It has been six weeks since Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ in the legal documents which signalled the sorry end of ‘Bennifer 2.0’. In that time we have seen Lopez stepping out to promote the film they had made together, (the now perhaps ironically entitled) Unstoppable, at Toronto Film Festival, dressed to kill in a Tamara Ralph gown slit entirely up each side, whilst Affleck was linked with Kick Kennedy, 36-year-old daughter of Robert Kennedy Jr (though rumours of a romance were quashed by the actor’s rep).

By all accounts, Bennifer had not even been on speaking terms as their marriage limped to its finish line over the summer, with Lopez living on the East Coast of the US in the Hamptons, whilst Affleck solemnly went about his business in LA. That all changed on the morning of September 14th, though, when the pair was spotted together for the first time since June, arriving for brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel. With them were Affleck’s children Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, as well as Lopez’s twins, Emme and Max, 16. Lopez, 55, notably wore her engagement ring, albeit on her pinky finger.

What was more notable, however, was what allegedly happened once they got inside. Famous gossip column Page Six got word that Affleck and Lopez were ‘kissing’ and ‘holding hands’ during the brunch. ‘The kids are with them, but at a separate table,’ noted the paper’s onlooker. So what in the name of all that’s holy is going on? Well, Grazia’s own well-placed source says that while the divorce is still on, emotions between the pair are still ‘raw’. ‘After a tricky summer they have committed to trying to keep things friendly and dignified for their children’s sake now they’re all back in LA,’ said the source. ‘Staying close is tricky when there are feelings there, however, which is how PDA’s might happen. There is still love between them.’

Neither Affleck nor Lopez are under any illusion that raw emotion is all they need to make a marriage work, though, and whilst they’re saddened by the divorce (particularly, by all accounts JLo, who reportedly felt blindsided by Affleck’s decision to move out of their marital home in LA in April) it’s the only way they can see forward.

‘Jen and Ben have so much to figure out still, as far as the financial logistics of their divorce and how to handle the ongoing situation with their kids, who have made it very clear that they all wish to remain close,’ says the source, adding, ‘Coming back together as a family felt right but it’s still tense.’
Trouble between the pair was said to have been sparked as early on as during their 2022 Lake Como honeymoon, when Affleck had been, according to Page Six, annoyed by the fact they were photographed by paparazzi. Moments from Lopez’s documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told perpetuated Affleck’s discomfort with their fame, and her decision to use their relationship as inspiration. In the film, Lopez says, ‘I don’t think he’s very comfortable with me doing all of this. But he loves me, he knows I’m an artist and he’s going to support me in every way he can…He wants to do that [for me], but that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable being the muse.’

Having already rekindled their relationship once, following their first split in 2004, it seems unlikely we’ll see Bennifer 3.0. But, where these two are concerned it is ‘impossible to rule out’, says the source. Right we’re putting it on our 2025 bingo card…