A Modern-day Odyssey: Ben Affleck and an arduous tale of two Jennifers
ETimes December 26, 2025 12:39 AM
When one best friend prepares to dazzle the world with his larger-than-life portrayal of Odysseus, can the other stay far behind?
Turns out Matt Damon and Ben Affleck truly are mates for life — the former is about to bring the legendary Greek hero to life on the big screen (we still have to wait for a year), and somehow, the latter is living out his own epic… well, almost!
Sounds a little far-fetched?
But think about it — tied to a string with two Jennifers on each end, Ben Affleck’s life does look a lot like a modern-day Odyssey. Well, not quite the treacherous and devastating journey, but still — a long, winding saga filled with marriages, divorces, and the ongoing dance of co-parenting.
Jen and Ben and Jen — the loop of in-love, out-of-it, and still not letting it go
It’s like an endless loop, equal parts romance novel and repurposed Hollywood sequel that doesn’t seem to run out of royalties.
Picture Odysseus, torn between the magical Circe and loyal Penelope, tossed around by fate, longing, and a hell lot of confusion (for them and us both). Now, swap out the ancient Greek wine and witches for red carpets and shutter sounds. Trade Circe for Jennifer Lopez, Penelope for Jennifer Garner, and suddenly Ben Affleck’s love life turns into the blockbuster version of an old myth — just with a lot more TMZ coverage and more commentary and cacophony.
But here’s the thing: Ben’s relationships with Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner aren’t just tabloid fodder at this point. After all the marriages, splits, makeups, and blended family holidays, Ben’s journey with the two Jens feels somewhat baked into this “celebrity culture” itself — part Hollywood soap opera, part family drama, part memefest.
And now, with Matt Damon taking on Odysseus — talk about the meta-level layer — it seems almost poetic!
So, let’s go back to the beginning of this lore. Sit tight — we have at least six chapters to cover!
Chapter one: The birth of ‘Bennifer’
Picture this: It’s 2001, the year that finally set in motion one of the most talked-about romances in 21st century’s pop history — the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez saga.
Ben and Jen crossed each other’s paths in 2001 on the set of Gigli. In case you find that name unheard of, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Nobody really watched that movie then, or even knows about it now — the only thing that came out of it was “Bennifer.”
By 2002, Ben and Jen made it official, and Bennifer legitimately became the “it” couple, pioneering the idea of a “ship name” and cementing it in pop culture. From red carpets, music videos, to every tabloid cover, and a million fan fantasies — you couldn’t escape Bennifer.
Ben finally did the obvious thing — went down on one knee, popped the question with a 6-carat radiant-cut pink diamond ring that instantly became iconic, much like the couple they were. Their wedding was supposed to be a massive affair in September 2003, until it wasn’t anymore.
By January 2004, it was all over — Bennifer succumbed to the “immense pressure and scrutiny” and called off the engagement.
Back then, it felt like a classic case of young love crushed by the weight of fame. Who knew it was all along an “unfinished business”!
Chapter two: Ben and Jen and the family life
Not long after Bennifer perished, Ben found solace in another Jen — this time, it’s Jennifer Garner, no “Alias” of JLo!
Although Ben and Jen met before Bennifer happened — they met on the set of Pearl Harbor — the duo found their way to each other when they worked together in Daredevil. After the crack in Bennifer, Ben found love in real life with his love interest on screen — that’s Jen Garner, Elektra in Daredevil — and the romance was in motion already.
With respect to time, Ben and Jen’s relationship might seem a whirlwind, as they married in June 2005 (just over a year after the Bennifer break-up), but what Ben found with Jen was a quiet and stable companionship — far different from the glamorous and fast-paced romance he had with JLo.
With Jen, the drama was at bay — and their family expanded with a steady partnership and three kids: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. During Ben’s marriage with Jen, his career saw an upward graph; he even tackled alcoholism and rehab stays. Through it all, the family was his anchor, and Jen stayed by his side like his rock.
After a decade of marriage, in 2015, Ben and Jen announced their split — ironically in June — and the divorce was finalized in 2018. Even after a long divorce procedure, things never got too ugly between the exes — at least, in public. Neither did a plethora of speculations chase them around for “scoops”. It almost seemed like the former couple evolved into something new from mere romantic partners.
Chapter three: Divorce, pause, and co-parenting
Many thought that Ben might drown further after his divorce from Jen, but to their surprise — not only did he swim, but he thrived. Sure, he leaned on Jen more than ever, especially as he kept battling addiction. Paparazzi would often catch them together at school events and family gatherings, and even speculate about them potentially getting back together.
But Ben and Jen blocked the noise out, as they did during their marriage. Jen made a more stable man out of Ben, and that steady co-parent showed up for his kids and himself. Ben and Jen’s equation made one thing clear — the marriage might have ended, but the family lives on. In fact, Ben has been so committed to the family he has made with Jen, he has often called their divorce his “biggest regret.”
Now you know what he really misses — it’s not just the romance, it’s the partnership that held him together and kept him going!
And mind you — all this time, JLo was not even in the picture. At best, she was a distant memory, a fond one and not forgotten — but still, in the past.
Chapter four: The revival of Bennifer
But as they say, the past often comes rushing back — and when it does, you can’t do much about it. Now, Ben might have dabbled a bit with superheroes on screen, but in reality — when he and JLo reconnected, it wasn’t in his superpower to stop history from repeating itself.
It was 2021, 20 years from their original brush with each other — and Bennifer was back. One day, they were seen on a vacation, and the next day, they attended some high-profile event together, looking as happy as ever. Was Bennifer back? Sure, it was!
Put the early-2000s nostalgia in a bowl full of new-age pop culture ingredients — Instagram stories, before and after reels, and whatnot! And this time, they looked less stressed, more sure of themselves, and more at ease with the media glare.
But can you really change the rules of nature?
History seemed to be on a repeat mode this time as well — Bennifer got engaged within a year of reconnecting, in April 2022, then married in Vegas that July, and followed it up with a bigger ceremony in Georgia.
So far, still a rollercoaster!
But what made the fans cross their hearts was how Ben looked steadier, more mature, and self-aware this time. Meanwhile, JLo called their reunion “destiny delayed,” and you could tell she meant it — she flaunted her 8.5 carat natural green diamond ring, with a heartfelt promise as an engraving: "not. going. anywhere."
Chapter five: End of a rom-com
Staying true to the tradition, history repeated itself, and by 2024, Bennifer called it quits — once again. The fairytale didn’t last — JLo filed for divorce, and by early 2025, the split was official.
But this divorce brought along the drama — something Ben didn’t have to put up with when he parted ways with Jen Garner. Every day, the world woke up to new conspiracy theories — even a phase of grappling with heartbreak became tabloid fodder.
And that’s how Ben’s life has always been — one Jen brought along the fire, the passion; another simply kept the wheel steady during the storms. And Ben, being Ben, he probably made a bargain with himself — and kept a bit of both to make his life whole, once again.
Chapter six: Walking in circles
Now, here’s the thing about the cycle of Jen and Ben and Jen — while Ben stays in the centre of the chatter, commentary, and the running jokes on the internet, it all starts with one Jen and ends in another.
With Jen Garner, Ben found his first big Hollywood love out of the famous Jennifers — away from the Lopez, Aniston, or Lawrence. Together, Ben and Jen raised three kids, kept things as “normal” for them as they could, and made sure that they built a family that was a safe space for all of them to fall back upon. For Hollywood, that really is the Gold Standard, especially in the era of fractured bonds and scattered relationships. Jen hasn’t ever seemed like someone who’s been driven by the Hollywood standard of fame and/or success. In fact, she doesn’t even come across like some typical “celebrity ex” to Ben. In a way, she truly embodies the modern-day Penelope — always steady, always dependable, and always close.
On the other hand, drama follows wherever JLo goes. Even after two innings — separated by two decades — it doesn’t seem like Bennifer is entirely over; something always seems to be left lingering in those two. And that, not necessarily, is leftover love — it might just be unresolved feelings which, perhaps, are best dealt with either alone, or with some external help. Now, that’s not to put a lid on their possible re-reunion, if there is one in the cards — but as a spectator of the Bennifer saga twice already, I can safely say that it’s run its course. The era is gone, so is the aura — it’s better to let it go and move on.
Besides — again, as a spectator and someone who has counted the handful of times Ben Affleck has really smiled off-screen — it’s not just me who has seen him “relaxed” and “happy” hanging out with Jen Garner and the kids. Garner has been a consistent presence in Ben’s life since she became a part of it, and through thick and thin, she has stayed there — whether as a romantic partner, a spouse, a friend, or just a co-parent. She makes sure Ben feels like a part of the family they built together. With Ben and Jen, it’s not about two old flames or some dramatic reunion — it’s just deep respect and a life that’s still connected because of their shared family and kids. They holiday together, cheer at school events, and just keep finding ways to show up as a team. And the most remarkable bit of it — scroll through social media, and you’ll see people commenting about how Ben looks genuinely happier in photos with Jen Garner during holidays than he ever did during some of his time with JLo.
Sure, Ben has gone out holiday shopping with JLo as well — very recently, in fact, and we have seen the photos already — but the spark of the holiday spirit? That seems to be amiss from all those photos.
Is it truly surprising that Ben keeps on gravitating towards Jen Garner, even after almost a decade of his separation from her?
The ‘Jen and Ben and Jen’ saga: The triangle that keeps thriving
If you’re an avid follower of the digital footprints of celebrity whereabouts, “Ben and Jen” is hard to miss. In fact, no matter the time of year — Halloween shopping, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a random Saturday — Ben Affleck is out there with one of the Jennifers (or the kids) by his side.
Some day, Ben’s at the Garners’, spending real, meaningful time with the kids, and showing everyone what co-parenting looks like at its best. Some other day, he’s seen holiday shopping with JLo, matching outfits, all smiles, Samuel in tow.
All these photos circulate on social media, and then comes the “never moves on” gag, which overtly simplifies a complicated romantic history into a one-liner. There’s the “which Jennifer will he call for Christmas?” tease as well, which riffs on the holiday-season images of Ben accompanying either woman to year-end events.
Sure, it usually doesn’t seem “normal” or “healthy” to keep carrying around so much past baggage — but what if the baggage feels more like an anchor to keep one afloat? Yes, “Ben and the Two Jens” runs on the internet, especially during the holiday season, like some seasonal sitcom — but what if it’s a modern-day Odysseus trying to make his way home, never quite sure which island he’ll land on next?
What if Ben is trying to walk the tightrope of life without cutting the two strings that have held him together for over two decades — almost half his life?
Because whatever this triangle brings to the table, performativeness isn’t one on the menu. While the Garners provide Ben the much-needed privacy and normalcy in Hollywood, JLo comes in with tenacity, reinvention, resilience, and visibility. On one end, there’s the thrill of rush, wrapped in history and Hollywood glamor — that’s JLo. On the other end, there’s Jen Garner — with the solid ground of stability and composure.
And as for Ben — you have to give him the credit, too. No matter which Jen it is, the man shows up. He attends. He’s visible at the ordinary moments that make up the family life. If you go by the Hollywood handbook, that is not an attention-grabbing attitude or a paparazzi-ready persona — it’s a small room for everyday behavior, that’s highly repeatable. It’s like a ritual. A tradition running in the family.
So, what if Ben’s inability to let go of either of the two Jens is not an obsession, but a desire to have the best of both worlds that can’t be argued with a linear “Why can’t he just move on” question?
Sure, the photos keep surfacing, the comments pour in, and we keep fishing out cheeky remarks — like “God this guy needs to move on from his exes and get a life!” — while fully ignoring if these two Jennifers actually make up for most of his life.
Many of us tend to give a side-eye whenever we talk about being in touch with a former partner — even if they parted ways on a not-so-bitter note. Why can’t we fathom the idea of evolving and growing to become someone who could have a cordial relationship with their former romantic partners? What’s wrong with accepting the possibility of maintaining a healthy relationship after the romance runs its course? The end of a relationship doesn’t mean all the love vanished in thin air — it might just be transformed into a more mature bond.
So far, Affleck’s story is neither an epic penned by Homer nor a tragedy woven by Shakespeare. Sure, there have been troughs and turbulences that Ben has encountered, but in the end of them all — he came out as someone who has grown. It’s not a sob story — far from it. If at all, it’s rich with compassion, understanding, and companionship. It’s flawed — but still human. It’s less “magical” — and more murky and mundane. At times, it’s an absurd comedy as well — imagine going in circles, expecting anything but repetition!
And for the ones who call it “obsession,” leave the man alone — he is tired enough. And maybe — just maybe — try being honest about your social media searches, without deleting the search history — and we’ll talk!
