Jennifer Lopez Birthday: Singer reflects on initial breakup with now-husband Ben Affleck and says they were 'naive'

Today, Oscar-winning artist Jennifer Lopez celebrates her 54th birthday. She married actor and director Ben Affleck, aged 50, last year, marking their reunion as a couple nearly two decades after their initial breakup

Today, Jennifer Lopez is celebrating her 54th birthday. She married actor and director Ben Affleck, aged 50, last year, marking their reunion as a couple nearly two decades after their initial breakup. Their reconnection has been widely dubbed as 'Bennifer 2.0.'

Despite the attention, Jennifer and Ben have remained mostly private about their relationship. Their romance first sparked in 2001 during the filming of Gigli while Jennifer was still married to Cris Judd. Following her divorce, Jennifer and Ben got engaged in 2002, only to part ways in 2004.

Amid rumors of their rekindled relationship post the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, Jennifer validated the speculation in an interview with People ahead of her romantic comedy Marry Me, featuring Owen Wilson. Discussing the differences between Bennifer 2.0 and their previous engagement in the early 2000s, she said that she feels grateful for getting a second chance with Affleck. As children, they had been naïve and let differences get in the way of their relationship - but as older, wiser people, they better understand how to nurture the bond between them and balance it with personal well-being and public attention.

"It's a beautiful love story that we got a second chance. Before we kind of put [our relationship] out there and we were naive, and it got a little trampled. We both were like, 'Wow, we're so happy and we don't want any of that to come into play again.' We're older now, we're smarter, we have more experience, we're at different places in our lives, we have kids now, and we have to be very conscious of those things. We're so protective because it is such a beautiful time for all of us."

In the early 2000s, the couple parted ways primarily due to Ben's discomfort with the public scrutiny surrounding their relationship and forthcoming marriage. However, Jennifer shared with People how Ben has transformed over the years. "I'm so proud of him, I'm so proud of the man he's become that I've watched from afar. Being honest with each other, being loving, that's just the basis of everything. I feel like he's at a place in his life where — just like how I feel about myself — it's been a journey of learning yourself and figuring yourself out, getting to a place where you feel really good on your own and who you are so you can be in a happy, healthy relationship," Jennifer concluded.

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