Ben Affleck has offered rare praise for his former wives Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez, highlighting their ability to build successful identities beyond acting.
Speaking to Variety about his production company Artists Equity, Affleck discussed how actors are increasingly expected to develop personal brands and generate value outside their film careers. He singled out Garner and Lopez as examples of performers who have done that exceptionally well.
“I’ve seen both Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner do amazing jobs cultivating and accruing value in those spaces,” Affleck said, adding that such work is something he could not easily do himself.
Affleck and Garner married in 2005 and have three children. They separated in 2015 and finalised their divorce in 2018, but have maintained a friendly co-parenting relationship.
Affleck and Lopez first dated in the early 2000s before ending their engagement in 2004. They rekindled their romance in 2021 and married the following year. Their divorce was finalised in January 2025.
Reflecting on marriage while discussing his upcoming thriller ‘Animals’, Affleck said relationships involve far more than sharing a home and raising children. He described partnership, commitment and being honest about who people really are as central to a lasting relationship.
