In a rare and reflective moment, the actor shared new insight into what ended his high-profile marriage.

During an interview for the April issue of GQ, Ben Affleck broke his silence about his recent divorce from Jennifer Lopez, offering a calm but revealing look at how their differences affected their relationship. He also explained why their marriage ended and why his private nature may have clashed with the singer’s more open approach to fame.

The Oscar-winning actor spoke candidly about how the dynamic between private and public life played a role in their split. While Lopez featured deeply personal moments in her 2024 documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” Affleck said that kind of vulnerability on camera did not come as naturally to him.

The film follows Lopez as she produces a new album, reflecting on her two-decade journey to self-love. Affleck’s reactions in the documentary sparked questions about his comfort level with their relationship being in the public eye.

When asked about it in the interview, Affleck acknowledged that their personalities shaped the way they dealt with fame. He admitted that he often preferred privacy, while Lopez was more comfortable sharing aspects of their life through her art.

However, he also explained that if he was going to be part of the documentary, he wanted to approach it honestly and in a way he found meaningful. Additionally, he reflected on what it meant to be in a relationship with someone whose life and career demand public attention, comparing it to marrying a ship captain and then objecting to life at sea.

Despite the differences in how they handled celebrity, Affleck stressed that the breakup should not be seen as the result of drama or scandal. “But honestly, like I said, the truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting,” he said.

Affleck outright rejected the idea that there was one defining moment that led to their split. “Yeah, there’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue. The truth is, when you talk to somebody, ‘Hey, what happened?’ Well, there is no: ‘This is what happened.’ It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do,” he continued.

Even as he touched on personal challenges, the actor made it clear that his feelings for Lopez remain sincere. “This is somebody I have a lot of respect for,” he said.

Their story, once viewed as a Hollywood fairytale, may not have had the happy ending fans hoped for, but Ben Affleck‘s comments point to a quiet, mutual parting.

As reported previously, the actor and the singer’s divorce was finalized in early 2025, months after their original separation, and Lopez got to keep a prized possession, which sparked debate among fans, with some insisting she return it.

Lopez was able to retain a stunning green diamond ring, valued at over $5 million, as per the divorce documents. The 8.5-carat radiant-cut gemstone is elegantly complemented by two half-moon diamonds on either side and mounted on a sleek platinum band.

It included an engraved message from Affleck, reading, “not.going.anywhere.” When she got engaged to the “Pearl Harbor” star, Lopez revealed in her newsletter that the green diamond held special meaning for her. “Green has always been my lucky color and now, for sure, it always will be,” she penned.

However, while the ring holds sentimental value for Jennifer Lopez, some fans have questioned why she would want to keep it, with others outright demanding that she return it.

One commenter wondered aloud, “Why would anyone want something that will be a reminder of their failure? Failure not once but twice!” A user with a similar sentiment wrote, “Why would you want to keep a ring from someone who doesn’t want anything to do with you? Kind of embarrassing.”

One fan speculated about Affleck’s feelings, “He probably doesn’t want it back.” Some fans didn’t hold back, labeling the ring as a “Sad consolation prize. Her ego drove that man away.” Another fan chipped in with a more direct opinion, “I don’t think she deserves to keep it 🙂‍↔️”

Some believed the ring rightfully belonged to Affleck, with one stating, “She broke the commitment – it should be returned to Affleck.” A user with similar beliefs called her out, “Give it back gold digger. Go buy one of your own! How many do you have now?”

This comment was made in reference to another of Lopez’s engagements, where it was reported that she retained the $1.8 million engagement ring from Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod), a former professional baseball player. The couple, who got engaged in March 2019, called off their engagement in early 2021, and Lopez was said to still have the ring following their breakup.

In the discussion about Affleck’s engagement ring to Lopez, some fans sided with the actress. One fan offered a different perspective, “You don’t give a engagement [sic] ring back after you’ve been married. He gave it to her and they got married.” Another commenter sided with these views, admitting, “I would keep it too.”

When Lopez got engaged and was given the precious ring in her favorite color, a diamond expert explained that natural green diamonds are extremely rare and among the most challenging to cut.

The expert shared that crafting a diamond of that caliber could have taken a year or more of planning and cutting to achieve the ideal reflection of color and cut. They also noted that the value of the gem is expected to significantly increase over time.

Lopez was excited to rekindle her romance with Affleck, and her happiness was evident when she announced that they were engaged in 2022. The exes were previously engaged in 2004, and at that time, Ben Affleck proposed with a 6-carat radiant-cut pink diamond ring from Harry Winston.

So, with the second engagement, the “Shotgun Wedding” star said she and Affleck were lucky to get a “second chance at true love.”

Now, Lopez gets to keep the ring as well as other items, as per court documents, which reveal that Affleck has formally waived any claim to Lopez’s belongings, including “clothing, jewelry, and miscellaneous personal effects in her possession, custody, or control.”

This marks the culmination of Lopez’s reported filing for divorce on August 20, 2024, which coincided with their Georgia wedding anniversary, adding a bittersweet layer to their split.

In a surprising move, Lopez had filed the divorce documents without a lawyer. This approach, known as filing “pro per,” suggested she wanted to handle the process independently. She also waived her right to spousal support and asked that the court deny Affleck any support as well.

TMZ also reported that the divorce documents showed Lopez and Affleck did not have a prenuptial agreement. Despite their previous marriages and significant wealth, they didn’t protect their finances.

As a result, any earnings or profits made during the couple’s nearly two years of marriage were to be treated as community property. A legal source had clarified this matter.

Marilyn Chinitz, a divorce lawyer at Blank Rome LLP, commented that Lopez’s decision to proceed with the divorce, even without legal representation, sent a clear message of determination, calling it her “real statement” of moving forward.

She also stated that it would be “extremely unusual” for the couple not to have a prenuptial agreement. The only time that you see people not having a prenup is when they’ve put most of their assets in trust for their children, and those trusts have been established and they wouldn’t be part of the community [property],” Chinitz explained.

After the bittersweet anniversary timing and an independent filing from Lopez, all legal details have been settled. The exes’ nearly two years of marriage have come to an end. As they move forward separately, the couple has cleared the path for a fresh start.