<p id=”par-1_78″>Ben Affleck’s dating history has unfolded under an intense Hollywood spotlight, spanning high-profile romances, headline-making engagements, and two marriages that captured global attention. From his early relationships with fellow actors to his widely followed marriages to Jennifer Garner and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/ben-affleck-jennifer-lopez-agree-split-profits-60-million-mansion-documents-state.html/”>Jennifer Lopez</a>, Affleck’s love life has often mirrored the peaks and pivots of his decades-long career. In December 2025, Affleck’s exes, Lopez and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gwyneth-paltrow-said-ben-affleck-technically-excellent-bed.html/”>Gwyneth Paltrow</a>, discussed how it feels to read online criticism about themselves. Here’s what they said.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-gwyneth-paltrow-and-jennifer-lopez-2-of-ben-affleck-s-exes-hate-reading-online-criticism”>Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez, 2 of Ben Affleck’s exes, hate reading online criticism</h2>
<p id=”par-2_40″>Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez just got real about how it feels to be criticized by fans online. During a <a href=”https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2025-12-16/oscars-actresses-roundtable-sydney-sweeney-jennifer-lopez-gwyneth-paltrow-elle-fanning-emily-blunt-tessa-thompson” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Los Angeles Times</a> roundtable discussion with Emily Blunt, Tessa Thompson, Elle Fanning, and Sydney Sweeney, the actors discussed how it feels to receive backlash from fans online.</p>
<p id=”par-3_17″> “I try to never read anything about myself, full stop, ever,” Paltrow said during the discussion. “Period.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_41″>“Wait, not anything about yourself? Ever? Period?” Lopez questioned. “Because I don’t read reviews of my films either, but people will bring it to you when it’s good, and you’re like, ‘Oh, nice.’ But there’s other things they’ll bring you ….”</p>
<p id=”par-5_21″>Lopez then added that some of the criticism that others show her about herself makes her “want to die.” Paltrow agreed.</p>
<p id=”par-6_34″>“Like when someone forwards you a link to something really horrible about yourself, and they’re like, ‘Oh, this is bulls***.’ I do try to avoid [that kind of stuff],” Paltrow said. “I deleted Instagram.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_37″>Lopez later added that she’s been a “lightning rod for nice things and a lot of negativity.” She noted that it’s difficult to comprehend because the people commenting negatively don’t “get” her, “see” her, or “understand” her.</p>
<p id=”par-8_68″>“Even from when I was very young, I would always say, ‘I know who I am. I’m a good person. I know what I’m doing. People wouldn’t hire me if I wasn’t good at what I do,’” she said. “I was always affirming myself and keeping my feet on the ground. Luckily, I had a great mom and dad who really instilled in me a sense of self….”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-gwyneth-paltrow-previously-called-her-relationship-with-ben-affleck-a-lesson”>Gwyneth Paltrow previously called her relationship with Ben Affleck ‘a lesson’</h2>
<p id=”par-9_55″>Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck appear to be on good terms in 2025. The couple dated on and off from 1997 to 2000. At the time, Affleck was experiencing a rapid rise in his Hollywood fame. Paltrow later admitted that Affleck wasn’t in a good place in his life to have a steady relationship. </p>
<p id=”par-10_17″>In 2018, Paltrow spoke on <em><a href=”https://soundcloud.com/howardstern/sets/the-howard-stern-show-may-23″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Howard Stern Show</a> </em>about how her relationship with Affleck was a “lesson.”</p>
<p id=”par-11_63″>“It’s interesting. I think there are certain boyfriends where you are trying to work stuff out, right?” she said. “Like, you’re trying to heal certain stuff from your childhood and he was very much a lesson in that way. I’m not sure exactly what I was trying to heal in that instance, but it was … he was, ya know, it was specific.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-jennifer-lopez-says-her-latest-ex-husband-helped-her-grow”>Jennifer Lopez says her latest ex-husband helped her ‘grow’</h2>
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<p id=”par-12_25″>Jennifer Lopez faced considerable criticism during <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/jennifer-lopez-admitted-ben-affleck-divorce-taught-change-wants-successful-relationship.html/”>her marriage to Ben Affleck</a>. The couple tied the knot in 2022 and finalized <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/jennifer-lopez-gives-new-years-resolution-year-ben-affleck-divorce.html/”>their divorce in 2025</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-13_22″>“It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it changed me,” Lopez told CBS News’ <em>Sunday Morning</em> in September 2025.</p>
<p id=”par-14_40″>“It didn’t change me,” Lopez clarified. “It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow [and] become more self-aware.” She added that she’s a “different person now” than she was a year ago when married to Affleck.</p>
<p id=”par-15_47″>While Lopez and Affleck had a lot of love for each other (and had two engagements with each other in their lives), they were fundamentally incompatible. According to past sources, Affleck had difficulty with Lopez’s level of fame and the constant attention he received while with her.</p>