Even after their separation, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have continued to show deep admiration and respect for each other’s creative work.
Though their romantic relationship has ended, what remains between them is a bond rooted in friendship, support, and mutual encouragement.
That connection was on full display on October 6, 2025, when Affleck made a surprise appearance at the New York City premiere of Lopez’s new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, to celebrate her success and the project they helped bring to life together.
Directed by Bill Condon, the film is a modern reimagining of the 1993 Broadway musical and the 1985 movie of the same name, both adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel.
Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna, a glamorous “silver screen diva,” alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh. The film debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before hitting theaters on October 10, 2025,
marking a significant milestone in Lopez’s career — and a moment that highlighted her and Affleck’s enduring friendship beyond romance.
Affleck and Lopez’s story has long fascinated fans. The two first met in 2002 while filming Gigli, sparking one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships.
They became engaged in 2003 but called off the wedding the following year, overwhelmed by media attention. Over the next decade, both found success and started families with other partners, seemingly closing that chapter for good.
Then, nearly twenty years later, fate brought them together again. They rekindled their romance in 2021 and married in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a lavish celebration in Georgia.
However, despite their efforts, the couple finalized their divorce in February 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.
Still, their ability to remain kind and supportive has set them apart from most Hollywood exes. At the Kiss of the Spider Woman premiere, produced through Artists Equity,
the company Affleck co-founded with Matt Damon, Lopez made sure to publicly acknowledge her former husband’s role in making the movie possible.
“Thank you so much, thank you everybody for being here tonight. Thank you, Ben — this movie wouldn’t have been made without Ben and without Artists Equity,” Lopez said before the screening.
Reflecting on the project, she described her excitement when first reading the script:
“I was in bed reading it, and I was floored,” she recalled. “I thought, could this really be happening? I get to sing, I get to dance, I get to act — I get to be an old-time Hollywood movie star.”
In a later interview on the Today Show, Lopez once again expressed gratitude for Affleck’s involvement. “If it wasn’t for Ben, the movie wouldn’t have gotten made,” she said, adding, “And I will always give him that credit.”
Addressing their divorce, Lopez noted, “Things happen, and you have to keep going.” She shared that working on Kiss of the Spider Woman helped her through a difficult period in her personal life.
“It’s funny — the movie is about escapism, about how movies and art can save us in the hardest times,” she explained. “This project was a dream come true, and it really helped me heal and move forward.”