The world has witnessed both the highs and lows of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s relationship, but the two have rarely spoken publicly about their romance or personal struggles. That changed over the weekend when Lopez sat down with Lee Cowan on “CBS’s Sunday Morning” to promote her starring role in the remake of “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

During the interview, Lopez opened up about how she has handled the challenges of separation and divorce while continuing her career. She explained that the experience, while painful, ultimately pushed her toward growth. 

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me, because it changed me. It didn’t change me; it helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow. Become more self-aware. I’m a different person now than I was last year, I think,” she said.

Lopez also credited Affleck’s studio, Artist Equity, for helping her take on the new role. The company financed the musical drama, which she described as a haven during one of the most difficult periods of her personal life. 

“It was like the best and the worst of times in a way because it was every moment on set and every moment I was doing this role… I was so happy, and then it was, like, back home it was not great, and it was just like, ‘How do I reconcile this?’” she said.

The singer and actor’s love story has been closely followed for more than two decades. Lopez and Affleck began dating in 2002 and became engaged the same year before calling off their wedding in 2004. In 2021, they rekindled their relationship, and the following year, they were engaged again before officially marrying. Their marriage ended in August 2024 when Lopez filed for divorce. The split was finalized in January 2025.