Jennifer Lopez Breaks Her Silence on Ben Affleck Divorce: “I Had a Really Tough Year”
Breaking up is never easy — but when children are involved, the heartache cuts even deeper.
Now, Jennifer Lopez is baring her soul for the first time since her emotional split from Ben Affleck, revealing the deeply personal toll it took on her and her family.
In a candid and vulnerable new interview, the global superstar opens up about the emotional storm she weathered while trying to shield her 16-year-old twins, Emme and Max, from the fallout of her very public heartbreak.
“I Had a Really Tough Year”
In one of the most talked-about celebrity stories of 2024, Lopez, 55, and Affleck, 52, shocked the world when news of their divorce broke in August. While speculation about trouble in paradise had swirled for months, fans were still stunned when Lopez listed their separation date as April 26, 2024.
Both stars had remained largely silent about the breakup — until now.
“I had a really tough year,” Lopez confessed. “Unexpected things happened. And so, I read a lot of books. I did a lot of self-introspection. I meditated. I prayed. I really tried to reconnect with God. I wanted to strengthen the family unit that is me and my two children, my twins.”
A Mother’s Promise
For Lopez, the hardest part wasn’t the headlines — it was helping her children navigate the emotional turbulence.
Opening up about a raw and honest conversation she had with Emme and Max, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, she shared, “I told them, ‘I know this is a hard time. But I promise you — we’re going to get through it, and I will come out stronger and better.’”
She added, “I kept that promise. And now, they feel that peace too. That gives me a deep sense of calm and strength.”
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Open Up About Life After Divorce: “It’s What You Do in Those Moments That Defines You”
In the months following her painful split from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez has turned inward—dedicating herself to personal growth, deep reflection, and most importantly, her children.
Speaking in a revealing new interview with El País, Lopez, 55, shares how she channeled heartbreak into healing—not just for herself, but for her entire family. “I read a lot of books on childhood, marriage, relationships, different styles of love, the brain, science…” she said. “Over the years, I’ve done individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy. I’ve had everything. I’m always kind of searching.”
Her emotional journey has been rooted in one central goal: self-awareness.
“I think it’s all about learning about yourself. It’s all about knowing yourself,” Lopez reflected. “You have to be ready for that. You have to want it. And even when you do, it’s still hard to change certain things. But you can.”
A New Chapter Begins
Despite the pain of the past year, Lopez is stepping into this next chapter with renewed clarity—and a sense of purpose.
“Everybody goes through hard times in their life,” she shared. “And it’s what you do in those moments that really does define you—not the relationship, not the man. What defines you is what you’re doing with the experiences you’re faced with. I take those experiences—whether they’re good or bad—and I bind them.”
Lopez isn’t the only one embracing change.
Ben Affleck: “There’s No Scandal”
Ben Affleck, 52, recently offered his own rare perspective on the breakup, candidly admitting that it’s difficult for him to talk about their split.
“Yeah, there’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue,” he told an interviewer. “The truth is, when people ask, ‘What happened?’—well, there is no ‘this is what happened.’ It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways we all do.”
He continued, “As you get older, there’s rarely a big event. It’s just life—quiet changes, realizations, and trying to grow.”
Looking Toward Love Again
While both stars have kept their personal lives mostly private, sources suggest they may be ready to open their hearts again.
According to In Touch, Affleck has been quietly sharing with friends that he’s feeling the ache of loneliness and would love to find lasting love once more—and maybe even expand his family.
“No matter what Ben says, the truth is he’s happiest in a committed relationship with someone he respects and sees as an equal,” a longtime friend revealed. “He’s had that a few times before, and he’s determined to find it again—and maybe have more kids if the timing is right.”
And Lopez? According to Page Six, she’s also ready to step back into the world of dating.
“Jennifer is ready to put herself out there again,” a source confirmed. “She hasn’t given up on finding love. Her friends are encouraging her, and she’s open to meeting someone new.”
