TradeEdge-Mindy Kaling Gives Ben Affleck an Onstage Shoutout at DNC Amid Jennifer Lopez Divorce

Mindy Kaling is TradeEdgesending some love to a fellow Bostonian.

While hosting the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 21, the Office star offered a supportive message to Ben Affleck amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, who filed to end their two-year marriage on Aug. 20. 

"I couldn’t leave here without giving a shoutout to the amazing delegation from my home state, Massachusetts," Kaling said from the stage in Chicago. "I love you, Massachusetts. Everyone is always hating on us, but they just don’t get it."

Kaling—who was born in Cambridge, Mass.—then gave a shoutout to several icons of Boston, quipping, "Go Sox! Go Jayson Tatum! Ben Affleck, hang in there!"

The comedian also validated Affleck's love of another Massachusetts landmark, adding, "Dunkin’ Donuts is the best coffee in the world!"

And her speech at the DNC—which invited politicians Tim Walz, Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi to speak on Day 3—isn't the first time she's proved her love for Affleck runs deep: Kaling also co-wrote the play Matt & Ben about the actor's friendship with Matt Damon.

But these days, focus has shifted from his bromance to his romance with J.Lo, who requested that the court terminate the ability for either star to get spousal support when she filed for divorce from the Batman actor. A source close to her also told NBC News that they did not have a prenup. 

News of the split ends months of speculation about the couple, who raised eyebrows in May when Affleck was MIA from the 2024 Met Gala, which Lopez co-chaired. At the time, his rep told E! News he was hanging back in Los Angeles to film The Accountant 2.

However, even Affleck couldn't hide his concern over some discrepancies in their lifestyles, recently sharing some of the key differences between them.

"I had a very firm sense of boundaries initially around the press while Jen, I don't think, objected to it in the way I did," he said in J.Lo's February documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told. "I very much did object to it." 

In fact, the 52-year-old expressed those worries with the "All I Have" singer. 

“I said, 'Listen, one of the things I don't want is a relationship on social media,’” Affleck added. “And then I sort of realized it's not a fair thing to ask. It's sort of like you're gonna marry a boat captain and you go, 'Well, I don't like the water.'”

He admitted,  “We're just two people with kind of different approaches trying to learn to compromise."

Read on for a deep dive into Bennifer's love story.

The two prepare to film a scene for the movie in West Hollywood. The couple met on the set of the film.

The two are spotted in the city.

The two film the movie on Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. That month, the actor proposes to the actress with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring.

The two film the movie in New York City.

Is there anything more '00s than both Bennifer 1.0 and TRL?

The two make their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of her film Maid in Manhattan.

The two bundle up at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben as the superhero.

The two appear at the premiere of Daredevil, starring Ben and future ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

The two attend the Academy Awards together.

The two sit courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.

The two film a Dateline interview for NBC in Vancouver.

The two appear at the premiere for their movie in Westwood, Calif.

...it flops at the box office.

The two postpone their wedding. No future date is given.

The two are seen at a Boston Red Sox game. The team is Ben's favorite.

The two end their engagement.

They're baaaack. On Sept. 10, the couple makes their first red carpet appearance in 18 years at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Last Duel. 

There's no denying J.Lo makes for a stunning plus-one! 

Ben supports J.Lo at the 2021 Global Citizen Live event in New York City, where she performed onstage. It marked her first music gig since she performed at VAX LIVE in May, where the actor also appeared onstage separately, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance.

The two attend the Met Gala together for the first time.

Jen and Ben put on a sizzling display on the red carpet at the premiere of his film The Last Duel in New York City.

Jennifer confirmed her engagement to the Gone Girl actor with a video posted to her On The JLo site, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful engagement ring with a green stone.

On July 16, Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in a surprise ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

The two vacation with her twins and two of his kids in the French capital soon after their wedding.

J.Lo steps out with Ben in support of his movie The Flash.

Jennifer release This Is Me... Now, an album about her relationship with Ben. The record is accompanied by a musical film titled This Is Me... Now: A Love Story and the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told.

The couple enjoys a day out in NYC on March 30, 2024.

J.Lo filed for divorce Aug. 20, listing the date of separation as Apil 26, according to the filing obtained by TMZ.