Ben Affleck Opened Up About the Surprising Way Jennifer Lopez Impressed Him

Bennifer only lasted about two years, but for both Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, being one of the first mashup celebrity relationship names will always be part of their Hollywood history. Reflecting on his time with Lopez for InStyle's May cover story, Affleck said that he got a peek at something few people get to experience: her work ethic. Now, Lopez is known for her hustle just as much as her body of work, but back in the '00s, nobody expected her to become the powerhouse — except Affleck.

He opened up about being impressed by Lopez's "extraordinary work ethic." Coupled with her "humility," it seemed to create a perfect storm for success. He went on to say that she knew that she had to work hard to succeed, but also knew that she'd have to push herself further to get what she wanted.

"I don't know whether people know it or not, but the most impressive thing about her (and that is a long list) was her extraordinary work ethic," he said. "She had this humility coupled with the basic assumption that not only did you have to work incredibly hard to succeed, you had to then push yourself even further."

In a past interview, Affleck also opened up about how cruel the media coverage of their relationship became. During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, he said that things got "sexist" and "racist."

"People were so fucking mean about her — sexist, racist. Ugly, vicious shit was written about her in ways that if you wrote it now you would literally be fired for saying those things you said," he said. "Now it's like, she's lionized and respected for the work she did, where she came from, what she accomplished — as well she fucking should be!"

And Lopez reflected on her time as half of Bennifer, as well, saying that tabloids and news coverage weren't even true most of the time.

"It was actually worse then. It was just crazy," Lopez told InStyle back in December 2019. "Now at least I can show you who I am a little bit. Back then you just believed anything you read on the cover of a tabloid. Many times it wasn't true, or it was like a third of the truth."