships, children, work, work relationships, and so on, "she explains. "Everyone gains when you're in a happy, healthy relationship. Everybody."

Lopez, who has been married three times and thrice engaged, isn't committing to anything in the wake of Bennifer 2.0. She simply desires it "to be surrounded by love and joy with my children and boyfriend. I believe that everyone simply wants to be happy, with someone with whom to share their journey and grow old, and I am content with that right now."

Lopez sat for the interview in a "sun-drenched area in her house that doubles as Affleck's office when he's there," according to the article. Lopez sat for a second interview with the New York Times in a room decked out for the holidays, complete with "a big gingerbread home iced with the words 'Affleck Lopez Family.'"

The request to talk with Affleck for the piece was denied, but he was quite present for the sit-down to promote Lopez's upcoming rom-com, which also stars Maluma and Owen Wilson. According to the report, Affleck entered with his knapsack slung over his shoulder and interrupted the interview. Lopez was dragged from the room by him. They returned ten minutes later "only to hug, kiss, and mumble 'I love you" and call each other "baby" in front of the interviewer, who was left to wonder whether the "amazing moment" was planned or spontaneous, with the latter appearing to be the case.

Lopez was asked by the New York Times about the conversations she and Affleck had before deciding to go public with their reunion last year — and whether they planned for the media storm.

"I would say we learnt our lesson the first time," she remarked, adding, "To keep it sacrosanct." You must always do what makes you feel good. However, you learn from your mistakes and do things better the second time around. Yes, there's a portion of it when we're all together. However, there is a part of it that isn't as open as it was when we were young and in love so many years ago."

When asked about her engagement to Alex Rodriguez, which she ended just before reuniting with Affleck, Lopez responded, "It was everything but secret." "You do what seems right when you're in the thick of things. And I don't chastise myself for things like "I wish I had done it differently" or "Did I do too much?" That was the most convenient option at the time. I did what I had to do. He went on and accomplished what he needed to do. And everything was fine. The interpersonal issues had nothing to do with whether or not they were public."

What she's learnt from that split and the rest of her ups and downs in relationships is that "You can't go through life thinking that everything is a mistake: "I simply messed up there, I messed up there." It's all lessons, no. It's truly what you can infer from it that will help you grow and go to the next level of self-awareness, self-discovery, and being able to be at peace with your life and who you are."