Back in 2002, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck shocked fans when they announced their engagement after just two months of dating. They split less than 18 months later, but now insiders say the reunited couple want to “pick up where they left off” – with friends speculating the pair could soon be planning another wedding.
Rumours began to circulate just four weeks after she confirmed the end of her engagement to ex-basketball player Alex Rodriguez, 45, in March and it’s been suggested she and Ben were together in April. Last week it was reported J-Lo had tellingly liked an Instagram quote from life coach Jay Shetty, about “finally being loved effortlessly by the right person.”
A source says, “Jen’s on cloud nine – she and Ben are well and truly back on. Despite all those years apart, their feelings have come rushing back. It all feels so natural.
“After the heartache she’s been through over the last few months, Jen’s admitted Ben has really helped her heal and he’s doting on her, which has given her faith in a happily ever after.
“They’ve already spoken about the future and settling down, which she’s full of joy and excitement about. Friends wouldn’t be surprised if they have a quickie engagement or even a wedding, like they’d once planned.”
The actress, 51 – who has wrapped filming her latest movie, Shotgun Wedding – was first linked to Ben again, 48, earlier this year.
Since rekindling their romance, the pair have been spotted together in Montana, LA and Miami, and Ben was recently seen heading to the gym with the star. He’s also said to be wearing the same watch he wore for his cameo on J-Lo’s music video for hit Jenny From The Block.
While an engagement may seem fast-moving, Jen is no stranger to whirlwind romances. She has been engaged five times and had three marriages, to producer Ojani Noa, dancer Kris Judd and singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has twins Max and Emme, 13.
Check out: 21 celebs who took back their cheating partner
CLOSER Celebrity who took back their cheating partners - slider
1 of 21Danny Dyer and Joanne Mas
Danny Dyer and Joanne Mas' relationship hit a rough patch in 2017 when it was reported that he had a six-week affair with Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding. However they managed to work through it and are back together.
2 of 21Gaz Beadle and Emma McVey
Emma McVey accused Gary Beadle of cheating on her after he brutally dumped her via text. However she later fell pregnant with their first child, they reunited and the happy couple are now engaged and parents of two.
3 of 21Jay Z and Beyoncé
The world was shocked in 2017 when Jay-Z admitted he cheated on his wife and the mother of his children Beyoncé. They've since moved on from the drama and have even released a joint album together.
4 of 21Coleen and Wayne Rooney
They're childhood sweethearts but in 2002 Coleen Rooney discovered Wayne had slept with a 48-year-old nan, there's also been allegations that he cheated with prostitutes Jennifer Thompson and Helen Wood and in 2017 Wayne was arrested for drunk driving and Laura Simpson claimed they kissed. Laura then backtracked during an interview on This Morning and denied that anything went down with Wayne. Despite all the rumours and allegations, Coleen has stuck by her husband and has even shared a brutally honest Facebook post about her marriage.
5 of 21Tess Daly and Vernon Kay
In 2010 it came to light thatVernon Kay had sent 'flirty' texts to Rhian Sugden behind Tess Daly's back. Fast forward to 2016 and he was caught texting the glamour model again. However the TV presenters are still together.
6 of 21Katie Price and Kieran Hayler
We were all shook in 2014 when Katie Price announced husband Kieran Hayler had been cheating on her with her best friend Jane Pountney for seven months. She managed to forgive him and move on but in 2017 she revealed he had been unfaithful again with their children's nanny and a few months later she called it quits after he reportedly cheated again with a 19-year-old co-op worker.
7 of 21Mary Berry and Paul Hunnings
Great British Bake Off legend Mary Berry admitted that she cheated on her current husband Paul Hunnings when they first started dating. However they put it behind them and are still together.
8 of 21Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone
While filming for TOWIE Lucy Mecklenburgh admitted that she had been unfaithful with ex-boyfriend Mark Wright during a holiday in Ibiza. Mario Falcone ended their relationship but swiftly took her back and they went on to get engaged but in 2013 they called it quits and have both moved on.
9 of 21Katya and Neil Jones
After Katya Jones was spotted kissing her Strictly partner Seann Walsh, they were both quick to apologise for their actions. Seann's girlfriend dumped him but Neil forgave his wife. However in 2020 they announced they'd split with Neil insisting it was not because of the infamous kiss.
10 of 21Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
It's one of the Kardashians biggest scandals - Tristan Thompson cheating on Khloe Kardashian days before she was due to give birth to True Thompson. They appeared to work through his betrayal but almost a year later he allegedly kissed Kardashian/Jenner's family friend Jordyn Woods. There's since been speculation that a reunion for Khloe and Tristan could be on the cards.
11 of 21Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson
Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson's relationship largely consisted of Spenny cheating while Louise cried her eyes out. She continued to take him back but eventually decided enough was enough and ended it for good.
12 of 21Balthazar Getty and Rosetta
In 2008, Balthazar Getty had an affair with Sienna Miller despite being married to his wife and the mother of his four children Rosetta. Balthazara and Rosetta separated but two years later they got their marriage back on track.
13 of 21Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton
The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal is one of the most famous affairs EVER. However his wife Hilary appeared to take it in her stride because they're still married.
14 of 21Alex Mytton and Binky Felstead
Made in Chelsea's Alex Mytton cheated on Binky Felstead several times during their relationship but she kept on taking him back. However she finally ended it when she discovered he had an orgy with Spencer Matthews.
15 of 21Gaz Beadle and Charlotte Crosby
They were the Geordie Shore couple we were all rooting for but Gaz Beadle just couldn't keep it in his pants even when he was with Charlotte Crosby. The final straw for Char was when he slept with Jemma Lucy on Ex on the Beach and [she heartbreakingly suffered an ectopic pregnancy](https://closeronline.co.uk/family/news/ectopic-pregnancy-signs-symptoms-diagnosis/agnosis/).
16 of 21Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch
Back in 2010 while Abbey Clancy was pregnant with her first child, there were reports that her partner Peter Crouch had an alleged affair with a teenage prostitute. They've since moved on from the reports and are still happily together.
17 of 21Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor
Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor both cheated on each other during their Made in Chelsea days. However they've since reunited, gotten married and in 2020 welcomed their daughter Sienna.
18 of 21Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson
Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson were both guilty of cheating and they both kept taking each other back. However they've finally called it quits - thank God.
19 of 21Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna
Megan McKenna forgave Pete Wicks for sexting his ex-girlfriend Jacqui Ryland however she later discovered (while filming TOWIE) that he had sent even more messages. She forgave him but couldn't forget and they later split for good.
20 of 21James Argent and Gemma Collins
In 2012 Gemma Collins accused James Argent of cheating but she seemed to forgive and forget and they've been on/off ever since.
21 of 21Malin Andersson and Tom Kemp
Love Island star Malin Andersson accused her boyfriend Tom Kemp of cheating on her during pregnancy. However they managed to get through it and got back together. They since split.
Ben famously proposed to Jennifer with a £1.5m pink diamond ring in November 2002. But they postponed their wedding just three days before the big day, blaming the media attention, and split in January 2004. While J-Lo went on to marry Marc in the same year, Ben wed actress Jennifer Garner, with whom he has Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and nine-year-old Samuel a year later.
Although J-Lo’s romance with Ben didn’t work out first time round, friends say she isn’t deterred by the past and that she feels “invested” in their happy ending.
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The source says, “Jen truly believes that all paths have led to this one, and that she and Ben are meant to be. It really is like a movie plot, and she’s invested in their fairy tale.
“They’ve spent a lot of time going over mistakes they made the first time and they are making a conscious effort not to let outside influences affect their relationship again. They’ve agreed not to speak about each other in interviews and generally keep a lower profile than they did first time round.”
The pair have been through their fair share of heartache over the years, and Ben has spoken openly about his alcoholism. He is now sober, after three stints in rehab.
The source adds, “They’ve both been through a lot over the last two decades but, ultimately, they never lost their chemistry. They are both hoping that after reuniting all these years later, they can look forward to the life they’d always planned together.”
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