JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK go official during the singer’s 52nd birthday celebrations
ROMANCE ON THE RIVIERA JENNIFER AND BEN SO IN LOVE AS THEY CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY
She
may have been the birthday girl, but Jennifer Lopez gave fans something to celebrate last week as she made her sizzling romance with actor Ben Affleck Instagram-official.
Soaking up the Mediterranean sun, hand in hand with her Oscarwinning beau, the singer and actress looked blissfully happy as she rang in her big day with a trip away.
“5 2 … what it do …,” she wrote, sharing a series of snaps of her posing up a storm on a lavish multimillionpound yacht in St Tropez during the first leg of her birthday getaway, which also saw the couple move on to Capri.
Saving the best until last, her final photograph showed her in a passionate kiss with 48-year-old Ben – the image fans have wanted to see ever since the pair first appeared to have rekindled their flame almost 20 years after they were first together.
Leaving no question when it came to the object of her affections, Jennifer also sported a delicate gold necklace bearing the name “Ben” during the romantic trip.
And at one point, Bennifer, as the couple are affectionately known, even seemed to be re-creating their pose together from the video for Jennifer’s 2002 hit Jenny from the Block, as Ben rested his hand on his girlfriend’s lower back while on the yacht.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
The reunion has sparked a wave of early 2000s nostalgia from Jennifer’s millions of followers on social media – as well as her A- list friends, who could barely contain their excitement over J-Lo’s Instagram photos.
“THE LAST ONE THO! HBD QUEEN!” wrote model Ashley Graham, while actress Vanessa Hudgens dubbed the post: “Iconic.”
Clearly riding a wave of romantic bliss, Jennifer’s birthday celebrations continued long after they reached dry land, with her and Ben spotted enjoying a night on the town at A-list hotspot L’Opéra in St Tropez.
“They seem totally in love,” said one onlooker.
Nestled in the heart of the resort, L’Opéra serves dishes such as piña colada- style duck foie gras with roasted pineapple and limoncello confit while treating guests to a floor show featuring dancers and artists performing on central podium tables – which J e n n i f e r w a s seen animatedly enjoying.
Jennifer and Ben originally met in 2002 on the set of the romantic comedy Gigli and their relationship blossomed following the end of her second marriage to actor Cris Judd. They got engaged soon after, but
after postponing their wedding days before it was due to take place, split in 2004.
‘They seem totally in love,’ said an onlooker, after the couple stepped out in St Tropez
SINGING THE PRAISES
Reports they were back together began in April, the same month Ben contributed to a magazine article on the singer and actress, asking: “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?”
“Ben is funny!” Jennifer replied. “He still looks pretty good, too.”
They have since been seen on trips to Montana and Miami, as well as enjoying a family day out to Universal Studios Hollywood with their children last month.
Both have had a number of high-profile relationships in their years apart. Jennifer was married to Marc Anthony, with whom she has twins Emme and Maximilian, 13, and was engaged to former baseball star Alex Rodriguez for two years before confirming they were “better as friends” in April.
Meanwhile, Ben was married for 13 years to his Pearl Harbor co-star Jennifer Garner, with whom he has children Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and nine-year-old Samuel. They divorced in 2018. He also dated James Bond star Ana de Armas after meeting on the set of Deep Water, but they split up at the start of the year.