Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck just stepped out for the premiere of J.Lo’s Netflix movie Mother, and some corners of the internet are fully convinced they were arguing on the red carpet. Mostly because of these somewhat-tense-looking photos:
But a couple of things! One, these pics aren’t really representative of Bennifer’s overall vibe on the carpet that night, which was very much this:
Two, the Daily Mail dusted off a lip reader who confirmed their conversation was mostly just about posing for pics. As in they were not arguing. First up, J.Lo asked Ben if her top was “showing too much” and he responded that it was fine. Ben then whispered to Jennifer, “Don’t worry, babe” and she said, “Come close to me.”
After finishing with their pics, Ben said, “That’s us done,” kissed Jennifer, and asked if she was okay. She then allegedly responded, “Yes,” and said they needed to “step over there”—presumably for more photos.
Soooo basically just two people talking about logistics. Not exactly dramatic! (Psst: Here’s a video in case you’re in the mood to analyze.)
Speaking of Bennifer lip readings, never forget the tense convo they had during the Grammys where a lip reader alleged that J.Lo told Ben, “Look more friendly. Look motivated” and he shot back, “I might.”
Ben actually spoke about the viral moment to the Hollywood Reporter, saying, “They were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling. I leaned into her and I was like, ‘As soon as they start rolling, I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor.’ She goes, ‘You better fucking not leave.’ That’s a husband-and-wife thing.”
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.