The couple, known as "Bennifer" during their initial romance in the tabloid-driven celebrity culture of the early 2000s, had reignited their relationship nearly twenty years later. However, Lopez submitted the divorce paperwork at a court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to reports from Hollywood trade publication Variety and celebrity gossip website TMZ.

A spokesperson for Lopez chose not to provide a comment, while Affleck's publicist has not yet responded to a request for comment from AFP. This divorce marks the fourth for the 55-year-old pop singer turned actress and the second for the 52-year-old Oscar-winning actor and director.

Their initial encounter in 2002 was on the set of the widely criticized movie "Gigli," leading to a media frenzy as they embarked on a relationship and later announced their engagement.