NEWS REVIEW

Jennifer Lopez spent $20m on a flop — then her year got even worse

After spilling secrets in a series of failed projects, culminating in a cancelled tour, her rekindled marriage to Ben Affleck seems to be back on the rocks

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes in January. They have not been seen together more recently
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes in January. They have not been seen together more recently
TODD WILLIAMSON/CBS VIA GETTY IMAGES
The Sunday Times

There is a book, somewhere in Los Angeles, made up of love letters and emails sent in the Noughties that have been printed out, collected and bound in a bulging file.

It was pulled together by Ben Affleck, the Oscar-winning actor and director, and given as a present to pop princess Jennifer Lopez when the two reunited two decades after their break-up — and with four marriages and five children (with other people) between them.

To Affleck, the book was deeply personal, packed with intimate details of their relationship. To JLo, it was material, and she handed it to her producers, writers, directors and collaborators. The “bible”, as they called it, formed the basis of her new album (This is Me … Now),