Jennifer Lopez opens up about her 'second chance' at love with Ben Affleck

By Carson Blackwelder

Jennifer Lopez got very candid about how she feels having Ben Affleck back in her life.

"I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him," the "Love Don't Cost a Thing" singer told People. "It's a beautiful love story that we got a second chance."

Lopez, 52, said she and Affleck, 49, "had a little bit of fear" when rekindling their relationship last year, having dated from 2002 to 2004 and called off one of the biggest engagements of the decade.

But the actress, whose new rom-com "Marry Me" is out Feb. 11, said they were "naive" the first time around and are better equipped to handle things now that they're "at different places in [their] lives."

"I just feel very happy and lucky to be in a relationship that's happy and loving, and I want to do everything I can to protect that and keep it safe," she said. "It deserves that, it really does."

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are seen at "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Dec. 15, 2021 in Los Angeles.

Lopez attributed the fact that both of them are parents now as one of the reasons why it's different this time. The "Jenny From the Block" singer has her 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, while Affleck has three kids: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 9.

"To see the person, the human being, the man that he is today, the father that he is today, the partner that he is -- he is so everything I always knew he was and wanted to be," she gushed, adding that they've both been on "a journey of learning yourself and figuring yourself out."

Lopez likened her connection with Affleck to being a "real love" and one that proves "some things can be forever, but it doesn't mean they just have a straight line."

While she didn't reveal any big plans for her and Affleck, the "Let's Get Loud" singer did say she was satisfied with where her life currently stands.

"I just want my future to be full of love and happiness, with my children and my partner," she said. "I think everybody just wants to be happy, with somebody to go on the journey with and grow old with, and I feel good about that right now."