Two South Florida-based police officers are suing for defamation following the release of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s action thriller “The Rip.”
Miami-Dade area sergeants Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana filed a lawsuit against the film’s production company, Artists Equity, earlier this month in Miami federal court, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rip-lawsuit-ben-affleck-matt-damon-98647a282521fe01ce73d8a7afeb4400">per</a> the Associated Press. Smith and Santana are seeking an undisclosed amount of compensatory damages, along with punitive damages and attorney fees. They are also asking for a retraction and added disclaimers in the film.
“The Rip” was inspired by the true story of two police officers who discovered millions of dollars inside a house. 
“A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on,” the IMDb description says.
It was released on Netflix in January and currently has a 78% critic rating and 65% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_rip">Rotten Tomatoes</a>. 
The lawsuit states that people now believe Smith, the real-life supervisor of the investigative team, and Santana, the lead detective on the case, actually committed the criminal acts portrayed in the film, even with the film’s disclaimers stating that it’s not a true story.
&#8220;Third parties have asked Plaintiffs which characters in the Film they were and how many buckets they kept,&#8221; the lawsuit states. &#8220;Family members, colleagues and peers in other entities unknown to the Plaintiffs but aware of the 2016 case, also remarked that Plaintiffs must have used seized funds to build personal property improvements, purchase vehicles and vessels, and afford private schooling for their children.&#8221;
The lawsuit further states that Smith and Santana have &#8220;repeatedly been questioned by third parties regarding the characters and events depicted.&#8221; They claim to have been contacted by a Miami-Dade County State Attorney inquiring about the allegations and threatening an investigation. 
&#8220;The Film and its promotional content imply misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with a real law-enforcement operation,&#8221; the lawsuit <a href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-dade-officers-suing-over-matt-damon-and-ben-affleck-movie-the-rip/3807644/">says</a>. &#8220;As a result, Plaintiffs have suffered damage to their reputations, diminished standing among peers and colleagues, and injury to their credibility in law-enforcement and professional circles.&#8221;
An attorney for Artists Equity said in March that the film already has a disclaimer saying it doesn’t depict real events or people, the outlet noted. The disclaimer text says, &#8220;This program is inspired by real events; however, the characters and events depicted have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes, and any similarity to actual persons is purely coincidental and unintentional.”
Affleck and Damon already stated that the narrative was inspired by the real 2016 incident in Miami and hired Miami-Dade Police Capt. Chris Casiano as a technical advisor on the film.
“We really wanted to kind of understand what those dynamics were like,” Damon told AP during an interview in January. “I mean, these units are very tight because they’re really putting their lives in each other’s hands, and they’re doing something that’s very dangerous.”

Matt Damon Ben Affleck

Police Officers Slap Matt Damon And Ben Affleck With Defamation Lawsuit

Police Officers Sue Matt Damon And Ben Affleck For Defamation

Ben Affleck

Entertainment

Florida

Hollywood

Lawsuit

Matt Damon

Movies

Police

Actor Matt Damon explained some stipulations Netflix has for movies, taking into account what they describe as short attention spans from viewers.
The 55-year-old Academy Award-winner made the revelation during a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast while promoting his new Netflix project, “The Rip.”
Damon said traditional movie setups have changed due to audiences being accustomed to short-form content, also because they’re only half paying attention as they check their phones.
“The standard way to make an action movie that we learned was, you usually have three set pieces. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third,” Damon said.
“You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your finale,” he added. “And now they’re like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.’”
Damon’s longtime collaborator Ben Affleck chimed in, pointing out that the Netflix hit “Adolescence” did not follow the formula and was still a success. “It didn’t do any of that sh*t,” Affleck said. “And it’s f*cking great.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Joe Rogan Experience #2440 - Matt Damon &amp; Ben Affleck" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AVEZBy1uAk8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The interview comes on the heels of Netflix announcing they are acquiring Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, in a massive deal valued at $82.7 billion.
This move has led to criticism from the public, especially as rumors persisted that Netflix planned to reduce how long streaming customers had to wait to watch new theatrical releases. Multiple outlets reported that the window would be shortened from six weeks to seventeen days.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos attempted to put those rumors to rest during a recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/business/media/ted-sarandos-netflix.html">interview</a> with The New York Times.
&#8220;We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows,&#8221; he told the outlet. &#8220;I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.&#8221;

Matt Damon Says Netflix Wants Movie Plots ‘Reiterated’ Multiple Times For Distracted Viewers

Matt Damon Says Netflix Wants Movie Plots 'Reiterated' Multiple Times For Distracted Viewers

Netflix

U.S.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner&#8217;s daughter, Violet Affleck, addressed the United Nations on Tuesday to express her ongoing concerns over COVID-19.
The 19-year-old Yale freshman wore a KN95 mask as she fretted over what she described as the devastating and enduring effects of COVID-19, while complaining that the world had moved on.
&#8220;We are told by leaders across the board that we are the future,&#8221; Affleck said. &#8220;But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.&#8221; 
The teen was panicked over people who no longer take precautions against the spread of the virus, lamenting &#8220;the relentless beat of back to normal, ignoring, downplaying, and concealing both the prevalence of airborne transmission and the threat of long COVID.&#8221;
&#8220;Young people lacked both real choice in the matter and information about what was being chosen for us,&#8221; Affleck said, per <a href="https://people.com/violet-affleck-ben-affleck-and-jennifer-garners-daughter-speaks-about-the-impacts-of-covid-in-united-nations-address-our-present-is-being-stolen-11816006">People</a>.
&#8220;Here&#8217;s what we know about SARS-CoV-2,&#8221; she went on. &#8220;It is airborne, floating and lingering in the air, one infection can result in disabling damage to almost every cell in the body from the brain and heart to the nerves and blood vessels.&#8221;
&#8220;Every subsequent infection increases the risk of long movement and places people who already have it in greater danger.&#8221;
Affleck also said she’s &#8220;terrified&#8221; for children who &#8220;will not know a world without debilitating pain and exhaustion, who cannot trust their bodies to play, explore, and imagine&#8221; after contracting the virus.
&#8220;I am furious on their behalf,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It is a neglect of the highest order to look children in the eyes and say, &#8216;We knew how to protect you and we didn&#8217;t do it. We have access to a technology to prevent airborne disease, something that millions of our ancestors and millions of people around the world today would kill for, and we refuse to use it.'&#8221;
&#8220;And I shudder to think of where we will be in another five years of unmitigated infection and reinfection,&#8221; Affleck said.
The daughter of two movie stars equated COVID-19 harm reduction methods to bans on smoking.
&#8220;Many of you fought the long and hard battle against indoor smoking. My only memory of that era, at almost 20 years old, is being confused as a child about the no smoking signs on planes. &#8216;Who would do that? That&#8217;s gross,'&#8221; she told the U.N.
&#8220;My hope for this event and my belief in this community pressed on the belief that we can and we must do that again,&#8221; Affleck added. &#8220;We can recognize filtered air as a human right, as intuitively as we do filtered water.&#8221;
&#8220;We can create clean air infrastructure that is so ubiquitous and so obviously necessary, so that tomorrow&#8217;s children don&#8217;t even know why we need it.&#8221;
The college freshman has spoken out about her concerns over COVID-19 before, addressing an L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting to express her frustration with a mask ban.
Reactions on social media were mostly negative, with most commenters saying Affleck was overreacting.
“There is a pandemic of unbelievably stupid people,” one person <a href="https://x.com/BoFrenchTX/status/1970825466278752405">wrote</a>.
“Let&#8217;s give a platform and seek life advice from famous actors and their children, living in a fantasy world, detached from everyday realities, crafting personas for a living rather than grounded wisdom. Makes sense doesn&#8217;t it?” another person <a href="https://x.com/punishertime321/status/1970914067754992074">replied</a>.
“The only thing better than insufferable Hollywood stars telling everyone how to act, is their insufferable children doing the same,” echoed a third <a href="https://x.com/Skeptique/status/1970827963441782823">commenter</a>.

Violet Affleck

Ben Affleck’s Daughter Masks Up For UN Speech About COVID

Ben Affleck's Daughter Violet Masks Up For U.N. Speech About COVID

Celebrities

COVID

Jennifer Garner

United Nations

Ben Affleck reflected on his most recent failed marriage after a very public romantic rekindling with Jennifer Lopez, which ended in divorce in January.
During a new cover story interview with <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/inside-ben-afflecks-plan-to-remake-hollywood">GQ</a>, the 52-year-old actor discussed his participation in the 2024 documentary about their marriage, which was called “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.” Fans at the time were surprised Affleck agreed to it, considering his aversion to being in the spotlight.
“Part of it was, ‘Okay, if I’m going to participate in this, I want to try to do it in an honest way and in a way that’s interesting.’ Because I thought it was an interesting examination,” the two-time Academy Award winner told the outlet. 
“There are a lot of people who I think have handled celebrity more adeptly and more adroitly than I have, Jennifer among them,” he added. “My temperament is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers. As happens in relationships, you don’t always have the same attitude towards these things. And so I thought, ‘Oh, this is interesting because how do you reconcile that?’”
Affleck went on, saying, “I love and support this person. I believe in them. They’re great. I want people to see that. And I think the thing that I said in that documentary or the piece that they used was where I said, You don’t marry a ship captain and then say, ‘Well, I don’t like going out in the water.’ You’ve got to own what you knew going into any relationship. And I think it’s important to say that wasn’t the cause of some major fracture. It’s not like you can watch that documentary and go, &#8216;Oh, now I understand the issues that these two had.’”
At another point during the conversation, Affleck said he &#8220;[doesn&#8217;t mind]&#8221; talking about his &#8220;personal life a little &#8230; as long as my actual feelings and intentions and beliefs are communicated, which I hope I was clear that really [Lopez] is somebody I have a lot of respect for.&#8221;
The actor said he understands the idea of &#8220;wanting to divine or explore the kind of differences in perspective that we have in terms of how a person feels comfortable approaching the line between public and private life.” 
&#8220;There’s a tendency to look at breakups and want to identify root causes or something. But honestly &#8230; the truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting,&#8221; Affleck explained.
&#8220;There’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue. The truth is, when you talk to somebody, &#8216;Hey, what happened?&#8217; Well, there is no, &#8216;This is what happened,'&#8221; he said of their breakup. &#8220;It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.&#8221; 
Affleck and Lopez were first engaged in 2002 and broke up in 2004. They started dating again in 2021 and married in two lavish ceremonies, one in Las Vegas and the other in Georgia, the following year. The couple filed for divorce in 2024.

Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez

Ben Affleck Breaks Silence On Divorce From Jennifer Lopez, Says The Truth Is ‘Quotidian’

Ben Affleck Breaks Silence On Divorce From Jennifer Lopez, Says The Truth Is 'Quotidian'

divorce

Jennifer Lopez

Ben Affleck gave a hilarious response to the viral video of his 13-year-old son Samuel, who wanted a pair of Dior Air Jordan 1 sneakers with a sticker price of $6,000.
In the original video — that quickly went viral — the 52-year-old actor was walking through the Got Sole sneaker convention in Los Angeles when his son saw the shoes and made it clear he had to have them.
Affleck told his son, &#8220;That&#8217;s a lot of lawns you gotta mow there. You just like those because they’re expensive.”
Samuel tried to sell his dad on the idea, claiming the price tag was justified, but the “Gone Girl” star was definitely not having it.
“&#8217;No, they&#8217;re tough!” Samuel told his dad. “I always said they look good.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Ben Affleck Reacts To Son Samuel Wanting $6K Dior Air Force 1 Sneakers (Exclusive)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hw-_hiS8e8c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Later on the red carpet at a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw-_hiS8e8c">SXSW event</a> for his upcoming movie, Affleck was asked about the clip and told the interviewer the very relatable comment he told his son later.
“That’s what happens when you tell a motherf***ker they have to mow a lawn,” “The Accountant” star said. “All of the sudden they don’t want those shoes.”
“There&#8217;s always some grift, why I need to be buying &#8230; I&#8217;m like, man, you do not need thousand dollar shoes,’” he added.
“He’s like ‘We have the money.’ I’m like ‘I have the money, you’re broke!’” Affleck continued.
Affleck shares three children with ex-wife actress Jennifer Garner, son Samuel and two older teen daughters, Violet and Seraphina. Garner and the actor tied the knot in 2005 and announced they were separating in 2015. Their divorce became official in 2018.
The 52-year-old actress previously opened up about the challenges of raising kids in the spotlight with Affleck.
Speaking on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htY8-FE71Qs">Variety</a> “Actors on Actors” interview with actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, Garner and Ralph discussed experiences they had in common which included being part of Hollywood while trying to raise kids and also co-parenting with their respective husbands after divorcing them.
“With all the celebrity and all of that, I feel like I have a very normal life, and I think you have that similar sort of vibe. And we love our kids,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jennifer-garner-reflects-mess-parenting-ex-husband-ben-affleck-gift?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-foxnews&amp;utm_content=later-35766668&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=linkin.bio">Ralph</a> said.
“Yeah, of course, and all the stuff that comes with it,” Garner replied. The “Alias” star added, “all the mess of parenting, it’s a gift.”
“Both of us having gone through divorce,” Ralph said. “You did something that I did as well, and that was maintain as healthy a relationship with my ex for the health and well-being of my children. And with the spotlight on us all the time, sometimes that can be difficult.”
“But when I look at my kids, when I see you and your kids, I was like, ‘Girl, we did that,&#8217;” she added.
Garner replied, “We’re doing it!”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jennifer-garner-talks-raising-kids-in-spotlight-with-ex-ben-affleck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Garner Talks Raising Kids In Spotlight With Ex-Ben Affleck</a>

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Ben Affleck’s Hilarious Response To Viral Video Of Son Wanting $6K Sneakers

fatherhood

wealth

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez</a> is reportedly ready to close the door on the “crazy chapter” of her life with Ben Affleck after she and the actor finalized their divorce — after just two years of marriage.
On Monday, the 55-year-old actress and Affleck finally reached a settlement for their divorce after Lopez filed for a dissolution of their marriage back on Aug. 20, 2024, <a href="https://people.com/jennifer-lopez-wants-to-close-the-door-after-ben-affleck-divorce-source-8770430?utm_campaign=people&amp;utm_content=likeshop&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=instagram">People magazine</a> reported. 
A source close to the superstar singer is now shedding some light on how the “Hustlers” star is doing as she grapples with the end of what she had previously labeled a dream come true, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/love-is-patient-twenty-years-patient-jennifer-lopez-goes-all-in-with-ben-affleck-by-changing-her-last-name">reported</a> at the time.
&#8220;The fairy tale she was promised turned out to be a nightmare in the end,” the insider told the magazine. &#8220;She&#8217;s in a really good place and just wants to close the door on this crazy chapter.”
On the second anniversary of their southern wedding ceremony in Georgia, the “Selena” star put to bed rumors about their relationship troubles when she filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court without an attorney, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-devastated-about-ben-affleck-divorce-gave-her-all-make-work-source">Fox News</a> noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have settled their divorce. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BillboardNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BillboardNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/3UYNSBu5UG">pic.twitter.com/3UYNSBu5UG</a>
— billboard (@billboard) <a href="https://twitter.com/billboard/status/1876754330755207168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
At the time, a source told the outlet that the actress felt she “gave it her all to make this work” with Affleck and was “devastated” that she couldn’t make their marriage work — especially after they called off their first engagement in 2004 and then rekindled their romance in the summer of 2021.
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In the divorce filing, Lopez wrote that the separation occurred on April 26, 2024, <a href="https://people.com/ben-affleck-and-jennifer-lopez-divorce-live-updates-8699009">People magazine</a> noted.
On the same day reports surfaced that Lopez had filed for divorce, the “Gone Girl” star was spotted not wearing his wedding ring.
As to why she chose the anniversary of their wedding ceremony, a source told People magazine. “She was done waiting and the date she did it speaks a ton.” 
The move “gives her control of the process,” added the source. “It’s good that she did it.”
Last June, rumors surfaced that their marriage was over and a source at the time told the outlet that Affleck “started moving out a while ago. The marriage is completely over, and Jennifer is heartbroken. She loves love and wanted this to work so badly.”
Lopez and Affleck officially tied the knot in a legal ceremony in Las Vegas in 2022, before they celebrated their matrimony at a backyard ceremony at an $8 million Georgia mansion with family and friends a month later. It all happened 18 years after the couple first got engaged in 2002, calling it off in 2004.

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Jennifer Lopez Ready To Close Door On ‘Crazy Chapter’ After Finalizing Ben Affleck Divorce: Report

Marriage

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez</a> is “devastated” over her failed marriage to actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jennifer-lopez-and-ben-afflecks-68m-mansion-hits-market-amid-divorce-rumors">Ben Affleck</a> after she filed for divorce on Tuesday following two years of marriage, a source shared with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-devastated-about-ben-affleck-divorce-gave-her-all-make-work-source">Fox News</a>.
On the second anniversary of the 55-year-old singer’s southern wedding ceremony in Georgia, Lopez put to bed rumors about the Hollywood superstar’s relationship troubles when she filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court without an attorney, the outlet reported.
A source has since told the outlet that the actress feels she “gave it her all to make this work” with Affleck and is “devastated” she couldn’t make their marriage work after they rekindled their romance in the summer of 2021, after previously calling off their first engagement in 2004.
Another source said the “Good Will Hunting” star seems to be fine after the split, saying that the 52-year-old actor “threw in the towel a long time ago.&#8221;
While another insider told the outlet, “Ben has been his usual, high-energetic self. He&#8217;s been busy with his kids and work and seems to be doing just fine.&#8221;
In the divorce filing, Lopez wrote that the separation occurred on April 26, <a href="https://people.com/ben-affleck-and-jennifer-lopez-divorce-live-updates-8699009">People magazine</a> noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on wedding anniversary to ‘take a stand’ <a href="https://t.co/UqBsSTTehY">https://t.co/UqBsSTTehY</a> <a href="https://t.co/arPgRoAK7W">pic.twitter.com/arPgRoAK7W</a>
— Page Six (@PageSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PageSix/status/1826357094959685805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
On the same day reports surfaced that Lopez had filed for divorce, the “Gone Girl” star was spotted not wearing his wedding ring.
As to why she chose the anniversary of their wedding ceremony, a source told the outlet, “She was done waiting and the date she did it speaks a ton.” 
The move &#8220;gives her control of the process,&#8221; added the source. &#8220;It&#8217;s good that she did it.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1723831707612000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pyrv88A5nsmWM2F2Wr9As">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
One insider told <a href="https://people.com/jennifer-lopez-began-house-hunting-in-april-amid-ben-affleck-split-source-8699337?taid=66c64651235a150001a05460&amp;utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&amp;utm_content=new&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com">People</a>, “She&#8217;s very disappointed and sad, but Ben hasn&#8217;t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage.”
&#8220;She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken,” the source added. &#8220;The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.”
In June, rumors surfaced that their marriage was over and a source at the time told the outlet that Affleck “started moving out a while ago. The marriage is completely over, and Jennifer is heartbroken. She loves love and wanted this to work so badly.&#8221;
Lopez and Affleck officially tied the knot in a legal ceremony in Las Vegas in 2022, before they celebrated their matrimony at a backyard ceremony at an $8 million Georgia mansion with family and friends a month later. It all happened 18 years after the couple first got engaged in 2002 before calling it off in 2004.
The “Deep Water” star was previously married to actress Jennifer Garner for more than a decade. The two share three kids. Lopez has been married three times and shares two kids with her ex-husband singer Marc Anthony.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jennifer-lopez-finally-reveals-whether-she-or-ben-affleck-reached-out-to-rekindle-their-romance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Lopez Finally Reveals Whether She Or Ben Affleck Reached Out To Rekindle Their Romance</a>

Jennifer Lopez2-2

Jennifer Lopez ‘Devastated’ Over Failed Affleck Marriage: Report

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood</a> power couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are headed for divorce after two years of marriage, the second time the two were in a relationship.
Lopez filed for the divorce herself on Tuesday in L.A. and did not use an attorney, TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/08/20/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-file-divorce/?adid=social-tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. She listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024.
According to the report, Lopez choosing to file the divorce on August 20 potentially carried some significance because they held a large wedding ceremony in Georgia exactly two years ago for their family and friends.
TMZ said that there did not appear to be any kind of a prenup agreement in place and that money issues between the two have not yet been settled.
The report added that she decided to be the one to file for divorce despite not having everything settled in terms of who gets what because there of &#8220;PR concerns.&#8221;
TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/06/08/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-sell-marital-home-beverly-hills-divorce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier this summer that the two were quietly selling the mansion they bought together in Beverly Hills after they got married.
Affleck and Lopez first <a href="https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/2526116/ben-affleck-jennifer-lopez-how-they-met-gigli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> in early 2002 on the set of the crime comedy &#8220;Gigli&#8221; while Lopez was married to Cris Judd.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1723831707612000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pyrv88A5nsmWM2F2Wr9As">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
In July 2002, Affleck and Lopez were spotted kissing at her birthday party. Two days later, she <a href="https://ew.com/article/2002/07/26/j-lo-files-divorce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> for a divorce from Judd.
By November of that year, the two were engaged and set to be married the following year. However, just one day before their wedding in September 2003, they decided to push back the wedding date, <a href="https://people.com/celebrity/lopez-affleck-postpone-weekend-wedding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">citing</a> &#8220;excessive media attention.&#8221;
“When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry,&#8221; they said at the time. “We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.”
By January 2004, they decided to call off the wedding and the two went their separate ways for the next 17 years until they rekindled their relationship in early 2021 following a series of failed relationships that each had dealt with in recent years.

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Hollywood Power Couple Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Are Getting Divorced

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-affleck">Ben Affleck</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez</a>’s mansion in Beverly Hills hit the market on Thursday amid rumors that the couple is experiencing marital difficulties.
The 38,000-square foot, 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom property was <a href="https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2571-Wallingford-Dr-Beverly-Hills-CA-90210/20532066_zpid/">listed</a> for $68 million several weeks after sources leaked that the sale was imminent. Affleck and Lopez purchased the home in 2022 for $60 million.
The listing describes the home as “[r]ecently renovated with the highest level of quality” and as a “newly rebuilt and expanded masterpiece” situated on five acres, all locked behind double gates. The home is also said to have a separate 5,000-square-foot guest penthouse, caretaker house, and two-bedroom guardhouse, along with a 12-car garage and parking for 80 vehicles. 
This estate also features an indoor sports complex with basketball and pickleball courts, a fully equipped gym, a boxing ring, a sports lounge, a zero-edge pool, and a bar. 
Affleck and Lopez wed in July 2022. The former &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">Gigli</a>&#8221; costars began dating twenty years earlier and were engaged by November 2002. The couple officially split in January 2004 but rekindled their relationship in July 2021.
“It’s been such a journey. The thing that I think I’ve been wondering about my whole life is, like, is love real? Does true love exist?” Lopez told <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/jennifer-lopez-calls-moving-in-with-her-and-ben-afflecks-kids-an-emotional-transition">Today</a> in January 2023. “It’s two people kind of coming together and saying, you know, ‘I’m gonna be here no matter what. And we’re gonna get through it together.’”
Rumors of marital issues started in May when TMZ broke the news that the two were living apart. Entertainment Tonight <a href="https://www.etonline.com/jennifer-lopez-and-ben-affleck-taking-a-second-to-figure-things-out-amid-tension-in-marriage-source">reported</a> that a source claimed they were “staying in separate homes and the tension has been high.&#8221;
Neither Affleck nor Lopez has commented publicly on the alleged split. Both have been spotted in recent months together and apart, and on different occasions either wearing or not wearing their wedding rings. Lopez canceled the rest of her “This is Me… Live” tour on May 31, saying she was &#8220;taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends.&#8221;
&#8220;I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down,” she said at the time. “Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time…&#8221; 

Several outlets <a href="https://pagesix.com/2024/07/11/entertainment/ben-affleck-ditches-wedding-ring-again-after-spending-fourth-of-july-apart-from-jennifer-lopez/">reported</a> that Lopez and Affleck spent the Fourth of July holiday apart, with him in Los Angeles and her in the Hamptons.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck’s $68M Mansion Hits Market Amid Divorce Rumors

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck's $68M Mansion Hits Market Amid Divorce Speculation

Beverly Hills

California

Real estate

The eldest daughter of now-divorced actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner demanded mask mandates in Los Angeles County and complained that people without masks &#8220;exacerbate homelessness&#8221; and harm &#8220;communities of color, disabled people, elderly people, trans people&#8221; and &#8220;women.&#8221;
Violet Affleck, now 18, made the remarks to the LA County Board of Supervisors during public comment. The one-minute speech has since gone viral online, racking up millions of views.
&#8220;I demand mask availability, air filtration, and Far-UVC light in government facilities, including jails and detention centers, and mask mandates in county medical faculties,&#8221; the teenager <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13618525/Ben-Affleck-Jennifer-Garners-daughter-Violet-advocates-mask-mandates-hospitals.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
&#8220;You must expand the availability of high-quality free tests and treatment, and most importantly the county must oppose mask bans for any reason,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;They do not keep us safer.&#8221;
&#8220;It stands to exacerbate our homelessness crisis, as well as the suffering of many people in our city,&#8221; Violet said of &#8220;mask bans.&#8221; &#8220;It hits communities of color, disabled people, elderly people, trans people, women and anyone in a public-facing essential job the hardest.&#8221;
Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass recently <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-25/masks-restriction-protests-after-violent-protest-los-angeles-synagogue">floated the idea</a> of creating restrictions for protesters wearing masks at public demonstrations.
Violet, who is often photographed wearing a mask outdoors, opened her comments by saying that she &#8220;contracted a post-viral condition in 2019.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m okay now, but I saw first-hand that medicine does not always have answers to the consequences of even minor viruses,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
You can’t make this stuff up. Daughter of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner demanding mask mandates. What are they putting in the water of LA? <a href="https://t.co/KhgOUQglvL">pic.twitter.com/KhgOUQglvL</a>
— Gusano (@mistergusano) <a href="https://twitter.com/mistergusano/status/1811025766093836766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
Though Americans were urged and even mandated to wear face masks during the height of the COVID panic, studies now suggest they make little to no difference and significantly harm children.
One study published by the Cochrane Library reviewed the findings of 78 randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of “physical interventions.&#8221; The review found that, when comparing the use of medical or surgical masks to wearing no masks, “wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people),&#8221; the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/14/face-masks-made-little-to-no-difference-in-preventing-covid-study/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.
Folks online commented on Violet&#8217;s demand, often criticizing her parents, Affleck and Garner. The famous exes also recently caught flack when they endorsed the gender &#8220;transition&#8221; of another one of their daughters, Seraphina Rose. The 15-year-old <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13322883/Ben-Affleck-daughter-Fin-celebrities-children-trans-non-binary.html">introduced herself</a> as &#8220;Fin&#8221; during Garner&#8217;s father&#8217;s funeral service and reportedly uses the &#8220;they&#8221; pronoun.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fauci-cant-name-one-study-to-support-child-masking-before-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fauci Can’t Name One Study To Support Child Masking Before Pandemic</a>

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles – May 11, 2024

Ben Affleck And Jennifer Garner’s Daughter Demands Mask Mandates In Viral Speech

Ben Affleck And Jennifer Garner’s Daughter Demands Mask Mandates In Speech 

Los Angeles County

Mask Mandate

masks

Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-affleck">Ben Affleck</a> appeared on the season 4 premiere of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-hart">Kevin Hart’s</a> Peacock Network talk show, “Hart to Heart,” on Thursday and explained why he often has a sour look on his face and talked about his wife <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez’s</a> fame.
It’s not known when the episode was taped, but Affleck did <a href="https://pagesix.com/2024/06/21/entertainment/ben-affleck-calls-jennifer-lopez-wife-amid-divorce-rumors/">refer</a> to Lopez as his &#8220;wife&#8221; during the show. Recently, fans have been speculating about the state of Affleck and Lopez’s two-year marriage, especially after it was revealed that their $61 million Beverly Hills mansion was listed for sale. 
The 51-year-old celebrity didn’t mention the current status of his marriage. But Affleck did offer an explanation for why he often <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-affleck-is-setting-the-record-straight-about-his-viral-grumpy-grammys-moment">looks grumpy</a>. 
He started by responding to Hart’s question about whether he’s happier in front of the camera or behind it, per <a href="https://people.com/ben-affleck-kevin-hart-interview-jennifer-lopez-bananas-level-of-fame-8667059">People</a>. Affleck said he considers himself a director and added that he’s “a little bit shy.”
“I also don&#8217;t like a lot of attention,” he said during the conversation. “This why people see me [and] they&#8217;re like, ‘Well, this dude always mad…’ Because somebody has their camera and sticking to my face.”
Affleck continued, “I don&#8217;t mind you taking my picture about a club, a premiere, whatever. My wife, I don&#8217;t give a f***. Go ahead. Knock yourself out. I don&#8217;t notice you,” he said. “My children, that&#8217;s a different thing.”
The actor shares three children with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. He’s also now stepdad to Lopez’s 16-year-old twins.
The Oscar-winning actor recalled one experience demonstrating Lopez’s extreme popularity with her fans. “We went somewhere with [Jennifer]—I can’t remember because she’s so famous, and she creates this—people love her. And she really represents something important to people,” he said.
“[To me,] people are like, ‘Hey, I like your movie,’ and then they’re like ‘AHHHH! J-LO!&#8217;” he added. “It’s amazing, you know what I mean?”
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Affleck recalled another story about a time they visited Times Square. “We get out of the car, we were going to a play, and I was like, ‘F*** it, babe, we’re going to be late, we gotta walk a block and a half.’ [Lopez] was like, ‘Alright,’ she didn’t say s***,” he explained.
“We get out with her, all the kids, through Times Square, and the s*** was like f***ing bananas,&#8217;“ Affleck went on. &#8220;I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ There was a lady, she was smoking weed, in a full purple skintight suit—she’s a heavy lady—and she starts running backwards filming, going ‘J-LO!!’ Like a herald. Then gets everyone else, they&#8217;re all tourists, whatever, just moving.” 
“Then I&#8217;m moving. We got, like, our five kids, me and Jen, and it&#8217;s, it&#8217;s like, it feels like hundreds of people and now screaming,” he said. 
“By the way, in that moment, you got to be oblivious to act like it&#8217;s all okay,” Hart interjected.
“Totally. Yeah, that’s why I put my bitch face on,” Affleck replied.
&nbsp;

Ben Affleck Explains His Grumpy Facial Expression, Calls J-Lo’s Level Of Fame ‘Bananas’

Ben Affleck Explains His Grumpy Facial Expression, Calls J-Lo's Level Of Fame 'Bananas'

Kevin Hart

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jennifer-lopez-reveals-the-one-movie-role-she-wishes-she-hadnt-turned-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Lopez</a> took to social media to defend her new line of booze and set the record straight on whether the pop superstar/singer even drinks, as many critics claimed she doesn&#8217;t imbibe following the news about her new cocktail brand.
The 53-year-old actress <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/04/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-alcohol-brand/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> a video on Tuesday on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuQd72ixx8s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> plugging Delola, her spritzer line, against online critics who said the &#8220;Hustlers&#8221; star previously swore off drinking alcohol in interviews.
&#8220;I know that a lot of people have been talking about, &#8216;Oh she doesn&#8217;t even drink, what&#8217;s she doing with a cocktail line?'&#8221; Lopez said. &#8220;To tell you the truth, that was true for a long time – I didn&#8217;t drink.&#8221;
She also noted, that while she will does enjoy an occasional drink, she never drinks to get &#8220;s**t faced&#8221; and always drinks &#8220;responsibly.&#8221;
The singer said photos from a &#8220;a few years back&#8221; show that &#8220;over the past ten, maybe fifteen years&#8221; she has enjoyed &#8220;the occasional cocktail,&#8221; but when it came to finding the perfect drink, she &#8220;never found anything that I really love.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Jennifer Lopez&#39;s new alcohol brand drew a lot of questions and even some criticism from folks who thought her household was booze-free &#8212; but she&#39;s setting the record straight. <a href="https://t.co/lWeXN8ZMGL">https://t.co/lWeXN8ZMGL</a>
&mdash; TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1676689968918327296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;And so, like anything else in my life, I created it myself,&#8221; Lopez said, pointing out that Delola is a &#8220;healthier&#8221; way that &#8220;fit my lifestyle to drink the way that I would drink – the way Jennifer drinks.&#8221;
In a 2018 article, then-49-year-old Lopez told <a href="https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/jennifer-lopez-december-cover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InStyle</a> that one way she&#8217;s maintained her youthful glow is by abstaining from caffeine and alcohol, and getting lots of sleep.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve taken care of myself, and now it shows,&#8221; the singer said.
In April, when news first surfaced about the &#8220;Jenny From The Block&#8221; hitmaker&#8217;s booze line, she faced a backlash because of her husband <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-affleck-said-hed-still-be-drinking-if-he-stayed-married-to-jennifer-garner-felt-trapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Affleck&#8217;s</a> known struggle with alcohol addiction, CNN noted. Many of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuQd72ixx8s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> connected to the video she posted Monday brought up similar concerns.
&#8220;So awkward when she talks about drinking responsibly and not getting s**t faced knowing her husband suffers from alcoholism for years,&#8221; one person wrote.
Another added, &#8220;I’m just confused about her talking about alcohol and cocktails when her husband is an Alcoholic … who is allegedly in recovery? Makes no sense at all and I find it very difficult to understand.&#8221;
While a third said, &#8220;So all of a sudden she&#8217;s been drinking for the past 15 years? Yet I&#8217;ve seen interviews that she says that she keeps herself healthy because she doesn&#8217;t drink. oh Lord.&#8221;

Jennifer Lopez Defends New Line Of Booze, Sets Record Straight On If She Even Drinks

Alcohol

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