Are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez back together? History of their dating lives - and ‘Bennifer 2.0’ explained

Rumours have exploded in Hollywood, as Justice League’s Ben Afleck is thought to have rekindled his romance with singer Jennifer Lopez.

The pair have been seen out together several times in the past month, following her split from fiance Alex Rodriguez on 15 April.

Fans of the celebrity pair may be experiencing deja-vous, as Affleck and JLo were engaged back in the early 2000s, before JLo went on to marry Marc Anthony in 2004.

So, what is their relationship history and could there be a ‘Bennifer 2.0’? This is what we know so far.

Is Ben Affleck dating Jennifer Lopez?

While neither party has commented on the new speculations regarding their rekindled romance, the pair were reported by People to have just arrived back from a holiday together in Big Sky, Montana.

The Daily Mail also shared pictures of the duo together, with one reportedly showing them holding hands.

When did they date previously?

Affleck, 48, and 51-year-old JLo were first engaged in 2002 - they also worked together, co-starring in Jersey Girl (2004) and Gigli (2003).

The pair ended their engagement just days before their September 2003 wedding, citing “excessive media attention”, but it appears the attention hasn’t died down nearly two decades later.

Their official split came some months later in January 2004, with JLo referring to it later as her “first real heartache”.

The couple were affectionately known by the press as “Bennifer” back in the day, raising questions as to whether there is an impending “Bennifer 2.0”.

Who have they both dated since?

Shortly after their split, JLo married Marc Anthony. The pair wed on 5 June 2004 but divorced in 2012.

From their eight-year relationship, they shared 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme Muñiz.

JLo went on to date former backup dancer Casper Smart from 2011 to 2016. In 2017, she began dating baseball player Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, who she had first met during her marriage to Anthony.

The pair became engaged in March 2019, but announced they would amicably go their separate ways last month. In a joint statement, they said they would continue to work professionally together.

Meanwhile, Affleck moved on to marry Jennifer Garner in 2005 (a missed ‘Bennifer 2.0’ opportunity’) and welcomed three children together - Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and nine-year-old Samuel.

The pair divorced in 2018, and in February 2020, Affleck said his divorce was his “biggest regret.”

He told The New York Times: "The biggest regret of my life is this divorce. Shame is really toxic. There is no positive by-product of shame. It's just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing."

On 10 May, as Affleck returned home from his trip with JLo, he wished his ex-wife a Happy Mother’s Day, posting on Instagram: “So happy to share these kids with you. Luckiest parents in the world. Thanks for all the good you do. Happy Mother's Day. Love, their dad.”

The comment captioned throwbacks of the pair with their kids.

Has A-Rod or Jennifer Garner commented on the rumours?

Asked whether Affleck and Lopez were back together, A-Rod responded to Page Six: “Go Yankees”.

The cryptic message has been reported as a subtle gesture to Affleck, a staunch Boston Red Sox supporter.

Rodriguez famously played for the New York Yankees for a decade, subsequent to his retirement in 2017.

The team are major rivals to the Red Sox. Affleck is a devout supporter of the Boston team and once refused to wear a Yankees hat in a scene for critically acclaimed Gone Girl.

Meanwhile, Garner is said to have rekindled her on-off relationship with John C. Miller, CEO of Caligroup. The pair reportedly enjoyed a secret romance from 2018 to 2020, but are thought to be back together.