It was 2004, and our hometown hero, Ben Affleck, and America’s sweetheart, Jennifer Garner, were a Fever Pitch love story when they debuted their relationship at the Red Sox World Series. Fresh off breakups, these two lovebirds moved fast, getting pregnant and married within a year.

Over the next decade, their domestic life was on display daily in tabloids as they raised their three kids together, battling paparazzi and stalkers. We look back at their adorable chemistry up through Ben’s questionable moments—referring to their marriage as “work” in his Oscar acceptance speech, allegedly cheating with the nanny, and his infamous Howard Stern interview comments about how his marriage affected his addiction struggles.

As we compare this relationship with the original “Bennifer,” we can’t help but wonder if the good girl/bad boy trope can ever truly work out in real life.

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Significant Lovers is a true-love podcast about historic and celebrity couples. You can contact us at significantlovers@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok @significantlovers.

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