Jennifer Lopez opens up for the first time on Ben Affleck split: 'Probably the hardest time of my life'
Jennifer Lopez spoke up for the first time about her controversial divorce from Ben Affleck just two years after they gave their failed romance another chance and tied the knot.
In her conversation with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, Lopez gave an update about how she is coping with her separation from Affleck after they decided to get back together in 2021 and tie the knot twice in 2022.
She shared that she is currently taking time off to be with her children, family, and close friends as things have been going rough with her as of late.
"I just needed to be with my kids and myself and really dig down deep into things that were happening in my life. And I’m glad I did, because it was a really difficult time for me. Probably the hardest time of my life, but it was also the best time because I got to do that work on myself," Lopez said.
The actress appeared to allude to her breakup with Affleck as she talked about how her "whole f-----g world exploded" in recent months.
"There's times when I thought I figured it out, and then life goes, 'Let's send you another thing and see if you fall for it. Let’s see if you really have learned that lesson. And I hadn’t," Lopez admitted.
"I understand that now in a much deeper way, which doesn’t mean that I won’t make mistakes in the future, but again, when your whole house blows up, you’re standing there in the rubble going, 'How do I not ever let that happen again?'" she continued.
While she stressed that she does not regret the pain that she went through, she said, "That doesn’t mean it didn’t almost take me out for good. It almost did."
"But now, on the other side of it, I think to myself, "F---k, that is exactly what I needed. Thank you, God. I’m sorry it took me so long. I’m sorry that you had to do this to me so many times," Lopez said.
She continued, "I should have learned it two or three times ago. I get it. You had to hit me really hard over the head with a fucking sledgehammer. You dropped the house on me. Don’t have to do it again."
Now, the Latin entertainer has some new realizations about love and being single.
"Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can't be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself. I used to say I’m a happy person but was still looking for something for somebody else to fill, and it’s just like, 'No, I'm actually good,'" Lopez highlighted.
"You have to love yourself before you can let someone else love you. It’s like, 'Oh, you couldn’t love me if I have flaws. I have to be perfect to be loved.' That’s not true! Somebody who truly loves you will help you heal those parts of yourself. That’s what I’ve learned about love, that it is a secure thing," she added.
When Glaser pointed out how Lopez appears to have a "new bar for the next person that comes along," the actress said, "Here’s the thing: There’s no new bar because I’m not looking for anybody."
Lopez and Affleck first met on the set of the crime comedy movie Gigli in 2002. They became a media sensation as they dated but postponed their planned 2003 nuptials, then announced their relationship was over in early 2004.
After months of separation rumors earlier this year, Lopez confirmed their split after she filed for divorce from Affleck in April.
She was previously married to actor Ojani Noa, dancer Cris Judd and singer Marc Anthony, with whom she shares twins Max and Emme. Affleck, on the other hand, was married to actress Jennifer Garner and they are the parents of Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.