Aside from being dubbed the “worst dressed” at the 2024 TIFF, Jennifer Lopez was seen having an intimate conversation with one of her estranged husband’s famous friends.
Shining like a glitzy disco ball, Hollywood star Jennifer Lopez brought glamour to the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) red carpet with the dress she wore on September 6. However, not all social media users were dazzled by the outfit. Many believe the dress is her worst look yet.
The “Marry Me” actress donned a striking Tamara Ralph silver metallic dress that had a mirrorball effect. Adding some sultriness, Lopez’s garment left both sides of her curvaceous body exposed and was fastened on each side with strings of black velvet bows.
She paired her dress with matching silver heels, a chic Judith Leiber clutch bag, and Hassanzadeh diamond jewelry. Lopez was at the TIFF for the premiere of her new movie “Unstoppable,” which she worked on with Ben Affleck, who was noticeably absent from the event, reportedly because of work.
Upon seeing photos and videos of Lopez posing up a storm on the red carpet in her daring outfit, netizens were quick to assert their opinions on how she looked. Many felt that Lopez’s dress did not look good.
“[Definitely] a worst dressed winner 🏅,” remarked an observer on Instagram while another echoed, “This dress is a disaster.” “It’s really ridiculous I feel like she had no class with that dress😮😮😮😮😮,” opined someone else.
Expressing a similar sentiment, another netizen chimed in with, “This dress was seriously inappropriate for the type of film that […] was being premiered. This was not it.”
“I admire her fitness and drive but she’s a mom and I don’t think this is appropriate apparel to wear. Personally, I don’t like this outfit. It has no color. Plus, how can anyone walk and move wearing that [?]” asserted a Facebooker.
Acknowledging Lopez’s beauty while expressing disdain for her dress, a spectator said, “She is truly a beautiful woman but this ‘outfit’ does nothing for her!” “I think it’s one of her worst looks,” stated another observer.
Amid the vitriol came a fan who praised, “She’s beautiful and I love her dress! 😊.” On the other hand, a curious netizen pondered, “Was the dress for Ben to see?”
Lopez’s TIFF attendance comes just over two weeks since the “On the Floor” singer filed for divorce from Affleck. While the “Gone Girl” actor wasn’t there, his best friend and fellow Tinseltown star Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, were.
In addition to missing the TIFF for work-related reasons, sources report that Affleck, who co-produced the movie based on wrestler Anthony Robles’ book with Damon through their company Artist Equity, had skipped the premiere because he is spending time with his kids in Los Angeles.
Seemingly preempting that there would be swirling questions from the public concerning why Affleck was not there, “Unstoppable” director William Goldenberg briefly addressed the divorce drama.
Speaking to a media outlet before the premiere, Goldenberg disclosed, “Everybody’s a professional, and that’s their own personal thing. I love them both. I mean, I know Ben better, but Jennifer was literally a dream to work with […] And their personal life is their personal life.”
At some point during the event, Lopez, who stars in “Unstoppable” alongside famous actors Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle, and Jharrel Jerome, was spotted in the middle of a deep conversation with Damon.
How Ben Affleck's best friend Matt Damon shut down Jennifer Lopez as they were pictured holding hands at Unstoppable movie premiere https://t.co/q0WniIBoLJ pic.twitter.com/LZFkHKwWvD
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) September 9, 2024
The “Jason Bourne” star was photographed holding hands with Lopez as the two chatted away. An eyewitness reported that their conversation lasted for over 20 minutes after Lopez sat down at an outdoor table with Damon and his wife.
#REPORT: Photos of Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon holding hands at the Toronto Film Festival have gone viral. pic.twitter.com/2AWqoJmtZX
— 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) September 10, 2024
While the content of their conversation is unknown, the timing of it seems to suggest that Damon might have been showing support for Lopez amid her divorce from Ben Affleck.
Although Jennifer Lopez only filed for divorce on August 20, reports state that their marital issues began long before the filing.
According to an August 2024 Page Six report, Affleck and Lopez’s honeymoon in Italy marked the beginning of their marital struggles, as Affleck struggled with the intense media attention and the demands of Lopez’s high-profile lifestyle.
The soon-to-be ex-couple’s honeymoon in Lake Como in 2022 seemed glamorous on the surface. However, behind the scenes, Affleck was uncomfortable with the constant presence of the paparazzi.
A source reportedly said that Affleck “was unhappy with paparazzi following them.” The same source added, “She is an international superstar, and he acted like it came as a surprise that they would be followed around.”
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck shop for home goods on Italian honeymoon https://t.co/qtQGzyQX0P pic.twitter.com/AraGUb0X0o
— Page Six (@PageSix) August 24, 2022
Privately, Affleck and Lopez’s relationship was already strained, despite their public displays of affection. Insiders shared that they “would barely speak to each other during what was supposed to be the happiest time of their life.”
Additionally, Affleck had assured Lopez that he was a changed man, but as the source noted, “that lasted a very short time.”
Affleck’s sobriety was also a major factor in the estranged couple’s issues. After entering rehab in 2018 for alcohol addiction, he was in a fragile state when he and Lopez reconnected.
An insider explained, “He was in a vulnerable state, and whatever their chemistry played into that [sic].” As Affleck’s sobriety stabilized, he began craving more privacy, which conflicted with Lopez’s fame-filled life. “He doesn’t want [the entourage] and all the drama that comes with that in his home,” mentioned the source.
Despite these struggles, Affleck reportedly delayed filing for divorce to protect Lopez’s feelings. The Page Six sources described him as “very protective of her.”
However, as their relationship continued to deteriorate, Lopez was left feeling furious. On this, one source noted, “He has humiliated her. He was the one who initiated getting back together… She made a big deal that he was the love of her life.”
Amid their private turmoil, however, Affleck and Lopez maintained a public front during their honeymoon. A People article from August 2022 described their time in Milan, where they shopped and dined together. Eyewitnesses also observed that the pair seemed “attentive only to each other” and acted “down to earth.”
At another time before their honeymoon and during a romantic dinner in Paris, Affleck was spotted seemingly in tears in July 2022, according to TMZ. The emotional moment, of which the cause remains unclear, happened on Lopez’s 53rd birthday when she was seen comforting him.
Their reported tensions during their honeymoon in Italy resurfaced after Lopez filed for divorce. She submitted the paperwork to the Los Angeles County Superior Court exactly two years after their second wedding ceremony.
According to TMZ, the couple’s separation date is listed as April 26, 2024, and further details offer a fresh perspective on their unexpected split.
#JLo has filed for divorce from #BenAffleck 💔 pic.twitter.com/NYYAlsjuz6
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 20, 2024
Jennifer Lopez’s Divorce Filing Happened on the Anniversary of Their Georgia Wedding
Lopez reportedly filed for divorce on the same day as their Georgia wedding anniversary, adding a bittersweet note to their split. The two rekindled their romance in 2021 and got engaged in April 2022.
After getting engaged, they had a surprise Las Vegas wedding on July 16, 2022. A month later, they celebrated with a larger ceremony at Affleck’s Georgia estate. In her On the JLo newsletter, Lopez reportedly described the day as “full-circle” and “better” than expected.
The ceremony was personal, with the two walking down the aisle to “True Companion” by Marc Cohn. Lopez wore three custom wedding dresses, which included a turtleneck gown, a mermaid silhouette, and a chandelier pearl gown, which she called “dreamy.”
In a surprising move, Lopez filed the divorce documents without a lawyer. This approach, known as filing “pro per,” suggests she wants to handle the process independently. She also waived her right to spousal support and asked that the court deny Affleck any support as well.
Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Have No Prenuptial Agreement
TMZ also reported that the divorce documents show that Lopez and Affleck did not have a prenuptial agreement. Despite their previous marriages and significant wealth, they didn’t protect their finances. As a result, any earnings or profits made during their marital years will be treated as community property.
Bennifer Are Still Hashing Out the Sale of Their Marital Home
Although Lopez has filed for divorce, their financial settlement remains unresolved. The couple’s Beverly Hills home is on the market, but negotiations have reportedly become tense. Additionally, Lopez and Affleck are searching for new homes, signaling the end of their shared life together.
Lopez and Affleck first became a media sensation in the early 2000s when their relationship, known as “Bennifer,” grabbed headlines. They got engaged and starred together in “Gigli” (2003) and “Jersey Girl” (2004), but their romance ended before “Jersey Girl” was released.
Over the next 20 years, both married other people — Lopez to Marc Anthony and Affleck to Jennifer Garner— but they reunited three years ago.
Since then, they often appeared together at public events, promoting each other’s projects. Affleck even appeared in Lopez’s Amazon Prime Video special, “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story.”
Lopez’s latest album, “This Is Me … Now,” revisits themes from her 2002 album, “This Is Me … Then,” which was inspired by her first relationship with Affleck. Fans followed their love story through Lopez’s social media and newsletter updates.
All of my albums are very special to me, but This Is Me…Then is my favorite album I’ve ever done…so far! In honor of my #JLovers helping it re-enter the album charts AGAIN after 19 years…here is a lil #TBT ✨💕 https://t.co/ODNwAMtTqr pic.twitter.com/cJcnQqUG6p
— jlo (@JLo) May 14, 2021
However, in May (2024), Lopez unexpectedly canceled her summer tour, saying she needed time with her family — a decision that hinted at her and Affleck’s split and eventual divorce.