Jennifer Lopez's divorce judge has personal ties to Ben Affleck and singer's ex-fiance
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a dramatic twist worthy of Hollywood’s finest scripts, the judge overseeing Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s highly publicized divorce has deep ties to both stars.
As the couple navigates their split amid an ongoing media frenzy, Judge Bradley S Phillips' connections and impartiality are under scrutiny, adding another layer of intrigue to this star-studded legal drama.
The singer, 55, filed for divorce from the actor, 52, in Los Angeles County Superior Court on August 20, following months of speculation about their relationship.
Judge overseeing Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's divorce has ties to both stars
Judge Bradley S Phillips has been designated to oversee the case. According to TMZ, Phillips has past associations with Jennifer Lopez’s ex-fiance, Alex Rodriguez. His son-in-law, Strand Conover, who is a partner at the talent agency WME, represents Ben Affleck and Rodriguez. Conover works directly with Affleck on his representation.
Despite these connections, Phillips is downplaying concerns about a potential conflict of interest. The judge has stated that his ties to both parties won’t affect his ability to remain fair and impartial and that he has not discussed the divorce with Conover, nor does he plan to.
Lopez's divorce filing on August 20 coincided with the second anniversary of her marriage to Affleck, which took place at his estate near Savannah, Georgia. The filing comes after significant media attention on their relationship troubles.
In her court documents, Lopez has waived spousal support and requested that Affleck be denied any support as well. The couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, which could make their earnings subject to community property laws.
Jennifer Lopez and Alez Rodriguez's marrige timeline
Lopez and Alex Rodriguez were linked starting in early 2017, got engaged in 2019, and ended their relationship in 2021. Lopez and Affleck revived their romance in 2021, almost 17 years after their original engagement was called off. They initially separated in January 2004 but remained amicable.
By April 2021, reports indicated that Lopez and Affleck were reconciling, as per DailyMail. They confirmed their relationship in July and made a public appearance at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. Lopez announced their engagement in April 2022, and they married at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.
Lopez described their wedding as "the best possible wedding we could have imagined" in her July 17, 2022, newsletter. They also had a second ceremony at Affleck's estate on August 20, 2022.
Lopez has 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, which lasted from 2004 to 2014. Affleck, who was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, has three children with her: 18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Fin, and 12-year-old Samuel.
Judge's ties to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck spark online debate
After discovering the significant connections involved in the high-profile divorce of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, many internet users have shared their opinions and raised concerns on Facebook.
One user declared, "Then he should not be the judge!! Simple!!!"
A second wrote, "At her rate everyone will have ties to her one way or another."
One noted, "LoL 😂 This situation starts to sound messier every single day 🤣🤣🤣."
A fourth mocked, "So the judge is going to screw Ben over."
One person said, "That’s because JL has been with so many men of course there is going to be a connection somewhere."
This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
