Ben Affleck Gushes About Jennifer Lopez for First Time Since Bennifer Went Public

You knew once Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez hit that Venice Film Festival red carpet that they were ready to get very public about their rekindled relationship.

When it comes to talking about their significant other, Affleck was the first to speak about Lopez in a formal interview with AdWeek that was published on September 20. He gushed about the performer and beauty mogul, telling the publication he is “in awe” of her “effect on the world.”

“All I can tell you is that I have seen firsthand the difference representation makes because I have seen, over and over and over and over, women of color approach Jennifer and tell her what her example as a strong woman and a woman succeeding and demanding her fair share in the business world means to them,” he told AdWeek. “I am in awe of what Jennifer’s effect on the world is. At most, as an artist, I can make movies that move people. Jennifer has inspired a massive group of people to feel they have a seat at the table in this country. That is an effect few people throughout history have had, one I will never know and one I can only stand by and admire with respect.”

Back in April, just before the news of Bennifer 2.0 began to circulate, Ben Affleck gave another touching interview about his then ex to InStyle. For their profile, he reflected on their time as costars in 2003’s Gigli and 2004’s Jersey Girl. 

“I thought I had a good work ethic, but I was completely humbled and blown away by what she was committed to doing day in and day out, the seriousness in which she took her work, the quiet and dedicated way she went about accomplishing her goals, and then how she would go back and redouble her efforts,” he said. “She remains, to this day, the hardest-working person I’ve come across in this business. She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I’m so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves.”

Of course, he also took a moment to flirt a bit, adding, “Where are you keeping the fountain of youth? Why do you look the same as you did in 2003, and it kind of looks like I’m in my 40s…at best?” 

Lopez responded at the time, “Ben is funny! He still looks pretty good too.” Yeah, we should have guessed.