Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s uncoupling has been one of those slow-motion grinds that just refuses to end. While their breakup was a disappointment to fans around the world who had been invested in their relationship since the early 2000s, the one thing still keeping them tied together — their matrimonial home — is probably causing them more grief now than anything that was ever thrown at them during their relationship.
Considering it’s now been 20 years since Bennifer became a thing, newer fans can be forgiven for not fully grasping just how big of a deal that relationship was in its heyday. They practically invented the whole portmanteau trend later adapted by equally dramatic couples like Brangelina and Kimye. But unlike those couples, you could argue that Bennifer’s initial breakup was actually caused by too much media attention and public intensity.
They first fully collaborated in Gigli, which, while by no measure a good movie, was overly criticized perhaps because the couple was too famous. The public expected everything they touched to turn to gold, and when they didn’t meet those lofty standards, they were eviscerated. They then made another movie that bombed at the box office and the now-iconic “Jenny From The Block” video, which was deemed tasteless and obnoxious. The video wasn’t as bad as Jeff Bezos’ recent shenanigans, but it was enough for people to grab their pitchforks and overanalyze how extravagant their wedding would be. The two subsequently called off their impending wedding and broke up.
That’s why their reunion was so exciting to fans — now older, with families, and with considerably less public attention, they could finally have their relationship on their own terms. After a short rekindled romance, they married, Jennifer even changed her surname to Affleck, and they bought a new house. Unfortunately — maybe even fortunately — they eventually realized that even without the media pressure, they weren’t meant for each other and soon divorced. They have since tried to move past each other: JLo changed her name back, Ben Affleck reportedly started focusing on other exes, but the one thing they simply have not been able to get off their books is their shared home.
Page Six reports that they have officially removed their $68 million matrimonial home from the market. The two had reportedly been trying to sell the house for a year, dropping the price numerous times, but when the mansion still couldn’t attract any buyers, the former couple jointly decided to take it off the market and wait it out. The report goes on to say that the LA property climate is not seller-friendly at the moment.
The economy isn’t doing great right now, and with the moves the government is making, that might not change anytime soon. The two former lovers have also downsized, with Ben Affleck getting a $20.5 million property in the Palisades near his kids, and JLo purchasing an $18 million house also around the LA area.
All things considered, they both seem to be doing just fine.
