- When Jennifer Lopez met Marc Anthony, he told her she would be his wife one day.
- The period before that occurred, she got engaged to Ben Affleck, but they split. Lopez then married Anthony, but they divorced.
- She reunited with Affleck, who proposed again. Anthony did the same a month later.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony perform onstage during the 17th Annual Latin Grammy Awards held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 17, 2016. | Source: Getty Images
Actress Jennifer Lopez first crossed paths with musician Marc Anthony backstage when he performed on Broadway in “The Capeman.” The MTV Generation Award winner once revealed that the salsa artist predicted that they would walk down the aisle one day.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony pictured at the Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud for Hillary Clinton at GOTV Concert in Miami, Florida on October 29, 2016. | Source: Getty Image
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck during “Maid in Manhattan” premiere at The Rainbow Room in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
However, that did not last for long because they postponed their engagement just days before they were supposed to wed and released a statement explaining their decision. The pair cited excessive media attention on their wedding.
They added, “When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry.” After halting their wedding, Affleck and Lopez went their separate ways in January 2004.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck during the “Daredevil” premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Months later, following their split, Anthony’s prediction came to be. He and Lopez dated for less than six months before exchanging vows in June 2004. The duo wed in a surprise casual wedding ceremony at Lopez’s Beverly Hills home.
The “Let’s Get Loud” singer told friends and family that she was throwing an afternoon party, only for them to see her walk across the backyard with a white umbrella as guests cheered and clapped. The couple later welcomed twins Emme Maribel and Maximilian David in 2008.
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez during the Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony pictured in Paris on December 8, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
The duo’s split was without drama, as there were speculations that Anthony had been unfaithful in their marriage. But he denied the allegations of infidelities in an interview with ABC News post the divorce announcement.
The actor said people like perpetuating just because the breakup came as a shock to them. Therefore, they insinuated that he must have been the one that caused the separation. He insisted that their marriage ending “was a realization on both our parts. It wasn’t shocking. These things happen.”
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are seen at the Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud for Hillary Clinton Concert in Miami, Florida on October 29, 2016. | Source: Getty Images
The divorce got finalized three years later, in June 2014, after filing at the Los Angeles Superior Court. Lopez and Anthony agreed to share custody of their kids, with the three-time Grammy Award winner getting physical custody of the brood for seven days every month.
Three years after the former couple went their separate ways, Lopez spoke candidly about her relationship with the father of her kids and how their divorce impacted her.
During an appearance on “Live with Kelly,” the dancer revealed that she and Anthony were “best friends.” She divulged that they were working on an album together and admitted she was skeptical about their partnership at first since they were just co-parenting. “It’s been awesome. Honestly, I think it’s even helped our relationship, and it’s made things even better,” Lopez added.
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez during Premio Lo Nuestro a la Musica Latina – arrivals at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida on February 22, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Still, the actress admitted that she went through a “tremendous low” when her marriage to Anthony ended. Even though the times were hard, Lopez added that she wouldn’t change anything as the experience made her who she is today.
Lopez felt like she went through a growth spurt as she reevaluated her view of relationships and understood what real unconditional love was when she gave birth to her twins. The actress also learned her value, stopped giving herself away, and understood that she was good on her own. “So, now I can share my life with somebody,” she acknowledged.
In 2021, twenty years after she and Affleck ended their engagement, Lopez and the award-winning screenwriter unexpectedly rekindled their romance.
When she celebrated her 52nd birthday, she marked the occasion on Instagram by sharing images. The last photo from the post showed her and Affleck locking lips. It marked the first time the couple posted about each other on social media.
In People’s cover story published in February 2022, Lopez gushed about her reconciled relationship with the two-time Academy Award winner, “I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance.”
The “Enough” star said their relationship feels different now; it is full of appreciation and celebration. Jennifer Lopez noted that she and Affleck are now older and wiser, so they have more experience, have kids, and are at different places in their lives. They plan on protecting what they have with each other.
Lopez and Affleck got engaged for the second time in April 2022. The pair announced the news in Lopez’s newsletter after she was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring. An insider revealed to People that the couple waited “a few days” before sharing the news with the world.
Months after the engagement announcement, Affleck and Lopez wed in an intimate ceremony, a source told People in July 2022. The lovebirds obtained their marriage license in Clark County, Nevada. “It was super, super small. They just wanted to be married, so they got married,” divulged the source.
After officially becoming husband and wife, Lopez has already hinted at changing her last name to Jennifer Affleck, per the couple’s marriage license. However, according to US Magazine, the new moniker would still need to be officially legalized, including filing the marriage certificate.
When the pair got engaged for the first time, Lopez said that her last name would change after marrying Affleck, telling Access Hollywood in 2003 that her offstage name would be Jennifer Affleck.
While Lopez has found her happily ever after, her former spouse, Marc Anthony, has also met his future wife, Nadia Ferreira. The couple made their relationship public in March 2022 after sparking romance rumors in early 2022 while vacationing in Mexico City.
After reportedly dating for three months, Anthony proposed to Ferreira, who is 30 years his junior, a month after Lopez and Affleck got engaged. Ferreira, a Paraguay native, wrote on Instagram: “Engagement party! @marcanthony” alongside a ring emoji as she flaunted her ring. The pair celebrated their engagement on a night out in Miami with friends.
Ferreira, 23, is a fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss Universe Paraguay 2021, and as Miss Universe Paraguay, Ferreira represented her home country at Miss Universe 2021 and finished as First Runner-Up. She and the six-time Latin Grammy Award winner usually share cozy pictures on social media and look happy together.
Just as Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot, Marc and Ferreira followed suit. The two got married on January 28, 2023. Celebrities graced the wedding, including Victoria and David Beckham, Salma Hayek, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Ferreira wore two custom looks made by Galia Lahav. “I loved, loved, loved my dresses,” she gushed. Victoria Beckham designed the bridesmaids’ dresses. In turn, Anthony wore a bespoke suit from Dior Men. Pictures shared from the wedding showed the bride and groom looking magnificent and happy. The guests were also jubilant.
A few months after the wedding, on June 19, 2023, Anthony shared the exciting news on Instagram that he and Ferreira had welcomed a baby, a boy called Muñiz Ferreira. Anthony, who shared the news on Father’s Day, captioned the post, “God’s timing is always perfect.”
Just like Lopez and Affleck’s marriage is thriving, so is Anthony’s. The exes have found love in their life after divorce, and their families have grown in their own different ways.