Jennifer Lopez pulled few punches while recently discussing her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck, having reflected on the “tough” period of her life that played out last year.

In August 2024, the immensely popular singer and actor filed for divorce from Affleck after months of intense media speculation suggesting their relationship was on the rocks.

The superstars’ love story can be traced all the way back to the early 2000s, when they ultimately broke off an engagement having been together for almost two years. Dubbed ‘Bennifer’ at the time, Lopez and Affleck’s romance was one of the hottest in show business, and their break-up left their millions of fans around the world wondering what might have been.

Fast forward to July 2021 and the pair reignited their love for one another. They married in Las Vegas in July 2022, with a fairytale ending seemingly on the cards.

Sadly, it was not to be. Last year Lopez filed for divorce following a period wherein she and Affleck had been living apart and, by all accounts, leading separate lives. Later court documents would reveal that the couple effectively broke up as early as 2023, though the divorce wasn’t finalized until January 2025.

Neither party has committed to much in the way of an explanation as to where their love went south, but Lopez recently opened up on the topic in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.

Appearing on the show to promote her latest movie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Lopez claimed the personal insights she learned from her second split with Oscar-winner Affleck made the experience “the best thing that ever happened to me”.

“Because it changed me,” Lopez explained. “It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow.”

The full quote reads: “And you know, honestly, I have to say it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it changed me… it didn’t change me – it helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow, become more self-aware.

“I’m a different person now than I was last year, I think, a year-and-a-half ago.”

Host Lee Cowan then asked how it had been for the Get On The Floor singer having Affleck serving as producer for her new film.

“The movie wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t for him and Artist Equity – and I will always give him that credit,” Lopez replied.

Kiss of the Spider Woman, an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, is earmarked for release on October 10, 2025.