Global pop star, actress, entrepreneur, doting mother to her twins… JLo‘s roles have been many and varied over her 30-year career, but there’s one that she’s currently taking hyper seriously – being a step-parent.
As the 55-year-old finds herself bound for LA’s divorce courts again, with her second-time-around marriage to Ben Affleck in tatters, maintaining the strong and loving relationship she’s forged with the actor’s children Violet Anne, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, is likely to remain top of her list of priorities in the coming months.
The star knows all too well that the fall-out from a relationship extends way beyond two grown ups going their separate ways. How? Because she found out the hard way.
When she split with Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez in 2021, she lost not only a fiancé but a close blended family, with her own children, twins Emme and Max, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, devastated at losing their ‘best friends’, A-Rod’s daughters Natasha and Ella.
We’ve been here before: While JLo was engaged to Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez – the pair dated between 2019 and 2021, the couple’s children became super close, with A-Rod’s daughters Natasha and Ella bonding with JLo’s twins Emme and Max
When the starry couple’s relationship hit the rocks in March 2021 – over allegations about A-Rod’s ‘friendship’ with Madison LeCroy, the fall-out extended beyond just their own heartache
The blended family of six, often pictured on Instagram enjoying holidays together; there was upset for the pseudo step siblings when JLo and A-Rod went their separate ways
On Instagram in 2021, JLo shared this photo of her then 13-year-old Emme, now 16, being consoled by her father Marc Anthony after the realisation that her mother’s relationship with A-Rod was over
Indeed, at the time JLo shared a snap of one of her twins Emme, then 13, now 16, being comforted by her father Anthony as the young teenager realised the end of her mother’s latest romance also meant the step-sibling relationship built over two years was likely to become more distant.
The blended family of six were pictured frequently during the relationship enjoying quality time together on luxury holidays and at celebrity and sporting events.
As split rumours began to swirl around the couple in 2017, insiders said that a huge factor in deciding to work on their relationship was their children.
TMZ claimed the split news came as a shock to the kids and they were ‘devastated’ by the idea of Jennifer and Alex ending their relationship.
‘There were many tears. The fact is, both families have blended as one, enjoying holidays and vacations together and all the other fun stuff kids do, so there’s a lot at stake.’
Posting a photo of a crying Emme, as the youngester realised the impact of the split on her own step-sibling relationships, to her Instagram Story in March 2021, JLo wrote: ‘When they are sad, but Momma and Daddy are there.’
Happier times: In 2018, Lopez gushed her children had ‘become best friends’ with A-Rod’s daughters and said she and Rodriguez ‘couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along as they do’
Putting the time in: Jennifer Lopez was spotted on a rare outing with Ben Affleck ‘s son Samuel earlier this month, with the pair enjoying a mall trip in Beverly Hills
Close: Jennifer Lopez’s twin Emme pictured with Ben Affleck’s 15-year-old Fin in December last year
Pictured: Jennifer and Ben with Violet and Fin Affleck and Emme Muniz on their honeymoon in Paris in July 2022
And while JLo’s return to single woman status is very new, all signs point to the fact that she’ll work hard to ensure the bond between the twins and Affleck’s three children remains intact – and that she, as a key figure in their life, continues to keep the blended family bond strong.
Emme in particular has developed a rock solid friendship with step-sibling Fin. The pair have often been spotted spending time out together – sometimes even holding hands – as they’ve strolled around Los Angeles.
Indeed, they’ve enjoyed each other’s company since even before JLo tied the knot with Ben in 2022; the year prior, the pair were all smiles during a Disney World outing with the 13 Going on 30 actress.
Not only are they close in age, but Emme and Fin have long been know for their similarly experimental fashions and hairstyles.
While relations between the estranged couple remain strained – Ben has not been by his wife’s side for any length of time since May, other than fleeting meetings, and has moved into his own $20.5million bachelor pad, his children are still a regular presence by JLo’s side.
Earlier this month, she was seen strolling into a shopping mall in LA with one hand protectively placed on her husband’s youngest child’s shoulder, as they enjoyed a day out.
Days before taking her shopping spree with Samuel in Beverly Hills – Violet Affleck was pictured wearing one of her stepmother’s dresses, while having lunch with Jennifer’s 16-year-old twins Max and Emme.
And earlier in the summer she was seen strolling through The Hamptons with an arm around Violet’s shoulder, while enjoying a family holiday – minus Affleck.
Speaking to Page Six, an insider claimed Jennifer has ‘not fully accepted’ her marriage is over and the children play a large part in that.
They said: ‘There are five kids involved in this. She knew they were going to blend families. She has not fully accepted it is over.’
Here FEMAIL delves into Jennifer’s desperate battle to save her blended family all over again – amid rumours she’s heading to the divorce courts for a fourth time…
‘His kids have an ally in me’
The couple, who married in July 2022, have five children from previous relationships and gone to great lengths to make them feel like a family unit.
The Jenny from the Block singer shares Emme and Maximilian Muñiz, 16, with ex-husband Marc Anthony while Ben welcomed Violet Affleck, 18, Fin Affleck, 15, and Samuel Affleck, 12, during his 10-year marriage to Jennifer Garner.
At the couple’s lavish Georgia wedding, which took place at their £8.9 ‘plantation’ estate, Ben and Jennifer’s children walked down the aisle with the bride.
The pair also whisked their children off to Paris to join them on their honeymoon and were pictured enjoying a boat trip along the Seine.
After officially tying the knot at a Las Vegas chapel in July, Ben and Jennifer threw a wedding reception at their Georgia estate the following month.
The pair’s five children were pictured walking down the aisle behind the bride – with J’Lo’s twins holding her veil.
Pictured: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at the This is Me… Now premiere in Los Angeles in February
Pictured: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s five children from previous relationships walked down the aisle with them at their August 2022 wedding reception
A source told People: ‘She loved having all the kids there. She loved the location. It all felt very special. It was a dream for her.’
Stylist Courtney Victor added: ‘They all seemed like such a happy and cohesive family unit.’
In an interview with Vogue in 2022, Jennifer spoke about the importance of blending their families and the role she wanted to play in Ben’s children’s lives.
She explained: ‘What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up.’
Following the wedding, an insider told People that Jennifer ‘spent months looking for the perfect house’ for their blended family.
She told Today in January 2023: ‘We moved in together. The kids moved in together. It’s been, like, a really kind of emotional transition, but at the same time all your dreams coming true.
‘It’s just been a phenomenal year. Like, my best year I think since my kids were born.’
The couple ended up buying a $65m LA mansion in May 2023, which they have already put back on the market.
At the premiere of her movie Shotgun Wedding, Jennifer said of the move: ‘It’s going really, really well; it’s amazing. We have five beautiful, beautiful children, blessings.
‘We dropped one of them off at school today and we were just kind of thinking about what our lives have become and just feeling so blessed and grateful for where we wound up in our lives.’
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and his daughter Violet Affleck enjoy a shopping trip together in the Hamptons
Jennifer Lopez and Violet Affleck embrace during a family trip to Paris for Lopez and Affleck’s honeymoon in July 2022
(L-R) Violet Affleck, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez leave their hotel in Paris on their honeymoon in July 2023
Difficulty of four teens under one roof
During an appearance on the Live with Kelly and Mark show in May 2023, Jennifer opened up about the challenges of four teenagers – but described her stepson Samuel as an ‘angel’.
She said: ‘That’s almost five teenagers. The youngest is 11, so he’s not quite [a teen], but preteen. He’s an angel.’
Opening up about her experience of parenting her twins, the star added: ‘The teenage years are tough. They start challenging you and everything.
‘You have this baby for a while and then it’s like your best little friend who loves being with you all the time, and all of a sudden they’re like, “Get out of my room”.’
She added: ‘I feel like it’s surfing. I’m riding the waves, and then it’s like, ‘Oops, I just got knocked over!’ Now, I’m back, I’m back!’
Pictured: Violet Affleck seen with her arm around stepmother Jennifer Lopez during their holiday to The Hamptons earlier this year
Desperate for ‘quality time’ with Ben’s children
Over the past two years, Jennifer has been pictured regularly on school runs and drop-offs for their five children and is said to be wanting ‘quality time’ with Ben’s children before Violet returns to college later this year.
Although Ben and Jennifer are rumoured to be heading for divorce, insiders told People that the singer still wants to be involved in their lives.
They said: ‘Just because she’s not with Ben, doesn’t mean that she doesn’t care about his kids. She always cared about them.’
Indeed, one of the few public appearances by the couple in recent months was when they reunited at Samuel’s basketball match at a local YMCA in early June.
While most warring couples would be keen to avoid each other, there was no question of Jennifer staying away from the event, also attended by Ben’s mother Christopher Anne ‘Chris’ Boldt, as well as his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52.
It came just days after another family gathering at a party for Violet’s high school graduation in LA.
Violet Affleck was spotted wearing the same dress her stepmother Jennifer Lopez famously donned during a Valentine’s Day date in 2023 with Violet’s father Ben Affleck
Lopez had previously elevated the frilly frock with a Dolce & Gabbana belt and sparkling diamond stud earrings during her romantic Beverly Hills dinner with Ben in February of last year — months before rumors of marriage troubles began to surface; (Affleck and Lopez in February 2023)
Show of support from Violet
Earlier this month, Violet Affleck was spotted wearing the same dress Jennifer Lopez wore on a Valentine’s Day date with Ben in 2023.
The 18-year-old was pictured in a two-toned Dolce & Gabbana wrap dress during a lunch outing with Jennifer’s 16-year-old twins Max and Emme in Los Angeles on Sunday.
And later, a source said that wearing her stepmother’s dress was a pointed show of support from the teenager.
‘Violet does wish her dad Ben would stay with JLo,’ the source said. ‘She wasn’t living in their house and did not see the extent of the breakdown, but she got extremely close to JLo over the past couple of years and it broke her heart when they split.
‘She is not going to stop talking to JLo and recently enjoyed time in the Hamptons with her.
‘Wearing her soon-to-be former stepmom’s Valentine’s Day dress was a bit of a statement – she knew what she was doing. Those close to her thought it was bizarre.’
It comes after J’Lo took Violet on a shopping spree in the Hamptons during the 4th July break.
The duo were spotted checking out dresses at US designer LoveShackFancy in Sag Harbor.
The following week, Violet was pictured with her arm around Jennifer’s shoulders as they enjoyed another day of shopping.
The Jenny from the Block singer also took her stepdaughter to the East Hampton Antiques & Design Show during their getaway.
Shopping spree with Samuel Affleck
The 54-year-old superstar, who hasn’t been seen with the 51-year-old Batman actor in months, took the 12-year-old on a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills
Earlier this week, Jennifer also took her stepson Samuel for a shopping spree in Beverly Hills.
As they walked into the luxury Neiman Marcus department store, Jennifer was pictured with a protective arm around Samuel.
The 12-year-old was later seen leaving the store with his stepmother holding a Creed fragrances shopping bag.
Jennifer’s appearances with Ben’s children comes after the DailyMail.com revealed they already prepared divorce papers, which are believed to be filed at a later time.
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Sources also told Page Six that Ben has held off filing for divorce in a bid to ‘protect’ Jennifer, after it was reported that the pair are no longer on speaking terms.
An insider said: ‘He’s humiliated her because she made a big deal that he’s the love of her life. They just had two weddings two years ago. This is some kind of a record; they’re not young kids.’
Ben Affleck has not had the ‘easiest’ summer amid his marital woes with Jennifer Lopez but is ‘working nonstop’ as he ‘thrives when he’s busy,’ it is claimed; pictured in May
It’s thought that the pair are now living separately in LA, with Affleck moving into a $100,000-a-month property in Brentwood earlier this month (May), while Lopez has stayed in the couple’s $60 million ‘dream home’ in Bel Air with their children. The couple are still putting on a united front despite their difficulties, keeping their wedding bands on despite living apart.
Earlier this week, it was reported Ben Affleck isn’t having the ‘easiest’ summer but has been ‘working non-stop’.
‘It hasn’t been the easiest summer for him either. He’s just trying to stay focused and make every day as good as possible,’ a source told People.
‘Ben’s doing well. He thrives when he’s busy and he’s been working nonstop. The kids are still off from school. He spends a lot of time with them, too.’
