Ben Affleck has spoken openly about Jennifer Lopez’s work, saying he has “an enormous amount of respect and admiration” for what she can do. The actor and producer also acknowledged that he does not believe awards always reflect the performances or films that deserve recognition.
Affleck, who produced Kiss of the Spider Woman with Lopez, was asked why he believes her work has been overlooked. The question specifically referred to her performance in the film. It also highlighted her Oscar-worthy work in Hustlers.
Ben Affleck says he has “enormous” respect for Jennifer Lopez and believes her work has been overlooked
In an interview with Variety, Affleck admitted that his personal connection to Lopez means he is “biased” when discussing her work. However, he made his admiration clear while reflecting on how award recognition works in Hollywood. Affleck said, “I’m biased. I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for what she can do.”
He then pointed out that commercial success and awards recognition do not always align with his own preferences. “What I’ve found with awards is that sometimes the degree of commercial success for things doesn’t always correlate to my taste,” he explained.
Affleck also described awards as part of a subjective industry in which people bring their own perspectives to the process. “It’s a part of this weird, subjective business that people bring a lot of their own stuff to,” he said. The actor further acknowledged that he has not always agreed with award outcomes. He added, “I don’t always think the right person won the right award.”
Affleck stressed that winning a movie prize should not be treated as an absolute measure of artistic quality. “But guess what? I don’t think you die and go to heaven, and God says, ‘This was the actual best picture in 1986.’ At the end of the day, it’s just a bunch of people voting on movie prizes.”
Meanwhile, Affleck and Lopez have reportedly been finding their way back to an “old dynamic.” A September 2026 report claimed the former couple has been quietly rebuilding their bond and “leaning on each other” during a difficult period.
The report has sparked fresh speculation about whether their relationship could be heading in a new direction. For now, however, neither Affleck nor Lopez has publicly confirmed a reunion.
