When Jennifer Lopez released her documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, back in February, fans got to know Lopez and Ben Affleck perhaps more than ever before. After all, the movie showed intimate conversations between them, from talking about their love story to talking about the struggles she’s facing with her new movie.
And while those few moments gave us glimpses of who they were outside the red carpet, it surely continued many rumors about them. For example, Affleck not only seemed disinterested at times in Lopez’s many ambitions, but he also was surprised when she revealed that the documentary in many ways was about their relationship.
But, as it turns out, Affleck was behind the whole idea for the documentary all along.
“[Affleck] was very much in favor [of the project], and he was a driving force for [Lopez] to do the movie and the album and then he insisted on the documentary, where it looked like he was hesitant and almost surprised by it,” a source told People. “But that was a false narrative.”
So while he projected this low-key, casual persona in the documentary, Affleck actually produced and encouraged it all. “The documentary was Ben’s idea for his company, Artists Equity,” the source said about his production company with friend Matt Damon. “Jennifer’s team didn’t want to do it since she was focused on the album and Amazon original video project.”
“He was very supportive of [Lopez] making the movie and her album,” the source added. “He knew every step of the way what she was doing.”
“He was the one who had control, pretty much,” the source confirmed.
In fact, according to the source, Affleck’s producing chops might’ve even overshadowed the director, Jason Bergh. “He definitely took it away from the director so he could have the narrative he wanted out there,” the source said. “It’s confusing [because] he was so involved and so proud of Jennifer because she really got in there … but in the doc, it looks like he was surprised. ‘You’re making an album about our [relationship]?’ “
“At the time, people thought it was funny and now the press is reporting [Affleck] wasn’t happy with that life [in the public eye],” the source continued. “But he not only supported that life, he encouraged it. It was almost like he’s justifying it. The need for the documentary was his idea.”
From the sources, it seems like Affleck was adamant in projecting a certain persona when it came to his relationship with Lopez. As to why, that’s something we might not ever know.
But, now that we know what really happened in their split, which began in April and culminated in Lopez filing for divorce on Aug. 20, it seems the detached and distant Affleck is the one who prevailed in the end.
“Ben hasn’t given her any signs that he wants to continue their marriage,” an insider for People detailed last week. “He hasn’t shown any commitment and interest in making their marriage work.” Looks like his persona and his actual personality weren’t too far apart after all.
Before you go, click here to see a complete timeline of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship.
