Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce, Seeks Name Change Back to Lopez

Jennifer Lopez has asked a California court to restore her legal name to Jennifer Lynn Lopez from Jennifer Lynn Affleck.

On August 20, 55-year-old singer and actress filed for divorce from 52-year-old Ben Afflicks. TMZ reports that Lopez requested in her divorce suit to have her maiden name restored after the divorce is official.

Independent submission of her divorce paperwork by Lopez marks the two-year anniversary of her and Affleck’s second marriage. Previously announcing their marriage in her On the JLo email, she signed off as ” Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”

After their July 2022 Las Vegas marriage, Lopez came under fire for taking Affleck’s last name. Critics—including The New York Times—asked why Affleck omitted her surname. In a November 2022 Vogue interview, Lopez addressed this saying, “It’s not traditional, but it’s romantic to me.” I feel good about that.

Though there was opposition, Lopez had before indicated in a 2003 Access Hollywood interview about being called “J.Aff,” instead of “J.Lo,” that she wanted to take Affleck’s last name. Affleck has said Lopez was “more traditional than he expected.”

Having spent the summer apart from Affleck, Lopez made the decision to call off her marriage. She entered in her file April 26 as their breakup date. Given their prenuptial agreement, reports point to their divorce perhaps being problematic.