I don’t know if that’s a statement or a wish…

Tonatiuh and Jennifer Lopez joined their director Bill Condon at the New York premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman last night but the story was not just Jen but also him. Ben Affleck. As in Bennifer. Again? 

 

As colleagues, right? Just colleagues? 

Ben’s Artists’ Equity produced the film, he came in with the money, so you can’t argue with his right to be there. As JLo herself has said several times on the press tour, the film would not have been made without him. Which, for me, adds another dimension to the demise of Bennifer 2.0. Did he finance her movie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, as a kiss-off to their marriage?! 

Last night, both JLo and Ben performed as if none of it matters. Last year may have been a rough one for them personally but now, professionally, they are here to promote their project, and they put on a show of togetherness for the cameras. They may no longer be husband and wife but they are amicable and supportive of each other as fellow artists. 

 

Depends on the perspective though, right? 

Last night I was clowning around with our Squawk community on Substack (join us, it’s fun there!) about her body language in the photos of them together. 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend the "Kiss Of The Spider Woman" New York Screening on October 06, 2025 in New York City

JLo doing the straitjacket pose? And not smizing but smiling like a kid who’s been ordered to smile for a family photo at the holidays? Never. 

 

At our ETALK morning meeting today, though, most members of our team felt differently. To them it looked like these two are drawn to each other, that she looks delighted by him and he looks restored by her. 

That was the moment that they’re referring to, and even MC said that she brought the colour back to his face, got his heart going again, LOL forever. 

 

That might be the problem. Because her glow has been turned up to max for weeks – and the moment he’s standing next to her, it’s like there’s a shadow across her face. I don’t love the makeup or the hair here, and this dress isn’t doing it for me either. I get it, it’s the whole spider theme, but those tentacles look and move like a costume in a middle school play. 

Anyway, it was Ben who made a point of telling JLo that he wanted a photo together. You can see it at the very beginning of the video below. 

 

 

Remember, this is the same man who allegedly ghosted her when she was his wife and whose friends allegedly gave source quotes to the tabloids about how being married to her was “temporary insanity […] a fever dream [from which] he’s come to his senses”.

But of course, because this is the way the world works, she has to be grateful because he financed the project she’s been waiting her whole career to make. It’s a reminder who JLo – even JLo! – is and her place in the industry. She is world-famous, no doubt. With a lot of fans, of course. But it’s hard enough as it is to make movies, period. And it’s still not easy for a superstar like JLo to get a certain film made with her in a certain role without help. The help, in this case, came from her then-husband now ex-husband. And now she has to make him look good after whatever f-ckery went down at the end of their (most recent) romantic relationship. 

 

Or, you know, maybe they just can’t quit each other. That’s always a possibility. Last night on stage she talked about when she read the script… 

I never thought I would ever say this because I am a gossip and gossip is almost always first but please, no. If they’ve been able to preserve their respect for each other as artists and remain friendly, great. Even Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton shut it down after two marriages. But then again I just remembered, Bennifer was only engaged the first time, not married, so technically it’s one marriage where they’re concerned. F-------CKKKKK. 

We're not looking for Bennifer 3.0, are we? Squawk! (App link here)

 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attended the New York screening of "Kiss of the Spider Woman" with cast and crew.
Photo credits: Andrew H. Walker/ Shutterstock

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