Ben Affleck reveals the cause of the split with Jennifer Lopez

Ben Affleck opened about him relationship with Jennifer Lopez, with the actor revealing why they broke up nearly 20 years ago and why he was hesitant to let the pair try again.

The Bidding bar the star, 49, discussed her love life during an appearance on Howard Stern . Program, where he reflects on the factors that led to his and Lopez’s breakup in 2004.

According to Affleck, who dated Lopez from 2002 to 2004, the end of their first relationship was due in part to negative media scrutiny.

“I will tell [media attention] is about 50% [of what destroyed our relationship],” said the actor, according to Tonight’s reception. “The idea that people hate you and they hate you together and that being together is toxic and ugly and toxic and which none of us want to be a part of. And ‘who would f**k want to go to dinner with them? ” And ‘what are they doing together?’ “

The couple met in 2002 on set Gigli, revealed that they were engaged in 2003, before calling off their engagement a year later.

The day before their wedding was set to take place, the celebrity couple released a statement in which they acknowledged the “excessive media attention” surrounding their upcoming wedding and revealed plans to postpone the ceremony.

“Due to the media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date,” they said in a joint statement. “When we realized we were seriously considering hiring three separate ‘bait brides’ at three different locations, we realized something was amiss.”

At the time, they noted that “the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives can be compromised.”

While thinking about the separation, Affleck admitted to Stern: “I made f**king hurt and angry and feel like a fool.” However, in June, the couple confirmed that they had resumed their relationship after nearly two decades apart.

According to Affleck, he felt hesitant about trying a relationship with Lopez again, when he told Stern he was worried about the impact the high-profile union would have on his three children, Violet, 16. , Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9, whom he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Asked by Stern about the attention Lopez brings and whether there was “hesitancy on your part, because you’re a father now,” Affleck said: “It definitely goes through my mind. . Your responsibility towards your children is the highest responsibility. I don’t want to do anything painful or destructive for them if I can help it.” Everyone reported.

“With that said, I know that my life affects them,” the father-of-three added.

This isn’t the first time Lopez and Affleck have acknowledged the pressure the media has placed on their relationship, with the actor reflecting on some of the negative news while appearing on TV.The Hollywood Reporter‘s podcast in January, where he said: “People are very confused about her – sexist, racist. Evil, evil stories are written about her in such ways that if you wrote it now, you would literally be fired for saying the things you said. “

The previous female singer also told Everyone In 2016, she and Affleck weren’t “trying to go public” but it was inevitable.

“We just happened to be together when the tabloid came out, and it was like, ‘Oh my God. It’s just a lot of pressure,” she said.

In an interview with Stern, Last match also a star openly talked about his marriage to Garner, which ended in 2018, the actor explained, “We had a bad marriage. This happens. That’s someone I love and respect but I shouldn’t marry anyone else. “

However, Affleck cause a backlash from fans after he also stated that he had felt “stuck” in the relationship and that it was “part of the reason” he started drinking.