It was the era of “the beauty and the Ben”.
The Magical Contrast of Jennifer Lopez’s High Glam and Ben Affleck’s Slacker Vibes
Just yesterday, an image circulated around the web of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck leaving Lopez’s home in Los Angeles. J.Lo was fresh-faced and beaming in a frilly white tank, while Affleck is buff, bearded, and wearing a boring gray T-shirt. The image brings me back to the 2002 music video “Jenny from the Block,” when the duo was first coupled up. Ben makes a cameo through a voyeuristically shot montage—an allegory for their much-publicized relationship—doing things like pumping gas or driving a car. My favorite moment is when they are on a yacht and Lopez is in a barely-there hot pink bikini and Affleck is lying next to her in a white ribbed tank, probably the type that you get in a pack of five from Marshall’s, with his bicep tattoos on full display. He plops a kiss right on her butt cheek.
The image was prime Bennifer. Like many, I’m fascinated that the duo is back and as friendly as ever. This is after a called-off engagement and Lopez trying to get “Jenny from the Block” nixed from the internet. Drama aside, part of my fascination has to do with the contrast between Lopez’s high glamour and Affleck’s lazy look from their relationship in the early 2000s. He’s always just been a dude from Boston who’d rather accessorize with a perspiring iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts than whatever Prada is selling to peacocking bros.
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Liana Satenstein
