The Story Behind Ben Affleck's "Not Going Anywhere" Message on Jennifer Lopez's Engagement Ring

Ben Affleck had something special for Jennifer Lopez when he said "marry me." 

But sadly, the love story didn't last, as the Hustlers actress filed for divorce after two years of marriage on Aug. 20, according to court records obtained by E! News. And now fans are looking back on the couple's relationship, starting with her green diamond engagement ring.

As Jennifer shared in November 2022—shortly after the couple's July 16 ceremony in Las Vegas and their more lavish second wedding in Georgia on Aug. 20—rekindling her romance with Ben in 2021 felt like a full circle moment.

"Now, we know and there's no questions," she told Apple Music One's Zane Lowe at the time. "It's me and you, all the way, 'til the end."

In fact, Ben, 52, and Jennifer, 55, were feeling so confident in their second act, that when the Air star proposed, he had the engagement ring engraved with "Not. Going. Anywhere."

"That's how he would sign his emails when we started talking again," she explained of the phrase. "Like, 'Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.'"

The phrase meant so much to her, J.Lo even named one of the songs off her latest This Is Me…Now album after the inscription.

"You can get a second chance if you do the work and you don't give up," she said, adding that she felt "blessed" they were able to come together again. "As an artist, the only reason I'm here is to share what I know, what I've learned and what I go through."

And looking back on their 2004 split, the "On The Floor" singer recalled it was one of the most difficult times she had experienced.

"It was the biggest heartbreak of my life and I honestly thought I was gonna die," she said. "It sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I just couldn't get it right. But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending."

Rumors of the couple's less than happy ending first started to surface in May when Jennifer flew solo as co-chair for the 2024 Met Gala in New York City. As stated in their divorce documents, she listed the date of separation as April 26, just days before the Met Gala.

In her filing, Jennifer—who shares 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony—is asking the court to waive her claim to spousal support and asking the judge to deny Ben—who is dad to Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 with Jennifer Garner—the same type of payment.

The duo did not have a prenuptial agreement in place, an insider told NBC News, meaning any money earned by either Ben or Jen during their two-year marriage is community property.

Curious about Jennifer's other engagement rings? Keep reading for more.

Jennifer Lopez married waiter-turned-restaurateur Ojani Noa in 1997 and the two divorced less than a year later.

Noa proposed with what appears to be a pear-shaped diamond ring, worth an estimated six figures.

The multi-hyphenate and her former back-up dancer Cris Judd wed in 2001. The two split less than a year later and finalized a divorce in January 2003, while she was engaged to Ben Affleck.

Judd popped the question with this emerald-cut diamond ring, estimated to be worth six figures.

Kicking off a romance in 2002, Lopez and the actor filmed famous flop Gigli, the movie Jersey Girl and the singer's "Jenny From the Block" music video.

That November, Affleck proposed, with the two planning on having a wedding ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, on Sept. 14, 2003. Affleck called it off four days beforehand, citing "excessive media attention." In January 2004, the two publicly ended their engagement.

Affleck gave his bride-to-be a 6.1-carat pink radiant cut diamond Harry Winston ring, estimated to be worth between $1.2 and $2.5 million.

Lopez and fellow singer Marc Anthony, who share twins Max and Emme, wed in 2004 and announced their split in 2011. Anthony filed for divorce a year later and it was finalized in 2014.

Anthony proposed to Lopez with an 8.5-carat blue diamond Harry Winston engagement ring, estimated to be worth $4 million.

Having reconnected in 2017, former New York Yankees standout Alex Rodriguez swung for the fences, getting down on bended knee on the beach during their March 2019 trip to the Bahamas.

In April 2021, J.Lo and A-Rod called off their engagement.

The 15-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring Rodriguez chose is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $5 million.

 

The two rekindled their romance in spring of 2021. On April 8, 2022, she revealed in her On the JLo newsletter that they were engaged. But after a 2022 Las Vegas elopement—followed by fairytale vows in Georgia months later—she filed to end their nearly two-year union. 

For the second go-round, Affleck went for a hue that Lopez had dubbed lucky after stealing the show at the 2000 Grammys in her iconic Verace gown. The green cushion-cut diamond was set with two white diamond side stones.

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