Bennifer proves celebrity divorce is a losing game

A shocking event Bennifer 2.0 It can only end in a public relations showdown. After months of breakup rumors, Real Estate NewsAnd canceled tour, Jennifer Lopez finally File for divorce On August 20, her husband Ben Affleck sent her a letter stating that the two had “irreconcilable differences.” That day was also the second anniversary of their lavish wedding in Georgia. It seems that this breakup is not only a sad thing, but also a painful one.

Their antics in the media also speak to this. If you look at how celebrities use the tabloids and their own legends to shape public opinion, there are several narratives that are developing. Numerous reports According to anonymous sources Affleck’s apathetic behavior show to lopez distant They are said to be trying to work out their issues. Meanwhile, Affleck has remained silent, with sources saying he wants the divorce to be more “civilized.” This is likely its own PR strategy, given that the public sees Lopez as the more high-profile party in their marriage.

From a publicity perspective, Lopez seemed to have lost more. For a singer who has oscillated wildly between Hollywood icon and celebrity laughingstock, divorcing the so-called love of her life — and her lifelong idol — was a huge blow. The latest music era, Ultimately, the marriage fell through — leaving her in a vulnerable position once again. And we haven’t even gotten to the inevitable money fights, since the former couple reportedly didn’t have a prenuptial agreement when they got married. estimate Being thrown around Because their net worths are real—and if you don’t trust CelebrityNetWorth.com, who can you trust?—Lopez has far more to lose than Affleck. She also gave up legal representation, which seems worse than self-financing a $20 million movie.

As with most celebrity divorces, smear campaigns and tabloid leaks are inevitable. But for two seasoned A-listers who have already experienced personal and professional challenges in the spotlight, another media drama seems like a waste of energy. There’s nothing new to be gained except entertaining the public. The Bennifer drama forces us to ask the question: Are there any winners in celebrity divorces?

So far, neither party has commented directly on the divorce (although Affleck’s rep has Dispelling rumors He dated Kike Kennedy, daughter of Robert Kennedy). Instead, they seem to let reports from anonymous sources and photos taken during outings create the narrative for them. Most of the “sources” seem to be working for Lopez, which is not surprising since she filed for divorce and it seems, well, Frustrated. Notably, several of the scoops came from People magazine, a tabloid known for working directly with celebrities and their publicists. Meanwhile, Affleck appears to be trying to avoid looking like the “most divorced man,” a title he earned after his 2015 split from Jennifer Garner. Days after Lopez filed for divorce, he was photographed picking up a Jack in the Box delivery at his new home in Los Angeles, harking back to his pandemic Dunkin’ Donuts days, when his relatable father image was really taking shape.

The reports suggest that Lopez is being ignored by Affleck in their marriage and is doing her best to make things work, a narrative that mirrors how their first split ended in 2001. Earlier this week, People magazine exclusively reported that Affleck hadn’t given her “any indication that he wants to continue this marriage.” (The couple has been separated since April, according to court documents.) Similarly, a source close to Lopez told the magazine that the singer “spends a lot of time making sure Ben is happy,” even though the actor “is not happy with his relationship.”Gloomy and dark.”

Another story that seems to be developing is that Lopez is trying harder to manage their blended family amid the current chaos. That includes twins Max and Amy, who Lopez had from his first marriage to singer Marc Anthony, and Affleck’s three children, Violet, Finn and Samuel, from his first marriage to Garner, who all live in their former mansion.

Lopez and Affleck last Discovered together Rumors of their breakup began to swirl in June when Affleck’s son, Samuel, attended his graduation ceremony. Since then, Lopez has been spotted or photographed A few outings Along with Max and Violet, including a 4th of July Travel to the Hamptons. (Affleck was noted to have returned to Los Angeles at the time.) Recently, the magazine Reported Affleck “has not yet been in touch with the Lopez children.”

While we haven’t heard a ton of talk about Lopez’s involvement in their divorce or seen any photos of him with his kids, Affleck’s silence while allowing Lopez to use their divorce as a show seems to be Affleck’s own strategy as well.

Since their first breakup, Affleck has left the public with the impression that Lopez enjoys the spotlight more than he does, something he repeatedly stressed in Lopez’s “Prime” documentary. The greatest love story never told, The show premiered in February. The actor joked that Lopez wanted to make everything public — including a bunch of love letters he sent her before their 2021 reunion — but claimed that now he’s willing to sacrifice his privacy to be with her.

Likewise, Lopez is portrayed as the one who demands more of the public’s attention, while Affleck is unwilling to participate in her projects and public antics. Affleck’s numerous paparazzi photos would immediately refute this claim, including those famous photos of him strolling with his ex-girlfriend Ana de Armas during the pandemic. Days after the divorce, People magazine According to the report, several unnamed sources Tsai told the magazine that Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, took over the Lopez documentary and has creative control over the project.

Looking back at the film through that lens, you can see how both men were dedicated to protecting their image, but also seemed a bit bumbling. The documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Lopez’s visual album This is me…nowwas filled with humiliating and embarrassing (but very funny) moments that your average pop star today wouldn’t dream of ever airing. At the time, the documentary seemed like Lopez’s only saving grace during a period of failure, including an underperforming visual album and canceled tours. Still, memes about Lopez (including a scene of her mythologizing her childhood hairstyle) went viral, along with random clips of Lopez allegedly exhibiting diva behavior.

While Lopez worked hard to keep the public focused on her new music, she also kept people focused on her and Affleck’s personal lives. The odd couple relationship they played in the film was sweet and admirable. Lopez was portrayed as the extroverted partner with unrealistic ambitions, while Affleck looked like a pragmatic but doting husband who supported his wife’s dreams. One memorable scene in the documentary shows Affleck boosting Lopez’s confidence when she was feeling doubtful during the making of the film. Now, it’s hard not to wonder how much the documentary influenced Affleck’s seeming escape plan.

With scoops about the details of their relationship coming out every day, the couple seems ready for a war that could damage both of their reputations. However, the media coverage is mostly meaningless at the moment. But the two 90s celebrities have defaulted to a ritual of humiliation.

First, this isn’t the kind of explosive divorce that would immediately provoke fans to pick sides. Social Media user already call Bachelor’s degree Some say Lopez is more public about it than Affleck. But for the most part, Lopez and Affleck are two alternately loved and hated celebrities whose reputations are always in flux. Right now, the public doesn’t seem eager to demonize either of them. Their romantic history, reportedly rife with dysfunction, seems to be what makes them relatable and easy to root for.

The divorce announcement itself doesn’t seem all that controversial, either. The details that have been revealed so far aren’t all that explosive, aside from the suggestion that Affleck has commitment issues. It certainly doesn’t feel like a years-long feud between the two. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Their divorce involved allegations of domestic violence and child abuse, leaving a tarnish on Pitt’s image — even as he remained busy in Hollywood.

It’s hard to imagine that Affleck’s mere choice to walk away from his marriage would have led to these altered image outcomes, even if his divorce was as tepid as some glossy celebrity magazines have portrayed it. After all, in the public eye, Lopez has proven herself to be one of our most invincible celebrities through all the breakups and career blows she’s endured. It’s all predictable and not entirely surprising — just like their decision to get back together 20 years later.