Ralph Fiennes Reveals He Was Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck’s ‘Relationship Decoy’ In The 2000s

Ralph Fiennes confessed helium was erstwhile a “relationship decoy” for his former Maid In Manhattan co-star Jennifer Lopez, 53, and her beau Ben Affleck, 50 — but had nary thought helium was portion of a plot. “I was acceptable up,” the 59 twelvemonth aged histrion explained connected Watch What Happens Live to big Andy Cohen connected Tuesday, November 15, referencing aged photos of the 2 hugging successful June 2002. “I was asked retired to meal with J. Lo and her manager and her cause … We had a bully dinner, chatty chatty chatty. … [after], I deliberation I was walking home, but [we gave each different a] peck connected the feature goodnight,” helium explained.

That aforesaid month, Jennifer filed for divorcement from 2nd hubby Cris Judd and had worked connected film Gigli with Ben, wherever they initially met and fell successful love. At the time, Jennifer was inactive joined and they kept things affable — however, determination was suspicion the now-married mates had crossed the person line. In April 2002 — conscionable weeks earlier Jennifer was photographed with Ralph — Ben had taken retired a afloat leafage advertisement to compliment moving with her. “It has been thing but an grant and a pleasance to enactment with you,…I lone privation I were fortunate capable to beryllium successful each your movies,” Ben wrote, adding, “With love, respect, and gratitude, Ben Affleck.”

Jennifer and Ralph are seen successful quality from ‘Maid In Manhattan.’ (Everett Collection)

After the June 2002 dinner, Ralph was caught disconnected defender erstwhile a single paparazzi “popped out” and was capable to drawback affable goodbye. “But somehow, the pictures were angled truthful that arsenic she’s walking away, [it looks like] I’m walking aft her. And I deliberation it said the adjacent time [in the New York] Post, ‘It’s Ralph!’” helium besides said to Andy. Notably, the “If You Had My Love” vocalist and The Grand Budapest Hotel actors played on-screen emotion interests successful romanticist comedy Maid In Manhattan.

Against each odds, the characters fell successful emotion successful ‘Maid In Manhattan’. (Everett Collection)

Ben and Jennifer yet took their narration nationalist successful July 2002, with Ben aboriginal appearing successful her video for “Jenny From The Block” that dropped months aboriginal successful September. By November 2002, the duo had earned the nickname “Bennifer” and were engaged with that Harry Winston pinkish diamond. Due to the accent of paparazzi and media attention, the brace called disconnected their archetypal Sept. 2003 wedding and broke up for bully by Jan. 2004. Ben and J.Lo shocked the world, however, erstwhile they got backmost unneurotic successful April 2021 and joined legally successful July 2022.

“My absorption [when I learned they got backmost together] was, ‘Good luck to them,’” Ralph — who starred arsenic Voldemort successful the Harry Potter movies — noted.