Jennifer Lopez’s $20M own goal: Singer showed herself ‘feeding off’ Ben Affleck’s energy while he clung to her ‘for emotional survival’, body language expert reveals
According to a body language expert, Jennifer Lopez fed off Ben Affleck’s energy.
Everyone raised eyebrows when the 55-year-old singer released The Greatest Love Story Never Told on Prime Video in February, the final part of a three-part, $20 million self-funded visual project documenting her love for Ben.
Jennifer herself admitted that she was called ‘dumb’ by many around her when she announced the project. She admitted that she ‘didn’t have to’ make the three-part homage, but that she ‘wanted to’.
However, it was a project that did not stand the test of time. Just two months later, the couple split again, according to divorce papers Jennifer filed this month.
And it seems the pair haven’t been in a relationship for a while, as body language expert Judi James told MailOnline at the time that the documentary showed how Jennifer positioned herself to “get the maximum drama out of her ‘truth,'” while Ben was so “uncomfortable” in front of the camera that he came across as “childish.”
Jennifer Lopez ‘fed off’ Ben Affleck’s energy in The Greatest Love Story Never Told – a documentary that follows their love story – a body language expert claims
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline at the time that the documentary showed how Jennifer positioned herself to ‘get the maximum drama out of her “truth”‘
The Greatest Love Story Never Told was set to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Jennifer, who independently produced a new album and film highlighting her 20-year journey to self-love.
Still, Judi admitted that she could sense the underlying premise of the show: ‘This documentary seems to want to dispel the misguided illusions that being incredibly rich, talented, beautiful, successful and married to the love of your life is even something we outsiders think.
‘J-Lo’s words and body language extract maximum drama from her “truth,” while the over-the-top music sucks away every last drop of emotion.’
Regarding the singer’s vulnerability on screen, Judi continues: ‘J. Lo shows herself bare-faced at the camera, crying, looking scared, and even eating and crying at the same time.
She tells us that Ben is uncomfortable with the idea of being her ‘muse,’ which puts him in the same wedding category as Bianca Censori, but without the sheer bodysuits.
Fans are concerned that Bianca is being manipulated by her rapper husband Kanye, after a series of performances in outrageous outfits and unusual behavior.
Judi continued: ‘Ben’s own words don’t quite match his wife’s.
‘It was clear from his body language during their first romance and now again during their constant public encounters, both on the red carpet and on the street, that Ben is not a big fan of being constantly monitored by the press.
‘During a one-on-one with the camera, his body language looks awkward, almost childlike. He squints, tilts his head, and claps his hands close to his head in a ritual of what looks like shyness.
“His ‘narrative’ seems to be ‘private,’ while J. Lo seems to be using this documentary to tell the camera her inner thoughts and emotions.”
The Greatest Love Story Never Told was billed as a behind-the-scenes look at Jennifer as she independently produced a new album and film that explored her 20-year journey to self-love (pictured in 2004)
Judi mused: ‘Ben’s “tell” word seems to be ‘private,’ while J. Lo seems to be using this documentary to tell the camera her inner thoughts and emotions’
Despite their conflicting views on privacy, Judi noted that the couple relied on each other for their “emotional survival.”
She mused, ‘Ben is portrayed in the role of supporter, coach and even mentor.
As she leans against his ribs as if feeding off his energy, confidence and self-assurance, he stands tall with his chest puffed out in an alpha-protective gesture and kisses her on the head.
Their love story is portrayed as sweet, but also as necessary for emotional survival.
“J. Lo seems to need that support and that kissing, too. She describes herself as ‘terrified,’ ‘stressed,’ ‘broken,’ and even ‘older.’ We get glimpses of her in these various states to suggest what Ben is dealing with and what helps him.”
Ben made it clear on the show that he doesn’t like having their love life in the spotlight, calling their private moments “sacred” and rolling his eyes when he remembered Jennifer sharing all their old love notes with her friends and coworkers.
Ben explained why he agreed to be part of the documentary: ‘Jen was really inspired by this experience, and that’s how artists do this work. I know that as an artist and a director, I absolutely do the same thing.
‘But things that are private, I have always experienced as sacred and special because they are partly private… So this took some getting used to for me.’
Jennifer has spent a whopping £16 million ($20 million) financing This Is Me…Now: A Love Story, a semi-autobiographical ‘musical romantic comedy action science fiction’ that documents her love
Jennifer filed for divorce without a lawyer on Tuesday, August 20. It was also the couple’s second wedding anniversary.
In the petition, she listed April 26, 2024 as the date of divorce.
The couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot in July 2022, insiders have revealed. It is Jennifer’s fourth failed marriage and Ben’s second.
In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, their individual income from the past two years, whether from film productions or major brand deals, would be joint property.
Jennifer, who reportedly has a net worth of $400 million, has released four films since marrying Ben, including her $20 million self-financed project This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, which chronicles the couple’s rekindled romance.
In 2023, she launched her Delola cocktail line and was set to embark on a world tour to promote her latest album, This Is Me… Now, but it was cancelled just weeks before its premiere so she could “focus” on her family.
Oscar-winner Ben, who reportedly has a net worth of $150 million, recently starred in the films Air (2023) and Hypnotic (2023). He also recently wrapped production on a sequel to 2016’s The Accountant.
To make matters even more complicated, Jennifer and Ben were working on the new movie Unstoppable.
Ben produced the project along with Matt Damon, and Jennifer is one of the film’s stars.
Jennifer is not requesting alimony and has asked the judge to deny it for Ben as well.
Jennifer filed for divorce without an attorney on Tuesday, August 20, which also marked the couple’s second wedding anniversary (pictured February 13).