The judge overseeing the divorce case between A-listers Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has past links to both stars, as well as one of her famous exes.
The singer, 55, filed for divorce from the actor, 52, in Los Angeles County Superior Court August 20 after months of speculation swirling around the high-profile relationship, with Judge Bradley S. Phillips appointed to oversee the case.
Phillips has past links to both Affleck and Lopez’s ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez, TMZ reported on Wednesday after reviewing court docs.
Phillips’ son-in-law Strand Conover, a partner at the agency WME, has worked as an agent for both the Oscar-winning Boston native and former New York Yankees slugger, 49. Conover works directly on a team with Affleck, the outlet reported.
Phillips is ‘shrugging off concerns of a possible conflict of interest’ in overseeing the legal proceedings, the outlet reported.
The judge overseeing the expensive split between A-listers Jennifer Lopez, 55, and Ben Affleck, 52, has past links to both stars, as well as one of her famous exes. The estranged couple was pictured last year in LA
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips was appointed to oversee the case
The judge said in court docs that Conover had past met Lopez through his work with Affleck and Rodriguez, according to the outlet, as he served as the agent for the brand partnerships for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, one of the top five home run hitters of all-time with 696 during his 22-year MLB career, has worked in media and broadcasting since his 2016 retirement.
Conover has never directly represented Lopez, the outlet reported.
Phillips said in court docs that his ties to both parties won’t impact ‘his ability to be fair and impartial,’ and that he hasn’t and won’t speak to Conover about the divorce.
Lopez’s August 20 filing came after months of speculation swirling around the relationship between the A-list singer-actress and actor-director with their relationship woes dominating the Hollywood headlines in recent months.
In court docs, Lopez said she was waiving spousal support and requested the court not give Affleck any either, according to the outlet.
There was no prenuptial agreement in place, insiders told Dailymail.com, an aspect which could have their earnings classified as community property.
Lopez and Rodriguez had been linked since early 2017, got engaged in 2019 and split in 2021. Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance to much fanfare in 2021, nearly 17 years after calling off their original engagement and postponing their September 2003 nuptials. They first split in January 2004 but remained on good terms.
Phillips’ son-in-law Strand Conover, a partner at the agency WME, has worked as an agent for both Affleck and Lopez’s ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez
The judge said in court docs that Conover had past met Lopez through his work with Affleck and Rodriguez. Lopez and Affleck pictured in 2023 in LA
Alex Rodriguez and Lopez pictured at the Met Gala in May of 2017
In April 2021, reports surfaced that the musician and the Oscar-winning director were reconnecting after Lopez’s breakup with Rodriguez. The couple confirmed their relationship on Instagram that July and made their red carpet return at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.
In April of 2022, Lopez confirmed her engagement to Affleck, and they had exchanged vows at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.
‘In the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined,’ Lopez said in her newsletter On the JLo on July 17, 2022. ‘One we dreamed of long ago and one made very real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very, long last.’
The couple again exchanged vows at Affleck’s estate outside of Savannah, Georgia on August 20, 2022, two years to the day prior to Lopez’s divorce filing Tuesday.
Among those in attendance included Matt Damon, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, and agent Patrick Whitesell, with podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty officiating the proceedings.
Lopez is mother to 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, which lasted from 2004 to 2014.
Affleck, who was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, has three children with the Alias actress – 18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Fin, and 12-year-old Samuel.