Jennifer Lopez is generous to Ben Affleck: ‘Ben is funny! He still looks pretty good too’

jennifer lopez instyle may

Jennifer Lopez covers the May issue of InStyle, in an interview which was conducted months ago, when she thought she would be promoting Marry Me right now. That film’s release got delayed until February 2022, but clearly, Jennifer’s magazine profiles are still being published. Page Six made a big deal about how Alex Rodriguez wasn’t quoted, or even mentioned, in this cover profile. Which is pretty funny, because this cover profile became a harbinger of doom for the J-Rod engagement and that’s kind of amazing – soon after the cover story came out, J-Rod was over and Jennifer and Ben Affleck began hanging out again. You can read the cover story here. Some highlights:

Who originated “J.Lo”: “The name J.Lo came from [the late rapper] Heavy D. He used to come by the studio for my first album [On the 6, 1999] and would call me Jenny-Lo, Jennifer-Lo, or J.Lo.When I was doing my second album, I decided to call it J.Lo [2001], and I believe that’s when it really stuck!

Ben Affleck on Jennifer: “I thought I had a good work ethic, but I was completely humbled and blown away by what she was committed to doing day in and day out, the seriousness in which she took her work, the quiet and dedicated way she went about accomplishing her goals, and then how she would go back and redouble her efforts. She remains, to this day, the hardest-working person I’ve come across in this business. She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I’m so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves.

Affleck on Jen’s beauty: “Where are you keeping the fountain of youth? Why do you look the same as you did in 2003 and it kind of looks like I’m in my 40s…at best?”

Jen on her beauty secrets: “I don’t have any [beauty] secrets except JLo Beauty — and I’m giving them all to everyone with every product. Ben is funny! He still looks pretty good too. I also think I’m in the best shape of my life. In my 20s and 30s I used to work out but not like I do now. It’s not that I work out more; I just work out harder and smarter. And it doesn’t take me as long as it did in the past. I do it more for my health than I do for looks, which is funny. When you do things for the right reasons, you actually look better!

On being a working mom: “It’s hard for any working mom. You feel guilt anytime you have to work and cannot take care of your kids. It’s a balance, and I do the best I can. It doesn’t matter if I’m on location or if I’m in the house with them — we are communicating, we are laughing, and we are spending time together. And sometimes I’m even nagging at them to brush their teeth, get into bed to get up for school, all the things you have to do. I cannot begin to list the things that my kids have taught me about myself. I’d have to write a whole separate book on that.

[From InStyle]

The profile quotes extensively from people in her life personally and professionally, and having read the whole thing… yeah, the fact that Alex isn’t quoted at all is notable, as is the fact that no one even mentions him, especially Jennifer. LOL. As for the Affleck quotes… I was surprised that he was being so nice, because historically he talks sh-t about Jennifer whenever he can. Maybe this was some kind of preview of coming attractions. Hm. Also, Ben has never been known for his work ethic, I have no idea what he’s talking about. White guys just show up and they’re like “omg, check out my amazing work ethic!” Meanwhile, Jennifer is a mom, dancer, singer, actress, producer, businesswoman, perfume maker, skincare line creator, reality show judge and on and on and on.

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Covers & IG courtesy of InStyle.

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68 Responses to “Jennifer Lopez is generous to Ben Affleck: ‘Ben is funny! He still looks pretty good too’”

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  1. Eleonor says:

    JLO is someone who loves falling in love, and getting married, we thought she was all grown up for not rushing things with A Rod, is it possible she had doubts, and too much cheating on his part? The fact he is not even mentioned to me says thing probably ended very bad between the two.

  2. Case says:

    It’s wild that they were setting the stage for the return of Bennifer months ago.

  3. a0 says:

    Ben bitched a lot about the tabloid coverage but not Jennifer herself.

    • Darla says:

      Yeah I don’t recall him every badmouthing her.

    • B says:

      His friends did though.

    • diana says:

      Yeah I really don’t remember him badmouthing her. I always thought that he spoke very highly of her.

    • Chelsea says:

      Really? I remember years ago that he, and Matt Damon, used to say a lot how he changed (for the worst) being with JLo into more of a superficial celebrity and complained about how that hurt his career. They would then pivot to how Jen Garner helped ground him and was so great only for him to turn around and cheat on her. Its been sort of bizarre to see him the last couple of years now try to say he felt bad for what JLo went through during those years when he never expressed empathy for her in the decade he spent whining about their relationship setting back his career. To be fair i do think he did say nice things about her from time to time and said they were friends but he never used to talk about feeling she was treated unfairly in the press; it was always him who was the victim.

  4. Lexilla says:

    My guess is that A Rod was part of the story at some point, and her people pulled weight to have it changed before it went to press.

  5. Darla says:

    Maybe Arod WAS in this, but she asked them to cut those parts.

  6. NTheMiddle says:

    She’s amazing and gorgeous but now needs to focus on mental health. Her picker is broken and she should realize she deserves a good guy. Ben Affleck was and is no bueno.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      She does have a bad picker but I adore Marc Anthony! I like him very much and he comes across as a down to earth kind of guy, always kind and supportive to those around him. If JLo gets back with anyone, it should be MA! Plus they have always loved each other. Plus they are both single now too!! I don’t remember why they divorced.

      • Jayna says:

        She was miserable in that marriage. She stuck it out because she knew she would be a punchline for the tabloids again. Dumped by Ben at the alter, and after they break up for once and all, she runs to Marc and is having a wedding before you can blink. She got her babies out of it, though. Marc goes through women like clockwork. So not such a great spouse/fiance permanently. From what I can gather, Marc was controlling.

      • whatWHAT? says:

        yeah, Bennifer certainly makes for juicy gossip and speculation, but I would really love to see her back together with MA. I think that he adores her and they were so well suited for each other. well matched, as they say.

    • JULIE says:

      Amen

  7. manda says:

    I love J.Lo! I also hope she and Ben get back together

  8. Lis says:

    “I don’t have any [beauty] secrets except JLo Beauty — and I’m giving them all to everyone with every product.” Does she forget the interviews where she used to credit LaMer for keeping her skin looking amazing?

    • Snazzy says:

      She “forgets” everything – her genetics definitely play a part, but so does the money. It always helps to be able to have the financial freedom to eat well, exercise regularly and take care of yourself. So JLo Beauty my A**

      • BothSidesNow says:

        Yup!! Genetics does help, but so do the best dermatologist/plastic surgeons in a small area the size of Rhode Island!!

      • Vavavoom says:

        Sure that is part of it. But her products use olive oil and I’m hoping I can afford to try them. I had cystic acne in my early 30’s – I hadn’t ever had acne before – and I found the oil cleansing method online. It cleared it up in a month and I use it every few months as upkeep. It’s a mix of olive oil, castor oil and a drop of tea tree oil. Rub it on your face and you can feel the hard blackheads coming out. Then steam your face with a hot cloth for a few minutes and wipe off. It’s incredible. It even cleans off your eye makeup.
        I have high hopes for her stuff because of that. Plus I like J Lo. She has been pretty consistent to who she is. She is over the top, but she doesn’t seem fake to me. She has been berated in the press for decades as well, think about how they talked about her body / booty in EVERY article. She always took the high road.

  9. Lively says:

    Somewhere in Beverly Hills, Jenn An is punching the air. This was the reunion her and pitt were meant to have

    • Darla says:

      Yea, I don’t think so. Pitt wanted the good PR, maybe he’s punching the air.

  10. Traci says:

    So, why did the magazine even go to Ben for a comment in the first place? Of all the people in her past they could’ve gone to, they went to Ben.

    • Jayna says:

      She gave them the names they could ask. She’s not going to approve a comment in her big cover page article of an ex she isn’t friendly with. Jenny was in charge of that. The people commenting are the people her team and/or herself contacted ahead of time to do it and then it was set up for the magazine.

      • Traci says:

        Yea, that’s what I’m getting at – this was a rollout that was planned from the start. They ain’t foolin nobody.

  11. Esmom says:

    I was trying to figure out why she looked different and then I realized it’s because she’s mostly smiling instead of trying to make a sexy face. It’s refreshingly nice!

    • Myra says:

      I remember as a young girl coming across one of her photos and thinking she was one of the most beautiful women in the world. She was smiling in that picture. I know she is serving us looks when she is doing the sexy face but it is refreshing to see a smiling J-Lo.

    • smcollins says:

      I think that’s where my irrational dislike for her stems from. Every time she showed up on a red carpet (which was a lot) she would *always* use the open-mouth, sexy face pose. It was like her default setting or something and just became so tiresome & overused. She has a very lovely smile and it’s nice to see her using it more. As far as the BA reunion thing…ugh, please no. It was bad enough the first time around.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        YES!!! That drove me crazy!!! It was her orgasm face and it was disgusting!! It would make me cringe every time!!

      • Jayna says:

        I agree. It’s cringeworthy. See squints her eyes, partially opens her mouth and poses and it’s awful. As awful as the photos are of that, It’s even more awful watching her do it on video as she’s putting her face and eyes in position.

  12. C-Shell says:

    Yes, JLo has an unreal work ethic. None of the men she’s been involved with comes close. Watching to see what evolves with Bennifer 2.0 will be fun!

    I know I’ll never look as youthful as she, but I’ve started using her JLo Beauty products and loooove them. I have really sensitive skin, and they’re about as natural as you can get. I’ve been using them for a few weeks and no breakouts, my skin feels great. Highly recommend.

  13. tempest prognosticator says:

    Ah, nostalgia, thy name is Bennifer

  14. Chaine says:

    I’m chuckling at the pic where she is wearing a tshirt of herself.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      I think that was in poor taste, to be honest. It would have been great had she worn someone who came before her that is an icon or has special meaning to her.

    • Vavavoom says:

      I liked the humour there, too. She doesn’t take herself too seriously. And she is an icon by now.

  15. DuchessL says:

    Jlo is showing Arod how he is irrelevant without her. So she is putting her biggest star exboyfriend ben affleck on the news with her who will just overshadow everything Arod and Ben knows it doesnt hurt to be associated with Jlo and that will quit any Benana return rumors anyway. Win-win situation. Only 1 loser. Arod

    • Lena says:

      Another loser – Ana deArmas. This ‘news’ somehow came out last Friday – Ana’s birthday. Coincidence or conspiracy? I believe the tool who threw away her life size cutout so paps could photograph it is at it again.

      • Darla says:

        Yeah, that’s so weird. From the time he pulled that Ana-in-the-dumpster stunt, I thought all he did was make it obvious she dumped him. I think he definitely wanted her back. I don’t know what he did, most will say cheating. I still think it has something to do with having babies. But he left no doubt he was the dumpee not the dumper in my mind.

      • LaurenS says:

        Anyone who wises up and dumps Ben Affleck is no loser. She’s lucky she never married or had kids with him. She gets to walk away free and clear.

    • FYI says:

      She’s going to tabloids with a made-up story to stick it to A Rod? Doesn’t that strike you as a little immature? They BOTH cheated on her, but she has to spin these stories to make it look like she is desirable? It’s pathetic. Playing games like this instead of just parenting your kids through a break-up and being alone for five full seconds at a time.

      I have zero doubt that the delay in her actual break-up with A Rod was so that she could set up the Ben story. It’s all really, really desperate and thirsty.

      • Darla says:

        She is desirable.

      • FYI says:

        She clearly doesn’t believe she is. Otherwise, she wouldn’t need to go to People magazine to say she’s “leaning on” Marc Anthony and “always enjoyed” Ben Affleck. It’s weird and sad.

      • MyJobIsToPrincess says:

        @FYI yup it is that sad. Stick it to Arod and also there is a personna that JLo wants to keep alive and that is that she is desirable still, that people who dated her in the past still want to be with her today. Pettiness, huge ego & bad self esteem, I guess.

      • Darla says:

        LOL. well if it makes you feel good to think so.

  16. Courtney B says:

    She may have access to nutritionists, personal trainers etc. but she’s still the one who has to do the regimen. And , given her work ethic and the results, it’s obvious she does. Her body in Hustlers was insane.

  17. LaurenS says:

    There’s a video of Ben throwing soda on a pap who asked him about JLo. Imagine that: stunt king Ben Affleck, who pays the paps to sit on his driveway and capture his every moment, pretending to get upset at the invasion of privacy.

    • maddie says:

      Really? Where is this posted?

    • Brittany says:

      No, I watched that video. He pours what’s left of his drink out onto the street (gross). He doesn’t throw anything at or on anyone. The video is falsely titled.

  18. Laura says:

    I feel like all this Affleck stuff is just too troll ARod and I’m here for all of it.

    • whatWHAT? says:

      hahahahaha! yeah, he’s such a d-bag that I don’t care if this is all to troll him. he deserves it.

      It’s funny, I know he does baseball commentary on ESPN games and I was watching the game last night and was like “who is that WHINY-voiced person spouting inanities as ‘color commentary’?” then I realized it was JLo’s ex. which is how I’m going to refer to him.

  19. Darla says:

    I don’t get the insistence that she has to just parent and be alone for a while. Why? I feel like women get constrained by this narrative. It bugs me. Let her go get it. Ben is packing and my guess is he’s good in bed. Good for her.

    • DiegoInSF says:

      Yes, Darla!!! Also, the broken picker thing, that’s also just putting the blame on the woman.

  20. Boxy Lady says:

    Kaiser has me laughing with her comments about Ben’s “work ethic.” I think what Ben really meant was, “I showed up for work even when I had partied all night and was hungover.” Which is a good work ethic, IMHO, but it also means you’re not doing your best work in those instances, which is not so good.

  21. Valiantly Varnished says:

    *looks at camera*

  22. Nibbi says:

    I love her, but I want that patented-Instagram cutesy-smile-with-tongue-cutely-angled-out-the-side pose to DIE. She’s been doing that lately.

  23. TeeMajor says:

    talking about her favorite subject: HER, LOL!

  24. Lena says:

    Somebody at Deuxmoi spilled a video Ben sent her from Raya and it was totally creepy. He seems desperate for women, any women, all the time. I really hope JLo is just using him to troll ARod & doesn’t take him seriously because you just can’t.

  25. Sarcasm101 says:

    Now this dipshit is going to recycle boyfriends. Be single. Good grief.

  26. Natasha says:

    I hope Bennifer end up married this time. They both annoy the crap out of me.

  27. TQ says:

    I am here for Bennifer 2.0, as messy as it’ll be. There have been blind items about them hooking up on and off for years.