Jennifer Lopez speaks candidly about how her divorce from Ben Affleck reshaped her life, saying she intentionally stopped everything to process the end of their second marriage.
On March 11, 2026, the 56-year-old singer and actress told “Good Morning America” anchor Juju Chang that she took an unprecedented year away from work after filing for divorce from Affleck in August 2024, canceling a planned summer tour to concentrate on recovery and reflection.
In a preview for her “Nightline” interview, which aired on Wednesday, Lopez said she effectively paused her whole career. She called off tours and “just decided to be home and sit in what had happened” instead of trying to numb the pain with work or another relationship.
The choice was a notable change for the always-busy star, who had announced in May 2024 that she would cancel her “This Is Me… Live” tour to spend time with her children, family, and close friends.
Lopez is the mother of 18-year-old twins Maximilian and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony. The teens, whom Lopez fondly calls Max and Emme, turned 18 in February and are preparing for college, making them her main focus during the difficult time. Lopez told Chang she “needed to be home” with her children, calling them her “priority at that time.”
The hiatus gave Lopez space to examine recurring patterns in her adult life. She admitted she had rarely been truly single, moving from relationship to relationship without pausing to learn about herself. She said she reached a point where she asked what was happening, realizing she couldn’t put the blame on anyone else because “that’s not where the lesson is.”
Lopez and Affleck, 53, were married in Las Vegas in July 2022, nearly 20 years after their first high-profile engagement ended in January 2004. They reunited in 2021, giving fans hope that their second chance would end differently.
The divorce was finalized in February 2025, ending their two-year marriage. Affleck was previously married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 until their divorce in October 2018, and he has three children with Garner: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
In a September 2025 interview with “CBS News Sunday Morning,” Lopez called the divorce “the best thing that ever happened to me.” She said working on “Kiss of the Spider Woman” during the breakup highlighted the contrast between her career satisfaction and personal pain.
Affleck acted as an executive producer on the film through his company Artists Equity. Lopez credited him for enabling the project, saying he backed the movie after she told him it was the role she was meant to play.
The picture, directed by Bill Condon, co-stars Diego Luna as political prisoner Valentin Arregui and newcomer Tonatiuh as his cellmate Molina, with Lopez portraying classic screen actress Ingrid Luna.
Now fully embracing single life, Lopez told Chang she isn’t interested in dating. When asked if she was “dating up a storm,” she laughed off the notion, saying she didn’t want to “ruin anything” because things feel very good at the moment.
The response represents a clear break from her previous habits. Lopez acknowledged she had “always had a boyfriend” and said being single used to terrify her. She admitted she didn’t know if she could cope with being alone and had been afraid to try.
Today, Lopez calls herself happy, healthy, and grateful. She balances life as a mother preparing to send her children to college, an entertainer, actress, and entrepreneur. She recently announced a new Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace as she returns to work.
“I am happy, and I am healthy, and I’m grateful. That’s who I am today. And I’m surrounded by love, which is the best part,” Lopez said.
Affleck discussed the split in a March 2025 interview with GQ, calling the process “pretty adult” despite tabloid frenzy. He said there was “no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue,” and described the reality of their breakup as “much more quotidian” than people might think, praising Lopez and saying he has “nothing but respect” for her.
He noted that the real story behind their separation would likely bore most people, lacking the drama tabloids suggested.
Lopez’s path through divorce shifted her views on relationships, success, and self-worth. The year of reflection helped her build trust in herself and grow self-appreciation instead of constant self-criticism. She said she’s reached a place where she genuinely trusts and values herself more, rather than being so hard on herself all the time.
