The course of true love never did run smooth, particularly when it comes to the wild world of celebrity romance.
So the story of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck‘s path to marriage really is the stuff of Hollywood happy endings.
For those who don’t know the background: back in the early 2000s, Affleck and Lopez were one of the hottest couples around. An Oscar-winning Hollywood actor and one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, they became known as Bennifer – the name amalgamation being the ultimate sign of a showbiz power couple, of course.
After the couple got engaged in 2002, their wedding was postponed “due to the excessive media attention” shortly before they were due to marry the following year, and their split was confirmed early in 2004.
Lopez went on to marry and have two children with her long-time friend, singer Marc Anthony, while Affleck married and became father to three children with actress Jennifer Garner.
After subsequent splits and other relationships, Lopez and Affleck sent the internet into overdrive when they were spotted together in 2021, some 17 years after their break-up.
The rumours were confirmed with public appearances together and now J-Lo has announced a Las Vegas wedding and that she is officially Jennifer Lynn Affleck. So… J-Aff? Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?
Anyhow, they’re not the only star couple to break up then make up. Here are some others you may have forgotten…
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
After high-profile relationships with Cameron Diaz and of course, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake started dating Jessica Biel after reportedly meeting her at a party in 2007, and they made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala in 2009.
However, representatives announced their break-up in March 2011, saying they would remain friends. But by the end of that year, the couple were not only back together, but engaged, and they were married in Italy in 2012. The A-list couple now have sons Silas and Phineas together.
Prince William and Kate
Even royal couples aren’t immune from relationship wobbles. The love story began at St Andrews University, where they were both students in the early 2000s – and Kate famously caught Prince William’s eye when she walked the runway in a sheer dress at a charity fashion show.
After dating for several years, they reportedly split up in 2007 – but were pictured together again just a few months later.
The royal couple married in a ceremony watched by millions around the world in April 2011, and the rest is royal history.
Liz Taylor and Richard Burton
The return of Bennifer has arguably knocked Liz Taylor and Richard Burton off the top spot for ultimate celeb reunions. Married in 1964 after meeting on the set of Cleopatra in 1962, they famously divorced after several years, and films, together in 1974 – only to remarry again the following year… and separate again the year after that.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth started dating after meeting on the set of The Last Song in 2009 and made their red carpet debut the following year, when the film was released. However, there were lots of rumours of splits that year before the couple announced their engagement in 2012. And then a split was confirmed in 2013.
Fast-forward a few years, and in 2016 it was confirmed to be back on. The couple married in December 2018, but split for good the following year.
Pink and Carey Hart
Singer Pink and motorcross rider Carey Hart reportedly first met in 2001 and dated on and off before getting engaged in 2005 and married in Costa Rica the following year. But in 2008, the singer announced they were separating – inspiring her 2008 hit So What, which opened with the lyrics: “I guess I just lost my husband/ I don’t know where he went.”
However, they said they remained friends and Hart even appeared in the video for the song… and the couple later reconciled. In 2011, they welcomed daughter Willow, and son Jameson arrived in 2016.