Jennifer Lopez discussed the profound effects of her recent divorce from Ben Affleck in an interview released on September 28, 2024. The conversation with CBS Sunday Morning addressed the challenges and growth she experienced during this difficult period, highlighting the Ben Affleck divorce impact on her personal and professional life.
Behind the Scenes of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and Their Tumultuous Relationship
Lopez revealed that Ben Affleck played a crucial role as a producer on her upcoming film Kiss of the Spider Woman, crediting him and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity production company for making the project possible. Despite working closely on set, Lopez admitted to struggling with her marriage during filming.
The movie wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t for him and Artists Equity. I will always give him that credit,
Jennifer Lopez said.
She described the contradictory emotions she felt while balancing work and her troubled marriage:
It was hard not to think about stuff but it was, like, the best and the worst of times. Every moment on set … I was so happy. And then… back home, it was not great,
Lopez explained.
Despite these hardships, she followed with:
But you get through it and, you know, honestly, I have to say, it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it changed me. It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow … become more self aware. I’m a different person now than I was last year.

Marriage Timeline and Public Reaction to Lopez and Affleck’s Split
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck married in 2022, but Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024, citing April 26, 2024, as their separation date. The divorce was finalized by January 2025. During the CBS interview, reporter Lee Cowan observed Lopez’s apparent peace and confidence after a turbulent eighteen months, a sentiment Lopez acknowledged.
in a good place … happy and confident,
Cowan noted.
Lopez expanded on her emotional state and newfound perspective:
This summer was probably the best summer I’ve ever had. I’m able to enjoy things more,
she said.
I realized that joy is in living … and really embracing life and everything that it brings to you. The hard times are the lessons and you have to understand that. I feel like, if that [the divorce] hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t understand that.
Insights Into the Couple’s Struggles Before the Divorce
Details about Lopez and Affleck’s marriage difficulties surfaced earlier in 2024, with an insider revealing that they were often out of sync.
They are on two completely different pages most of the time,
a source told Us Weekly in May 2024.
Ben Affleck Shares Perspective on Their Relationship Ending
Following the divorce’s finalization, Ben Affleck addressed their breakup candidly in a GQ interview published in March 2024. He dismissed rumors of scandal and drama, describing their separation as more ordinary than people might think.
There’s a tendency to look at breakups and want to identify root causes or something. But honestly … the truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting,
Affleck said.
He continued:
There’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue [about our divorce]. The truth is, when you talk to somebody, ‘Hey, what happened?’ Well, there is no, ‘This is what happened.’
Affleck elaborated on the broader nature of relationship struggles:
It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.
What This Means for Jennifer Lopez Moving Forward
Jennifer Lopez’s reflections shed light on how the Ben Affleck divorce impact led to her personal growth and growing self-awareness during a challenging phase. With her renewed confidence and outlook, she appears to have found a new sense of joy and clarity. Professionally, Lopez continues to work on significant projects like Kiss of the Spider Woman, now with a fresh perspective shaped by the trials of her recent past. The public can expect Lopez to maintain this forward momentum in both her career and personal life as she embraces the lessons learned from the breakup.
