Everything Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Discussed About Their Romance in Her Documentary, «I’d Never Fallen Out of Love»
Over the years, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have gone through a lot together.
On Tuesday, July 16, the couple celebrates their second wedding anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, PEOPLE is revisiting the quotes from the pair found in Lopez’s Prime Video documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
The «Waiting for Tonight» singer gave fans a behind-the-scenes peek at the production of her ambitious cinematic endeavor with the documentary that she published accompanying This Is Me…Now: A Love Story.
Interviews with Affleck, her close circle, and collaborators are featured in the documentary.
Here’s what the pair, who are currently figuring out a new chapter in their marriage and their time together, had to say about one another in the February premiere of the documentary.
Though he was hesitant at first, Affleck encouraged her artistic expression.
Early in the documentary, Lopez’s inner circle opposed her intention to work on a production that explored her love story with the hypnotic actor.
Lopez notes that despite Affleck’s reluctance to share details about his personal life, he encouraged her to pursue her artistic passions.
The 54-year-old Lopez states in the documentary, «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’s not trying to stop me. However, that does not imply that he finds it easy to be the muse.
The 51-year-old Affleck continues, «Jen is truly motivated by this experience, which is how artists create their work. Their personal lives move you, and they inspire you. As a writer and director, I can attest to the fact that I do the same things.
However, I’ve always believed that things that are private are precious and unique because they are, at least somewhat, secret. Thus, I had to make some adjustments with this.»
It all comes full circle at the very end of the documentary when Affleck understands that Lopez’s journey to self-love was the true subject of the film, not necessarily him.
«I’m glad that even though it looks like I might be in this, I’m not really in the making-of documentary about my personal life because I don’t really appreciate being in these.
I was fretting unnecessarily,» he remarks. It wasn’t about me in the film. It was about having the capacity to love oneself, and finding that love story is far more difficult than finding Prince Charming.»
She was greatly influenced by their love tale.
Lopez opens up in The Greatest Love Story Never Told on how much their tale and Affleck mean to her.
«Even though we’ve changed completely, we still love one other and are the same individuals. Completely. I had never stopped loving you.
«I had just put it over here,» she continues, alluding to the fact that they split up three days before their 2004 wedding.
In another scene of the documentary, Lopez breaks down in tears as she talks about how no one has ever had the same kind of faith in her as Affleck does.
«Love is the only source of what he said, what he saw in me, and what he convinced me of about myself. Because no one else could have helped me realize that aspect of myself,» Lopez sobs. It’s really touching. The world didn’t think highly of me because I didn’t think highly of myself. That made sense. It is as it is. Look at it. Accept it.»
This is the reason their separation affected her so much.
«For all those years, it was really hard because I didn’t just feel like I lost the love of my life,» she recounts. I felt as like I had lost my best friend ever, and I was unable to discuss it for a very long time. The hardest part was that.»
Affleck discussed Lopez’s early trauma.
In the documentary, Lopez discusses her background and her need to be «seen» at one time, citing this as one of the driving forces behind her unwavering work ethic.
After that, Affleck describes her early trauma from his point of view, claiming that she was «emotionally neglected as a child.»
We’re starting to realize that trauma doesn’t always have to involve being imprisoned in a cellar for a year in order to leave scars. When they’re more difficult to pin down, they’re actually dishonest,» he claims.
Additionally, he claims that it’s simpler to assume on social media that someone who is «widely successful» «is living the happiest life in the world.»
Like with alcohol, you find that there isn’t enough of it in all the liquor stores in the world to fill it up. In Jennifer’s case, I don’t think there are enough fans, films, records, or any of that kind of thing to satisfy that part of you that still feels pain and longing.
In the end, you have to complete the work on your own «, he says.
Although they approached the audience differently, they both tried to reach a compromise.
Looking back, Affleck claims that «a massive amount of scrutiny around our private life» was the impetus for their 2004 breakup.
Lopez expresses her perspective: «We purchased a Bentley and used it to travel the city. «Yeah, take pictures of us,» is what it says. That wasn’t the case. All we were doing was honoring our love and life.»
Affleck desired to keep their relationship out of the public eye when they made the decision to reconcile. He then understood that it requires giving in.
«At first, I set very clear boundaries with the press, and Jen, I don’t believe, opposed to it as strongly as I did. I did object to it very much. «Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media,» he explains after they reconciled.
«Then I kind of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask,» he says. It’s similar to saying you’re going to marry a captain of a boat but that you don’t enjoy the water. We’re just two individuals attempting to learn how to compromise despite having different styles.»
They were able to forgive one another.
During a sit-down interview, Lopez is interviewed by Affleck, who asks the Atlas actress if she has forgiven him.
«When I first read the script, it looked like the inciting incident that causes all this pain down the road is our breakup,» explains Affleck. «I was like, ‘Wow.
Nothing improper was done by anyone. It involved both parties.I believe we need to sort of forgive that in order to move on from it. Pardon one another. Are you able to pardon me?»
Before Lopez can reply, the video breaks out; nevertheless, she does so toward the end of the documentary.
«I completely forgive you. I believe there are some things I should forgive myself for.»