Ben Affleck remembers and clarifies his future with Jennifer Lopez amid PDA controversy

Ben Affleck might have wanted fans and gossip column aficionados to believe he will be a "friendly ex" to Jennifer Lopez -- but the "Argo" auteur got a bit carried away, reopening questions as to the estranged couple's plans.

Ever since Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles nearly a month ago, the prevailing wisdom has been that the couple were going to work toward an amicable separation -- although the lack of a prenuptial agreement, as well as millions of dollars of assets between them, means the divorce proceedings could take a while...if they go ahead at all.

Affleck's "temporary insanity"

Despite the recent controversy surrounding Affleck and Lopez's public displays of affection at a Beverly Hills hotel, the actor has "come to his senses" and remains clear that there is no future together with "Let's Get Loud" singer Lopez.

Affleck believes he was suffering from "temporary insanity" when he rekindled his early-2000s romance with Lopez back in 2021, later marrying the "Unstoppable" star in Las Vegas the following year. But old issues quickly reappeared amidst Lopez's love for the limelight -- and Affleck's well-known reluctance to be in the spotlight.

For much of 2024, the couple has lived separate lives, with Affleck working around the clock at his production company Artists Equity -- which is producing "Unstoppable" as well as "Small Things Like These", starring Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy. Lopez had to cancel a planned tour earlier this year but has continued her screen work in the meantime amid the ongoing divorce saga with Affleck, her fourth husband.