Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband urges her to ‘stay single’ amid Ben Affleck divorce
Ojani Noa, Jennifer Lopez’s first husband, is getting loud about what it’s like being married to the actress.
The actor, who finalized his divorce from the singer in 1998 after less than one year of marriage, urged his ex to “stay single for awhile” in a new interview with the Daily Mail.
“Take 12 months off,” the 50-year-old told Lopez on Friday amid her and Ben Affleck’s divorce. “If she meets someone new, [she should] maybe keep it private and not get married again.”
Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband is speaking out amid her and Ben Affleck’s divorce. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ojani Noa urged Lopez to “stay single for awhile.” Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
The former waiter told his ex “quality time” is more important than “being on camera.” WireImage
After clarifying that he in “no way” wants to rekindle his own romance with the actress, Noa advised, “When you’re with someone, you have to spend quality time with them and not think about being on camera.
“You need to be yourself so you can find yourself,” he continued.
The following day, Lopez was spotted out to brunch with Affleck, 52, and their kids at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Noa was married to Lopez from 1997 to 1998. The Grosby Group
He recalled pressure to “pretend everything was fine” during their relationship. WireImage
A source told Page Six that the on-again, off-again couple kissed and held hands — but are “still moving forward” with their split, according to People.
The duo got married in July 2022, with Lopez, 55, filing for divorce shortly after spending their second wedding anniversary apart.
Before their breakup, the Grammy nominee publicized their love story in her February documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
Noa said he was in a “bad mood” as they went “through hell.” Getty Images
“You need to be yourself so you can find yourself,” he told Lopez. Getty Images
Noa confessed to watching the film on Friday, going on to outline the similarities he saw between himself and Affleck.
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The former waiter, who praised Affleck as a “really amazing” and “private” man, addressed the numerous times the actor has made headlines for his “resting bitch face” while out with his wife.
“In my own experience [married to Lopez], we would have disagreements in the car and then 20 minutes later, we’d have to sit and pretend everything was fine,” Noa claimed.
Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck in August. jlo/Instagram
Noa called the actor an “amazing” and “private” guy. GC Images
“But you can only pretend so much,” he added. “When we were going through hell and going out as a couple, I was in a bad mood too. Because I knew inside we were not good. I hated going on the red carpet.”
Noa also alleged that Lopez “enjoy[ed] the media attention” during their marriage, which led him to tell her, “You have to be private. You can’t be real in a relationship if you’re always being photographed.”
Affleck, notably, said in the documentary that he had learned to compromise with Lopez over the “amount of scrutiny around” their lives.
In addition to Noa and Affleck, Lopez married dancer Cris Judd and singer Marc Anthony in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
