Jennifer Lopez demands removal of Ben Affleck’s last name in divorce
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck split in April: reports
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on the second anniversary of their wedding in Georgia. Their romance began in 2002.
In the course of her divorce from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez asks a judge to give her back her maiden name.
According to a divorce filing reviewed by USA TODAY on Thursday, Lopez – whose legal name has been Jennifer Lynn Affleck since her marriage to the “Argo” actor in 2022 – has requested that her name be changed back to Jennifer Lynn Lopez.
Lopez, 55, filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, on the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding ceremony, which took place at Affleck’s estate outside Savannah.
According to the petition, the “Jenny from the Block” singer filed the court documents on her own or without legal representation. She listed her wedding date as July 16, 2022 – the day they exchanged vows in a Las Vegas wedding chapel – and April 26 as the date of their separation.
Lopez cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the divorce. She also asked the judge not to award spousal support to her and her estranged husband and to order both parties to pay attorney fees.
She signed the application on Monday. It was Affleck’s second marriage and Lopez’s fourth. The two were engaged twice: first in 2002, then again in 2021.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Lopez and Affleck for comment.
Bennifer Timeline: From “Gigli” in 2003 to two engagements and divorce
Lopez’s divorce filing came after several months of speculation among fans and media when she and Affleck began appearing alone in public. Although they were married for two years, their romance began in 2002 when they met on the set of the romantic comedy “Gigli” while Lopez was married to her second husband, Cris Judd.
Affleck and Lopez were engaged that year, but called off their engagement in January 2004, attributing too much media attention to their relationship. After Lopez and former MLB star Alex Rodriguez called off their engagement in April 2021, “Bennifer” was spotted out several times, sparking speculation of a reconciliation. In July 2021, she made her relationship with Affleck official on Instagram for her 52nd birthday.
Why Jennifer Lopez took Ben Affleck’s last name
In a 2022 Vogue cover story, Lopez responded to criticism of her decision to take her new husband’s last name.
“People will still call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs. Affleck because we are united,” she said. “We are husband and wife. I’m proud of that. I don’t think that’s a problem.”
She rejected the possibility of Affleck changing his last name to Lopez, saying it was “not traditional”: “It’s not romantic.”
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“I have my life and my destiny in my own hands and I feel empowered as a woman and as a human being. I understand that people have their feelings about it and that’s OK,” Lopez said.
She added: “But if you want to know what I think about it, I just find it romantic. For me, it’s still associated with tradition and romance, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”
Contributor: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
