Jennifer Lopez Reflects on Divorce and Personal Growth

Jennifer Lopez has candidly shouldered the responsibility for her divorce from Ben Affleck. In a discussion on the “Smartless” podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the 56-year-old performer reflected on her past marriage and the transformative impact it had on her life.

“There’s been times when my life felt like it imploded due to my own choices,” Lopez admitted. “I had things within myself that needed change, which I couldn’t initially recognize. This attracted certain experiences into my life.” She emphasized recognizing and making changes as a choice, explaining that she embraced this decision following her split from Affleck. “I canceled my tour and took time to reassess my life,” she shared.

Lopez stated, “You have to look inward and ask yourself, ‘What’s going on with you?’ This reflection became a turning point for me.”

Affleck and Lopez married in July 2022 in Las Vegas, with a larger celebration in Georgia later. Their marriage lasted until April 2024, when they separated. Lopez filed for divorce in August. The couple originally dated from 2002 to 2004, reuniting in 2021, and getting engaged almost two decades later.

Describing her divorce as “the best thing that ever happened,” Lopez previously remarked on the growth it prompted. During an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” in September 2025, she said, “It helped me grow, become more self-aware. I now see joy in living and embracing life’s lessons.”

Lopez reflected on relationship lessons during her promotion of “Office Romance” and told Elle UK about her deep understanding of narcissistic behaviors, saying she could “give a Ted Talk on human behavior.”

Her marital history includes Ojani Noa (1997-1998), Cris Judd (2001-2002), and Marc Anthony (2004-2014). She also had significant relationships with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Casper Smart, and Alex Rodriguez.