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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Frances Kindon

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's 'weak spot' - fans fear old issues could strike again

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are big news right now after they were caught on camera having a tense exchange at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

Unaware that the cameras were watching, Jennifer, 53, was seen 'snapping' at Ben, 50, with a lip reader claiming she ordered the bored-looking star to appear more engaged.

Commenting on the now viral footage, the lipreader claims Jennifer said to Ben: "Stop. Look more friendly. Look motivated."

The father-of-three, who looked annoyed by his wife's response, replied with: "I might," according to the Daily Mail.

It's the first sign of fractiousness that's been seen between the couple since they reunited after two decades in 2021, cementing their position as one of Hollywood's greatest love stories.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were caught in a tense exchange at the Grammys (CBS)

Bronx-born Jennifer star met Ben in 2001 on the set of their mobster comedy film Gigli. At the time, the Love Don't Cost a Thing singer was married to her second husband, Cris Judd.

Ben gushed over Jennifer when he took out a full-page ad in trade magazines, musing: "It has been nothing but an honour and a pleasure to work with you.

The following year, he proposed with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring worth £2million but in September 2003 they delayed the wedding, blaming 'excessive media attention'.

"When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realised that something was awry," a statement from Bennifer read at the time.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez looked cosy in front of the cameras (CBS via Getty Images)

"We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families, and our friends."

Then by January 2004 it was all over with the pair completely calling off their engagement.

According to reports at the time, the problems were two-fold. Firstly, Ben couldn't stand the attention, and secondly they wanted different things.

A source claimed that while Jen was ready to start a family, Ben wasn't.

Ben and Jennifer first met in 2001 and got engaged in 2002 (Getty Images)
The power couple was dubbed 'Bennifer' (Corbis via Getty Images)

"As hot and heavy as their relationship was, they were on very different paths at the end of it. Jennifer was ready to settle down and have kids, but Ben wasn't keen on giving up his bachelor lifestyle just yet," a source told New York Post's Page Six.

"In the end, she got tired of waiting for him to come around - even though it broke her heart to end things."

Years later, Jennifer dished on their weak spot, revealing that despite being a Hollywood actor, all Ben craved was to 'be quiet and not be in the tabloids'.

Spotlight-wary Ben also admitted that the attention was 50 percent to blame for their split, telling how their breakup left him feeling 'hurt and angry' and 'like a fool'.

"The idea that people hate you and they hate you together and that being together is poison and ugly and toxic and the thing none of us want to be part of," he told The Howard Stern Show.

They split after just three years citing intense interest in their relationship (Getty)

After parting ways, Ben had daughters Violet, in 2005, Seraphina, in 2009 and son, Samuel, in 2012 with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Jennifer, meanwhile had twins Emme and Max with Latin singer Marc Anthony in 2008.

That same year, Ben shared more details about his failed engagement to JLo, explaining how he felt they 'made a mistake' by making themselves 'too accessible, insisting they had simply been 'excited' about falling in love.

As for Jennifer, she said the media was just 'one of the reasons' they split, telling Graham Norton: "I love Ben, he's a great guy but it was a lot for both of us to be under that type of siege for two years straight...

"Our relationship did suffer because of that. That was one of the reasons. I mean, I would never blame the media for anything, but it definitely played a part of the dynamic of our relationship."

Jennifer and Ben reunited in 2021 and tied the knot last year (Instagram)
Jen shared stunning pictures of their wedding with fans (Instagram)

Their 2022 marriage has, of course, put them back in the spotlight with Jennifer sharing emotional montages of the engagement and glamorous pictures of their two weddings.

And despite their seemingly cross words, Jen gushed about Ben at the award ceremony, captioning an Instagram shot of them with: "Always the best time with my love, my husband."

But fans fear that all the attention could once again prove to be too much for Ben.

One tweeted: "I'll never understand why these two are back together She craves the spotlight he never did She wants the events calendar he doesn't."

Ben and Jen's love story spans more than two decades (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

A second added: "I've never thought he and JLo were a good match, to begin with. She loves the spotlight, he doesn't. They are like Carrie and Aiden from Sex and the City. Oil and Water."

Others, however, threw their backing behind Ben - whose 'bored' face has now spawned a thousand memes - insisting they would have been down in the dumps too.

"Ben Affleck looking miserable while at the Grammys is peak Gen X vibes," one supported tweeted. "He doesn't know anyone there and doesn't care too, just there to support his wife and can't wait to go home and nap on the couch in his underwear."

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