Today, 55-year-old Jennifer Lopez opened up about her personal journey following her split from 52-year-old actor Ben Affleck. Their marriage lasted only two years, marking a second attempt to reconcile after their previous breakup in 2004. She filed for divorce on August 20, having already separated in April.
Jennifer shared that she’s learning to embrace being single again. “You need to be healthy and whole to seek something better. I thought I had learned that, but I hadn’t. This summer, I realized I needed to be independent and prove to myself that I could do it,” she said.
She has no regrets about her decision. “Not for a second. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t almost lose my life,” she confessed. Currently, she has no interest in dating anyone. Describing her breakup with Ben as “insanely difficult” and sad, she admitted to feeling “lonely, out of place, and scared,” but emphasized that she has gained valuable lessons from the experience.
“I understand it much more deeply now, though it doesn’t mean I won’t make mistakes in the future… The work is about understanding yourself, exploring the feelings and beliefs that drive your choices and patterns in life.”
This is the first time Jennifer has discussed these feelings. She noted, “For romantics who want to grow old with someone, we often think we need that to feel complete and happy. But that’s not true.”
Regarding the negative comments about her divorce, she said she can handle them, though they sometimes sting as she’s “not made of steel.” Interestingly, this public pressure may have influenced Ben Affleck’s recent change in appearance, as he was spotted sporting a new beard.
For some of their friends, the news of the separation came as a shock. Director Kevin Smith expressed disbelief at the couple’s split. Meanwhile, some of Lopez’s acquaintances speculated about potential alcohol issues, although she did not address this in her interview.
