Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are back together after a 17-year hiatus. Or they're not. Maybe they're just hanging out as friends or trolling a weary American public starving for nostalgia. Whatever is really happening, Affleck and Lopez did reportedly go on a vacation to Montana together and neither side has denied they're in a relationship. This has everyone swooning for Bennifer, the early 2000s moniker given to the couple (maybe by the director Kevin Smith, or so he claims). Reminder: No one really liked Bennifer 1.0 (Heather Schwedel in Slate went deep on this). But it's nearly 20 years later, and we just survived a pandemic. So what the hell? Plus, as these photos of the couple from early 2000s show: Bennifer 1.0 is a perfect summer 2021 vibe.
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The facial hair. Yikes! Lopez and Affleck watch the New York Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park.
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Same game. Same awkward facial hair.
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The couple holds hands on the set of a Lopez music video on October 20, 2002 in Beverly Hills.
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Remember bootcut jeans and velour Juicy Couture track suits? Hope you didn't throw yours away.
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Dining at the Ivy in L.A. in 2002.
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At the L.A. premiere of their disastrous film, Gigli, in July 2003. At least they both look happy.
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On the set of the forgotten Bennifer movie, Jersey Girl, directed by Kevin Smith, in New York in 2002. The film came out two years later, after the pair had split.
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Kissing on the set of Jersey Girl.
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The couple arrives at the L.A. premiere of Affleck's 2003 superhero film, Daredevil.
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Same premiere. What a cute couple!
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Lopez and Affleck attend the 75th Annual Academy Awards on March 23, 2003 in Hollywood.
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More kissing on the set of Jersey Girl.
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Courtside for Lakers-Spurs at the Staples Center in May 2003.
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Same game.
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Lopez and Affleck arrive at the Maid In Manhattan world premiere at The Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on December 8, 2002.
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Same premiere.
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The goatee! The bucket hat! Bring us back! Bennifer leave their midtown Manhattan hotel on December 12, 2003 to do some holiday shopping.
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Leaving a video store(!) after renting DVDS(!) in Vancouver in June 2003.
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Out for a walk in Vancouver. This is the summer 2021 vibe.