Ben Affleck Goes Out to Dinner Solo Amid Jennifer Lopez Split Rumors
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Ben Affleck, party of one.
Amid breakup rumors surrounding the Good Will Hunting star and his wife Jennifer Lopez, Ben was seen flying solo at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif., May 21.
While Jennifer is currently in Mexico City to promote her new film Atlas, the 51-year-old stayed behind in the States and had dinner at the luxurious Italian restaurant.
During the outing, Ben was seen donning his wedding ring, along with a blue button-up shirt with a white T-shirt underneath, khaki slacks and brown combat boots.
The Gone Girl actor's evening out comes amid reports that the couple is currently living apart. Still, Ben—who shares children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15 and Samuel, 12 with ex Jennifer Garner—and the Hustlers star have been photographed wearing their wedding rings. The couple also enjoyed a night out together as recently as May 20, as they were spotted leaving and entering BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
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But it's also worth noting Jennifer—who shares 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex Marc Anthony—and Ben have been open about the challenges they've faced maintaining a relationship in the public eye. After all, they initially started dating in 2002, and even got engaged before calling off their wedding—and relationship—a year later.
"When Jen and I broke up before the catalyst for that was this massive amount of scrutiny around our private life," Ben explained in Jennifer's documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told. "I had a very firm sense of boundaries initially around the press while Jen I don't think objected to it in the way I did."
But with their second time around, which began after they reconnected in 2021 and got married the following year, they've worked on the art of compromise.
"We're just two people with kind of different approaches," Ben added. "Things that are private, I had always felt, are sacred and special because in part they're private. So, this was something of an adjustment for me."
Keep reading for a full dive into Ben and Jennifer's romance.
December 2001: Filming Gigli
The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.
October 2002: Spotted in Beverly Hills
The two are spotted in the city.
November 2002: Filming Gigli and Engagement
The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.
November 2002: Filming Jersey Girl
The two film the movie in New York City.
November 2002: Leaving MTV's TRL
Is there anything more '00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?
December 2002: Red Carpet Debut
The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.
January 2003: Sundance
The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.
February 2003: Daredevil Premiere
The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
March 2003: Oscars
The two attend the Academy Awards together.
May 2003: Basketball Game
The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
July 2003: Canada Trip
The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.
July 2003: Gigli Premiere
The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.
August 2003: Gigli Is Released
...it flops at the box office.
September 2003: Wedding Is Off
The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.
October 2003: Baseball Date
The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben's favorite.
January 2004: It's Over
The two end their engagement.
September 2021: Red Carpet Royalty
They're baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel.
September 2021: Look of Love
There's no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one!
September 2021: Back to the Stage
Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.
September 2021: Met Gala Debut
The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.
October 2021: PDA at Premiere
Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.
April 2022: Engaged Again!
Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.
July 2022: Married!
On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
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