Jennifer Lopez's documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Ever Told,” gives fans a candid look at her relationship with Ben Affleck, including insight into why they broke up and how he maintained their romance while they were apart.
In the documentary, released on February 26, the couple also explains why they called off their wedding just three days ahead of schedule in 2003.
Lopez also examines her own issues with love and romance, including her feelings toward her parents and her childhood, which led her to search for love.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez get candid about their relationship in Lopez's documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.” (John Salangsang/Variety via Getty Images)
JENNIFER LÓPEZ WARNS THAT BEN AFFLECK IS OFF LIMITS, TELLING ANYONE WHO FLIRTS WITH HIM TO 'GET OUT OF THE BOUNDS'
Love letters from “Pen Affleck”
Early in the documentary, Lopez shares that her new music was inspired by a collection of Affleck's handwritten love letters, which she showed to songwriters and musicians who worked with her.
“This book is a book that Ben gave me on our first Christmas together. It's every letter and email we wrote to each other 20 years ago and today,” she says as she takes a quick look at the book.
During that time, Affleck was married to Jennifer Garner. They had three children together before separating in 2015.
One of the featured pieces is a handwritten note that reads: “The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck 2001-2010… and counting…”
Affleck revealed that he was a little surprised when he learned that other people saw the letters.
“I thought, 'Have you been showing all the musicians all these letters?'” Affleck says in the documentary. “And they were like, 'Yeah, we call you Pen Affleck.' And I was like, 'Oh my God.'”
Affleck expressed in the documentary his surprise that Lopez shared the private love letters he gave to people as inspiration for writing songs. (Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)
Private versus public relationships
Affleck's hesitation about sharing love letters is just one example of how the actor is fighting to get his relationship back into the public eye.
“Jen was really inspired by this experience, which is the way artists do their work,” Affleck said. “They draw inspiration from their personal lives, that moves you. I know that as a writer and director, I certainly do the same things. But the things that are private, I always felt sacred and special, partly because they are private.
“So this was kind of an adjustment for me.”
At a screening of the documentary earlier this week, Lopez said her husband was a “reluctant participant,” although he supported her decision to film it and, according to Lopez, was the one who said “we should capture this.”
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In the documentary, the couple admitted that they “just collapsed under the pressure” of being a tabloid phenomenon, and it put a strain on their relationship, leading them to call off their 2003 wedding three days early.
“At first I had a very firm sense of boundaries around the press, whereas Jen, I don't think, was opposed to it the way I was. I was very opposed to it,” Affleck said.
He added that he didn't want the relationship to be on social media, but relented, saying, “We're just two people with different approaches, trying to learn how to come to terms.”
In the documentary, the couple admits they “crumbled under the pressure” and called off their 2003 wedding just three days ahead of schedule. They later reconciled and married in 2022. (Christopher Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images)
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childhood heartbreak
In the documentary, López examines her own relationship with love and relationships, starting from her childhood.
López says, as the middle child of three sisters, “neither the baby, nor the firstborn. You just get a little lost in all that. That left me on this train to show everyone that I too have value and value.” “.
She says she played sports in high school to win trophies and medals so people would take notice.
The 54-year-old also revealed that she struggled to receive attention from her parents in her formative years.
Lopez said she “felt very ignored” by her father, who had to work at night and sleep during the day. She described her mother as “narcissistic, center of attention, party person. I got very used to being around people like that.”
López, with his sister Lynda (left), his father David López and his mother Guadalupe López at López's Walk of Fame ceremony in 2013. (Jonathan Leibson/WireImage)
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Through self-reflection, she realized she wanted to spend time with people like her parents, but she broke the pattern.
“I'm comfortable with this, but I don't like it. I want something different, something better.”
Affleck affirms Lopez's assessment of her childhood, saying she felt “emotionally neglected” as a child.
“What you find out, as with alcohol, is that there's not enough alcohol in all the liquor stores in the world to fill you up,” he said. “And, in Jennifer's case, I don't think there are enough fans or movies or records or things like that to calm that part of you that still feels longing and hurting. Ultimately, that's the work you have to do on your own. “
Lopez described her mother as a “narcissistic center of attention, a party person” and said she got used to surrounding herself with people like that. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE)
Self-investment
López's decision to create the musical film that will accompany his new album was received with some surprise from people.
She acknowledged that the album, her first in years, is not something anyone is “crying out for,” adding: “No need do this, but I want to do it.”
At one point, an unspecified financial backer exits the film, surprising Lopez, who noted that he had never had a deal taken away from him like that.
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Variety reported that Lopez has earned more than $1 billion at the box office from her romantic comedies alone and has 17.5 million followers on TikTok and 250 million followers on Instagram.
Frustration leads her to say, “Oh shit, who's paying for this? I guess it's me.”
Affleck points out that “making a movie with your own money is Hollywood's most famous cardinal sin,” but Lopez decides to continue anyway.
Amazon ended up purchasing the film for an undisclosed amount.
Lopez ended up financing her musical film, “This is Me…Now: A Love Story,” on her own after an unknown backer dropped her. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
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Famous people not featured
López presented his musical film idea to several celebrities to be cast in various roles.
Some big names end up rejecting it, like Taylor Swift.
Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge, Lizzo, Vanessa Hudgens, Ariana Grande and Snoop Dogg were not available to appear.
Lopez told his manager, Benny Medina, “Nobody wants to say no to me, Benny. I understand that. But when an actor doesn't like a script, doesn't think it's good enough or is worried about it, that's what does”. I will say.”
Taylor Swift was one of several big names who said no or weren't available for Lopez's project. (Lionel Hahn/Getty)
One person who turned her down was “In the Heights” star Anthony Ramos, in part because of his friendship with Lopez's ex-husband and father of her children, Marc Anthony.
“I didn't know you and Marc were good friends. I didn't know that. That's good,” he says. “He is the father of my children, obviously. I will never do anything that would really identify him.”
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The scene I originally wanted him for was titled “Rebound” and featured Lopez in an abusive relationship with a partner.
He also notes that the scene isn't about any particular partner, but rather the “20-year journey between the last album and this one.”
Lopez eventually landed big names like Jane Fonda and Sofía Vergara and a cameo from Affleck. (Michael Buckner/World Water Day)
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“A lot of things happened. There were a lot of relationships that I was in. That thing you're playing in is representative of a lot of relationships, not one specific relationship.”
There was no shortage of stars in the final cast, including Jane Fonda, Sofia Vergara, Keke Palmer, Post Malone and two cameos from Affleck.
“The Greatest Love Story Never Told” and “This is Me…Now: A Love Story” are available on Amazon Prime, and the album “This is Me…Now” is available to stream and purchase.
