It’s been 19 years since we were introduced to Bennifer – both the couple and the compound celebrity name concept – but they are back with a showbiz bang. After weeks of rumours they’d been hooking up, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were pictured last week returning from a luxury resort in Montana – the first time they have been seen together since J-Lo’s recent split with fiancé Alex Rodriguez.
A source has claimed that the pair spent a week alone together at the Yellowstone Club – a private residential club, ski and golf resort – over the US Mother’s Day weekend. They then flew back to Los Angeles by private jet and were seen getting into a car together. And last month, Ben – who has three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner – is believed to have visited J-Lo on three separate occasions, having been seen arriving at her house.
J-Lo and Ben first met in 2001 on the set of the film Gigli, and while the film went on to be a massive flop, their relationship was soon making global headlines. By November 2002, Ben had proposed with a 6.1-carat pink solitaire. At the time, J-Lo said the proposal was “traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course Ben would do it. It was very, very beautiful”.
However, the run-up to their September 2003 wedding caused such a media frenzy, the pair cited it as the reason for calling it off just days before it was meant to take place. In a joint statement, they explained, “Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realised something was awry.”
CHECK OUT celebrity splits that shocked the world
RADIO Celebrity splits that shocked the world - slider with cover pic
1 of 27Swipe through to see which celebrity splits shocked the world of showbiz
2 of 27Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Singer Miley Cyrus split from actor Liam Hemsworth in August 2019, despite only getting married in December 2018. Liam released a statement on Instagram, reading, ''Hi all. Just a quick note to say that Miley and I have recently separated and I wish her nothing but health and happiness going forward.'This is a private matter and I have not made, nor will I be making, any comments to any journalists or media outlets. Any reported quotes attributed to me are false. Peace and Love.'
3 of 27Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
After meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their marriage was over in April 2018. Revealing they are still great friends, the couple decided it was time to go their separate ways after almost nine years of marriage.
4 of 27Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville
After meeting on Love Island 2017, things seemed to be going very well for Gabby Allen and former Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville. But in May 2018 allegations that Marcel had cheated on Gabby whilst they were on holiday together surfaced, leading Gabby to reportedly "dump" Marcel.
5 of 27Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty
Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty split in April 2018, despite being engaged. Speaking in early May, Jake appeared on Lorraine and said the couple are having time apart to focus on their busy work schedules. However, Jake did add, "There's not a bad word. I was with her on Monday, we still talk and I still love her to bits, but sometimes you've got to go away to come back."
6 of 27Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
After two years of marriage, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux announced their split in February 2018. Jen said, "We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."
7 of 27Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Hollywood actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt announced their split in August 2017. The pair shocked the world as they always seemed so loved up at events since marrying in 2004.
8 of 27Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
When Brangelina announced they were getting a divorce in 2016, fans were left in shock. The pair had been dating since 2004 and married in 2014. They have six children together.
9 of 27Fergie and Josh Duhamel
Fergie and Josh Duhamel's split rocked fans in September 2017. The couple said, "With absolute love and respect we decided to separate." The pair were married for eight years.
10 of 27Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik popped the question to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, but just a few months later Zayn dumped his fiancé by text.
11 of 27Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris seemed very loved up with each other, until they split in 2016 and ended things on very bad terms. Calvin even ended up having a Twitter rant about his ex.
12 of 27Dougie Poynter and Ellie Goulding
Hearts broke all over the world when Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter announced their split. After rekindling their romance for a few months, they finally called it quits in 2016. Ellie is now engaged to Caspar Jopling.
13 of 27Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Another massive shock in the world of celeb relationships! Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012 after six years of marriage. The pair share their daughter Suri together.
14 of 27Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
After 10 years of marriage, actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The split became famous because the former couple bizarrely entitled it "conscious uncoupling."
15 of 27Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split in 2010 but have since remained great friends and co-parent their children.
16 of 27Jake Roche and Jesy Nelson
Despite popping the question to Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, Rixton frontman Jake Roche couldn't make his relationship work with Jesy, causing the pair to split in 2016.
17 of 27Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Pop superstar Lady Gaga shocked her fans in 2016 when she revealed herself and her partner Taylor Kinney were 'taking a break' after a five-year relationship.
18 of 27Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
They were one of Hollywood's hottest couples, so it was a major shock to fans when Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom announced their split in 2013. The pair had been married for just three years.
19 of 27Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
Professor Green split with former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh in 2016, just three years after they married. Millie is now dating her ex-boyfriend Hugo Taylor.
20 of 27Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale ended their marriage in 2016. The couple have three children together, Zuma, Apollo and Kingston.
21 of 27Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
They went through a number of ups and downs but Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's relationship ended after four years of marriage, with Khloe filling for divorce from the basketball player.
22 of 27Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler separated back in 2012 after nine years of marriage, but it took until 2016 for the couple's divorce to be finalised.
23 of 27Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller announced they had split up in May 2018. The couple had been together for two year and even recorded some duets together. They reportedly chose to end their relationship due to their busy work schedules.
24 of 27Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne
After a two year romance and a baby boy, Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne announced they'd decided to go their separate ways on Sunday 1st July 2018. Releasing a joint tweet, the statement read, "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
25 of 27Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead and Josh 'JP' Patterson
Despite welcoming their daughter India into the world in 2017, Made In Chelsea stars Binky and JP announced their shock split in September 2018. The couple, who vowed to remain friends with their daughter being their number one priority, released a statement on Instagram.
26 of 27Adele and Simon Konecki
Singer Adele confirmed she'd split from her husband Simon Konecki after three years of marriage. The couple share a son together.
27 of 27Maya Jama and Stormzy
After four years of dating, rapper Stormzy and TV presenter Maya Jama split up to focus on their careers.
Just a few months later, it was all over. Jen described it as her “first real heartbreak”, while Ben later said, “I think Jen and I made a mistake in that we fell in love, we were excited and maybe too accessible.”
In 2016, J-Lo said, “We didn’t try to have a public relationship. We just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids, and it was like, ‘Oh my God.’ It was just a lot of pressure. I think different time, different thing, who knows what could’ve happened, but there was a genuine love there.”
Look! More news!
Ariana Grande secretly marries Dalton Gomez in 'tiny and intimate' ceremony
And while fans across the world are thrilled by the idea that Bennifer 2.0 might be rising from the ashes of a pretty crappy year, we’re holding our breath for now. As we told you last week, it might not be as serious as we would like.
A source tells heat thatJ-Lo – who has been divorced three times and has two children – is keen to save face following her messy split with A-Rod after four years together, amid rumours that he had been flirting with another woman. Calling it “a contract of sorts”, our insider suggests that while Bennifer are currently having plenty of fun together, it might not quite be the noughties all over again.
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine – OUT NOW.