Prior to dating Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck was no stranger to the scrutiny that accompanies celebrity relationships, having experienced it during his previous romance with Gwyneth Paltrow. He believed that his past experiences had prepared him for the challenges of being Lopez’s boyfriend, only to find out, to his dismay, that this assumption was far from the truth.
Following their co-starring roles in the Academy Award-winning film Shakespeare in Love, Paltrow, and Affleck enjoyed a brief romance. Given their established fame in the film industry, their relationship garnered significant attention. When Affleck moved on and subsequently began dating Lopez, he believed he had a sense of what to anticipate, drawing from his prior experiences with high-profile relationships.
Ben Affleck Wasn’t Sure What Ended Their Relationship
Despite their romantic split, Ben Affleck and Paltrow maintained a genuine friendship, a testament to Paltrow’s amiable nature. Their bond was strong enough to withstand the test of time, as evidenced by their ease in portraying on-screen love interests in the film Bounce without any complications. Affleck once said,
“Fortunately, Gwyneth is very mature. She’s not a vindictive person, and she’s not bitter or spiteful. She’s just got enormous depth of spirit and soul. Most people do not quite have the grace of spirit that she does.”
While discussing the reasons behind his and Gwyneth Paltrow’s breakup, Affleck found himself uncertain and unable to pinpoint a specific cause.
“I don’t know what went wrong between us,” Affleck said. “I really don’t. Friendship is the basis of a good relationship… But I can’t really answer that. It’s just too complicated and too personal – and she’d kill me if I said any more.”
According to Paltrow’s perspective, she believed that Affleck might not have been fully prepared for a committed relationship during that period. This insight might have been the reason why her parents had no objections to their breakup.
Gwyneth Paltrow Wasn’t Surprised With Ben Affleck’s Troubles
Affleck’s initial relationship with Jennifer Lopez encountered various obstacles that ultimately led to the cancellation of their engagement. Paltrow revealed that she wasn’t the least bit astonished by this turn of events, given her awareness of Affleck’s nature and circumstances.
“Ben makes life tough for himself,” Paltrow once told ABC News. “He’s got a lot of complication, and you know, he really is a great guy. So I hope he sorts himself out.”
Affleck and Lopez were taken aback by the intense spotlight that shone on their celebrity relationship, far exceeding their initial expectations. Unlike his previous experience with Paltrow, Affleck found himself having to significantly adjust his entire lifestyle while dating Lopez.
Source: Cheatsheet