“I wouldn’t dream of not being here.” That’s what Ben Affleck said, and it was the attitude heard throughout the premiere evening that combined Hollywood glitz, warm family moments, and a public reunion seen only on rare occasion. On October 6, Jennifer Lopez brought her 17-year-old twins, Max and Emme, to the New York City premiere of her new movie *Kiss of the Spider Woman*, making the event an actual family affair.
Lopez’s dress, featuring architectural detail that recalled the movie’s spider theme, was a red-carpet statement in itself an off-shoulder green floral number by Harris Reed that featured a sculpted frame running from her waist. Her kids added their own style to the red carpet. Emme wore a red velvet blazer over black velvet pants, patent loafers, and a white-trimmed blouse, while Max wore khaki dress pants, a red top, a striped jacket, and brown dress shoes. The twins, who Lopez shares with former husband Marc Anthony, rarely appear in public together, so this sighting made it even more special. Max’s similarity to his dad particularly with his flowing, wavy locks had people doing double takes.
This wasn’t the first time that Lopez has basked in the spotlight with her kids. Emme accompanied her previously this year at the Broadway revival of *Othello*, and both twins attended Ben Affleck’s *The Accountant 2* premiere. However, the *Kiss of the Spider Woman* event meant something more: it was Lopez and Affleck’s first public outing together since they agreed to their divorce in February.
Affleck, serving as executive producer through his Artists Equity company, was effusive in his praise for Lopez’s performance. “This is an incredible story. This is the kind of role I think that Jennifer has wanted to play her whole career and she’s fabulous in it,” he told *Entertainment Tonight*. He also noted the technical challenge of the role, describing it as “probably the maximum level of difficulty for a performer” with its blend of singing, dancing, acting, and tonal shifts yet Lopez “pulls it off with grace and aplomb.”
The premiere itself wasn’t without playful moments. Within the theater, Affleck was standing stiffly at the back behind director Bill Condon for a few minutes at opening remarks, Diet Coke in hand, before Condon noticed he was there and warmly welcomed him. When Affleck did eventually grab the microphone, he explained his vision for Artists Equity: “My principal goal was to empower great artists, tell moving stories, create opportunities for these kinds of great stories to be told… In this movie we did all of that, and it’s an honor to be here. This movie is exquisite.”
Lopez, meanwhile, attributed the success of the film to Affleck for being a project’s biggest champion from the beginning. “If it wasn’t for Ben, the movie wouldn’t have (gotten) made, and I will always give him that credit,” she told *TODAY* in an interview. On stage, she repeated, “Thank you, Ben. This movie wouldn’t have been made without Ben and without Artist Equity.”
Aside from professional recognition, Lopez revealed a personal achievement: her twins are getting ready to move out. In between interviews with the press and the premiere, she was touring colleges with them. “It’s happening they’re leaving, they’re going and it’s crazy,” she told *Live With Kelly and Mark*. Though she confessed to having mixed feelings, she focused on the happiness of seeing them set off on their own adventures. “I want that for them… But I also think, like, ‘Oh! I’m going to be by myself.'”
Lopez spoke about the connection she’s established with Max and Emme, calling them “a close-knit three now” after sharing life experiences. Her aim, she claimed, has always remained to build a home they would love to come back to a space that “feels good, smells like home, tastes like home.”
For celebrity family moment fans, the evening was a reminder of how intimate and infrequent these outings can be. Just as other celebrities have walked the red carpet with their children from DJ Khaled’s beaming Grammy night to Reese Witherspoon’s outings with Ava and Deacon Lopez’s night out with Max and Emme provided a glimpse into the private side of a global superstar. And with Affleck’s public endorsement, it highlighted that even in Hollywood’s fluid relationship up and downs, there are times of camaraderie and respect that can burn as hot as the flashbulbs.
