At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Mindy Kaling expressed her support for Ben Affleck amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. Kaling, a Massachusetts native like Affleck, gave a special shoutout to him while honoring their home state on stage at the United Center in Chicago. She playfully mentioned the Boston Red Sox, Jason Tatum, and Affleck, encouraging him to hang in there during this difficult time. Kaling also joked about Dunkin’ Donuts, referring to Affleck’s partnership with the brand, in her speech.
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on Tuesday, a day before Kaling’s supportive shoutout at the DNC. The documents were submitted in Los Angeles, stating that the couple separated on April 26. Lopez reportedly made the decision to end their marriage on their second anniversary to prove she could assert her independence. The couple had initially tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2022 before hosting a larger celebration with friends and family in Georgia a month later.
Despite not making any official statements about their relationship, sources indicated that Affleck had delayed filing for divorce to spare Lopez from embarrassment. This decision left Lopez feeling humiliated and frustrated after their second attempt at romance came to an end. Throughout the summer, the couple fueled rumors of a split as Lopez vacationed solo in New York and Europe while Affleck remained in Los Angeles. In July, they put their Beverly Hills estate up for sale as Affleck purchased a new mansion in Pacific Palisades.
Since stepping out in public with her daughter on August 18, Jennifer Lopez has not been seen publicly. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck appeared stressed while smoking a cigarette on his way to work, following his return from dropping his eldest daughter, Violet, at Yale University. Affleck’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, accompanied him for this event. Within the turbulent backdrop of their personal lives, Kaling’s light-hearted shoutout to Affleck at the convention provided a moment of support and levity amidst the challenges and changes that both he and Lopez were facing. The divorce filing marked the end of a period of uncertainty and speculation about the state of the couple’s relationship.
