After months of feverish speculation, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s separation is official. JLo filed for divorce on the day of their second wedding anniversary, which is very linear but also poetic and poignant and sad.

Divorce is always monumentally unpleasant. I’ve tried it, and I rate it zero stars. But there is an excellent way to avoid divorce, and that is don’t get married in the first place (or second place, for that matter, or third ...)

Ben Affleck and JLo clearly didn’t go to Boy Scouts or girl guides, as all the knots they tie come undone. Credit: AP

You see, it’s not the “being unmarried” bit that’s hard; it’s becoming legally disentangled from your spouse. It’s messy and expensive and can be shameful to admit, particularly when you’re a public figure. I remember feeling awkward about mentioning my divorce in one of my quiet columns. Announcing it to a worldwide audience of millions would – I imagine – feel considerably worse.

This will be the second divorce for Ben (poor, Sad Ben). He was engaged to Jennifer Lopez, married to Jennifer Garner, reunited with Jennifer Lopez, and now married and........

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