If you’re one of the very few people who’s spent the last few months clinging onto the notion that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez would somehow save their marriage, would pull things out of the fire in spite of the countless rumors and waves of speculation, then it’s time to admit defeat.

According to reports, JLO earlier this week submitted divorce papers at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, bringing to a close the rife gossip relating to the stability of the A-listers’ union.

The writing was on the wall, that much has to be said, and it should surprise very few people that the power couple known as ‘Bennifer’ are now officially going their separate ways for the second time in two decades.

Just what went on to drive such a wedge between Affleck and Lopez we might never know. But then again, we probably eventually will give how doggedly media outlets will pursue morsels of information.

For the majority of 2024 celebrity tabloids have filled space by screaming to anyone who will listen about the impending demise of the couple’s union, and they were completely right.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Ben Affleck is seen on June 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Among the details reportedly found in the court documents was the actual date of separation Lopez noted, with the This Is Me… Now singer having listed the date as April 26, 2024.

No sooner had that detail come to light than did the public set about looking into what both JLo and Affleck were up to around that time. Lopez, it seems, actually drew attention with her outfit on the day she and Affleck split.

As per reports, Lopez was snapped by the paparazzi in New York City leaving an apartment building on the day she split from Affleck (April 26). Some online users were critical of JLo’s look, claiming the 55-year-old looked disheveled.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Jennifer Lopez is seen on April 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Affleck has perhaps been more reclusive than Lopez throughout this whole saga (or about as reclusive as a person with his level of fame can be), but he was spotted earlier this week on Tuesday, the same day his soon-to-be-ex wife made her divorce filing… and people apparently have plenty to say.

I mean, they likely would anyway, but the fact that Affleck was spotted arriving back in Los Angeles with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner on August 20 (when Lopez filed the divorce papers) has been enough to get people talking online.

As per reports, Affleck and Garner had just returned from dropping off their eldest daughter, Violet, at college.

By all accounts Affleck appeared in good spirits despite his marital woes, dressed in a button-up shirt and black slacks. His wedding ring was naturally absent, but he had a smile on his face as he walked down the steps of the plane that had carried he and Garner from New Haven, Connecticut, where Violet is studying at Yale University.

Accompanied by their other daughter, Seraphina, Affleck and Garner then got into a black BMW to make their exit.

A source close to Affleck told PEOPLE that the actor had been “very focused on getting Violet ready for move-in” in the weeks leading up to Violet’s college drop-off, irrespective of what’s been going on in his personal life.

“It’s, of course, a huge deal for the whole family, and they’ve all been so excited the last few weeks,” the source said.

Needless to say, the sighting of Affleck prompted a response from social media users, some of whom chose to focus on the fact that he seemed buoyant.

“Man is happy!” one person commented on Instagram.

Another added: “He is so happy. I have never seen him smile like that. Whoa.“

“He looks SO happy!” penned a third.

A fourth wrote: “I kinda feel bad for jlo. I think she tried too hard to make it work, but he always showed a bad face with her and with his kids mom all happiness. Imagine how your wife may feel.”