Tag Archives: Ben

Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Lounge on Yacht Off Amalfi Coast During Her Birthday Getaway

Leave a comment

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

BACKGRID

Jennifer Lopez is keeping the birthday festivities going, as she continues to enjoy her romantic getaway with boyfriend Ben Affleck in Italy.

The two-time Grammy Award nominee, 52, was spotted soaking up some sun with Affleck, 48, on Wednesday, the pair lounging on a yacht off the beautiful Amalfi Coast.

Their tip comes days after ringing in her birthday together.

She kept it cute and nautical in a red and white striped tied bandeau bikini top with high-waisted flowy white trousers. J.Lo finished the look with some square gold aviator sunglasses, matching minimal jewelry and a pair of cork wedges, as she carried a small woven straw handbag.

Lopez and Affleck have also been spotted enjoying a romantic lunch in Capri after celebrating her 52nd birthday at the nightclub L’Opéra in St. Tropez with an intimate group of friends. “They are having a beautiful trip,” a source told PEOPLE over the weekend. “They celebrated Jen’s birthday at a club last night. She looked gorgeous and very happy.”

The couple made their rekindled romance Instagram official during the vacation, when she posted a photo of them sharing a passionate kiss on the yacht. Lopez has been wearing her beau’s name close to her heart, sporting a gold Foundrae necklace that read “Ben,” which was a birthday gift from the Justice League star.

Jennifer Lopez

BACKGRID

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Rekindled Romance ‘Is Not a Summer Fling’: Source

Their romantic yachting trip comes as her ex Alex Rodriguez also posted photos from another boat off St. Tropez, where he’s celebrating his own 46th birthday. “He’s with family and friends and people he works with,” a source told PEOPLE. “He’s doing great and celebrating his birthday and Minnesota Timberwolves sale.”

Rodriguez, 46, and Lopez called off their engagement in April after four years together. “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” they said in a joint statement to PEOPLE at the time.

Lopez and Affleck began seeing each other again later that month, following his split from Ana de Armas, 33.

RELATED VIDEO: Jennifer Lopez Is ‘Very Happy’ with Ben Affleck as They Enjoy Her Birthday Weekend in St. Tropez

It’s the second time Lopez and Affleck have dated. The pair originally began dating in July 2002 after filming Gigli together. They got engaged that November before postponing their September 2003 wedding, just days before the date, and ultimately calling off their engagement in January 2004.

“This is not a summer fling. They are planning a future together,” a source recently told PEOPLE. “They have serious talks about how they can make it all work. Between their relationship, their kids and jobs, they know it will be tricky to balance it all.”

Read original article here

Entertainment

Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a meaningful necklace for her birthday

Leave a comment

Don’t be fooled by the rocks that she’s got: They’re designed by Ben Affleck.

The actor and director, 48, helped create a special jewelry piece for Jennifer Lopez’s 52nd birthday, ensuring that a steamy smooch wasn’t all he gave her for her big day.

JENNIFER LOPEZ DEBUTS ‘BEN’ NECKLACE AFTER BIRTHDAY WEEKEND WITH AFFLECK

He worked with Foundrae to create a custom charm necklace featuring sentimental pendants that reveal details about their relationship.

“With the custom piece Ben created for Jennifer, it clearly communicated their love, but it’s also a reminder of their capacity for change and growth,” Beth Bugdaycay, creative director and co-founder of Foundrae, told E! News of the gold necklace, which featured a series of charms imbued with various meanings.

Affleck selected multiple medallions for his beau’s birthday necklace, including one symbolizing “resilience,” which Bugdaycay describes as “wild, abundant and untamed.” 

He also selected blossoms that are “fed with passion and continue to bloom, even in darkness, against adversity” but can’t be separated from thorns, representing “the risk we assume for something we love, for living life fully without reserve.”

BEN AFFLECK IS ‘ICING ON A DELICIOUS CAKE’ FOR JENNIFER LOPEZ AS COUPLE GETS HANDSY DURING HER BIRTHDAY TRIP

While Lopez’s love might not cost a thing, her birthday bling likely had quite the price tag; each pendant costs about $3,000 and Affleck loaded up on at least three meaningful charms.

During her birthday yacht trip, she also sported a chunky link chain and key pendant from Foundrae, which Lopez paired with a Valentino swimsuit ($650) and silk-cotton cape ($2,300) in her now-viral birthday Instagram post. 

Following the on-again couple’s celebration in Saint Tropez, where Affleck recreated the booty grab from the “Jenny From the Block” video, the pair were spotted in Capri, Italy. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Lopez’s birthday gift isn’t her only jewelry dedicated to her new love affair, as she also debuted a “Ben” necklace following her birthday celebration, though it’s unclear if it was a gift from Affleck.

Both stars seem fond of showing their love through jewelry, with Lopez sporting “Alex” hoops for now-ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez in 2019, while Affleck and then-girlfriend Ana de Armas shared matching heart necklaces last year.

Affleck even made his own bling-based tribute to Lopez this year after the pair rekindled their romance, seeming to sport the same watch he wore in her 2002 “Jenny From the Block” video.  

With a charm necklace now dedicated to their love, perhaps the second time’s the charm for Bennifer.

This story first appeared in Page Six. 

Read original article here

Business

Israel launches maximum pressure campaign against Ben & Jerry’s

Leave a comment

The Israeli government has formed a special task force to pressure Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and its parent company Unilever to reverse their decision to boycott Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: The Israeli government is concerned the move by Ben & Jerry’s will encourage other international companies to take similar steps to differentiate between Israel and the West Bank settlements. A classified Foreign Ministry cable, seen by Axios, makes clear the government wants to send a message.

Driving the news: Last week, Ben & Jerry’s announced that from January 2023 they will no longer allow their Israeli franchisee to market their ice cream in the settlements, but will continue to sell it within Israel’s pre-1967 borders.

  • That decision from the company, which has taken political positions on a range of issues, came after almost a decade of pressure from pro-Palestinian activists. In the past, the Israeli government managed to convince Ben & Jerry’s not to take such steps.
  • But after the recent fighting in Gaza, the pressure on the company increased. In the last two weeks, it became clear that a decision to boycott the settlements was imminent.
  • The Israeli government tried to press Unilever to stop Ben & Jerry’s from making that decision, but Unilever said the company had the right to take such steps as part of its corporate responsibility and social justice policy.

Behind the scenes: On July 22, the Israeli Foreign Ministry sent a classified cable to all Israeli diplomatic missions in North America and Europe ordering them to start a pressure campaign against Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever in order to convince them to negotiate.

  • Israeli diplomats were instructed to encourage Jewish organizations, pro-Israel advocacy groups and evangelical communities to organize demonstrations in front of Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever offices and put pressure on investors and distributors for both companies.
  • The Foreign Ministry also asked the diplomats to push for public statements condemning the companies and to “encourage public protests in the media and directly with key executives in both companies.” The diplomats were also instructed to echo those protests on social media for maximum visibility.
  • The Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israeli Consulates around the U.S. were asked to push for the activation of anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) legislation in several states and to engage with governors, mayors, members of Congress and state officials like attorneys general.

What they’re saying: “We need to make use of the 18 months that are left until the decision comes into force and try to change it. We want to create long-term pressure on Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s by consumers, politicians, and in the press and social media in order to lead to a dialogue with the companies,” the cable said.

  • It added that Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever “caved and cooperated with the BDS movement” which it claimed was partially “motivated by antisemitism.” The cable also said the companies’ decision was “hypocritical, goes against the values of corporate responsibility and smells like extreme cancel culture.”

Worth noting: The statement from Ben & Jerry’s didn’t mention BDS, but said it was “inconsistent with our values” to sell ice cream in “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

What’s next: The Israeli Foreign Ministry instructed diplomats to immediately report any new information about efforts by BDS activists to press more companies to follow Ben & Jerry’s.

Read original article here

Business

Cuomo, who once said New York will boycott those who boycott Israel, called out for silence on Ben & Jerry’s

Leave a comment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared, “If you boycott Israel, New York State will boycott you,” and signed an executive order calling for divestment from companies that boycott the Jewish state – but that was in 2016 and he is now being called upon to follow through.

Cuomo, who delivered a public address and authored a Washington Post op-ed to announce the 2016 order, has been silent ever since Ben & Jerry’s announced that it was going to cease selling its products in the West Bank due to the presence of Jewish settlements in the territory.

TEXAS CONSIDERS BANNING BEN & JERRY’S OVER ISRAEL BOYCOTT

“I call on him to enforce his order that bans the State of New York from doing business with companies that engage in the anti-Semitic BDS movement,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., told the New York Post in reference to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement that targets Israel. 

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., pointed to the increase of anti-Semitic incidents in New York, telling the newspaper that “it’s critically important for the state to reinforce its position and show support for members of our Jewish community.”

Republicans are not the only ones calling on Cuomo to take action. Former Democratic New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind posted a video statement to Twitter on Sunday in which he implored Cuomo to follow through on his 2016 order.

“Where is the governor now to act while this boycott is going on? Why is the governor not speaking out?” Hikind asked.

“Governor Cuomo, you got a lot of attention for doing the right thing in 2016,” Hikind added. “Now is your opportunity to act against the anti-Semitic BDS movement directed against the Jewish people. We are waiting to hear from you.”

GOP LAWMAKERS PUSH BACK AGAINST BEN & JERRY’S AFTER WEST BANK BOYCOTT ANNOUNCEMENT

The BDS initiative is aimed at trying to harm Israel’s economy and public image by getting companies and organizations to cease doing business there. Ben & Jerry’s stated that while it will not sell its ice cream in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, it will still do business in Israel itself.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee said they “warmly welcome” Ben & Jerry’s decision, which they said came “[f]ollowing years of #BDS campaigns.” They went on to urge the company to pull out of Israel altogether.

Cuomo’s 2016 order specifically mentioned the BDS movement, stating that “the State of New York unequivocally rejects the BDS campaign and stands firmly with Israel,” and that “the State of New York will not permit its own investment activity to further the BDS campaign in any way, shape or form, whether directly or indirectly.”

To that end, the executive order called on the commissioner of the Office of General Services to form a list of entities that boycott Israel, and for the state to divest assets and cease further investments into those entities. The order also says the list shall be updated every 180 days, allowing for new entities to be added. Those on the list can be removed if they show that they are not part of the boycott effort.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News reached out to Cuomo’s office asking if the governor has any comment on the matter and if the state intends to add Ben & Jerry’s or its parent company Unilever to the list, but they did not immediately respond. Cuomo’s senior adviser Rich Azzopardi told the Post that “this is under legal review.”

Unilever said in a statement that they “remain fully committed to our presence in Israel,” and pointed to their 2000 acquisition agreement with Ben & Jerry’s that “recognised the right of the brand and its independent Board to take decisions about its social mission.”



Read original article here

Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Party Like It’s 2002 at Her Birthday Bash

Leave a comment

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have truly come full circle with their most high-profile public appearance as Bennifer 2.0.

On Saturday, July 24, the actress and singer celebrated her 52nd birthday with the actor, with whom she is enjoying a rekindled romance, at a party at celebrity hotspot L’Opera in St Tropez, France.

J.Lo, who sizzled in a black, long sleeve Dolce & Gabbana dress, and Ben, who looked dapper in a blue button-down shirt and matching pants, sat together at a table in front of a backdrop adorned with Philippe Shangti artwork as dozens of fans partied with them, with some of them sharing videos on Instagram, including fashion blogger Rebel Neda.

At one point, DJ Hugo M played her 2002 hit “Jenny From the Block”—yes, the song with the music video that features Ben—and Jennifer sang along as servers danced on a table with giant bottles of Champagne.

The two arrived at the party around 11 p.m., holding hands and surrounded by a small group of people, one of the guests, Dr. Daniel Campos, told E! News. He added, “They truly looked in love.”



Read original article here

Business

Israeli NGO trademarks Ben & Jerry’s knockoff after boycott – report

Leave a comment

The ice cream debate surrounding the Ben & Jerry’s boycott is still heating up after an Israeli NGO announced plans to launch its own knock-off brand of the popular label after it announced it would stop selling in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
As first exclusively reported by The New York Post, the Tel Aviv-based Shurat HaDin Law Center applied to sell the popular ice cream under a new brand: “Judea and Samaria’s Ben & Jerry’s,” referring to the biblical names for the areas in the West Bank. The announcement was reportedly made in a letter to the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s parent firm, Unilever, on July 23, where it said it had registered a trademark with the Israeli Justice Ministry.
The new brand will look much like the original, and will include iconic flavors, such as Cherry Garcia, but with a new Zionist twist. According to The New York Post, some of the new flavors will be “Frozen Chosen People,” and the cover will be the same as the typical Ben & Jerry’s, barring the notable inclusion of the father of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl.

According to the report, the organization has already begun negotiations with ice cream manufacturers.

The legal nonprofit is prepared to take this to court if necessary, arguing that the ice cream giant essentially forfeited its trademark by melting under pressure and announcing it would stop selling in the settlements, according to The New York Post.

The announcement by the ice cream company that it would stop selling its famous frozen deserts to what it called the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” sparked a hot debate throughout the world, with many Israeli politicians outraged at the move. The perceived link the move has with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel has also sparked further controversy, especially as many bodies have labeled the movement as inherently antisemitic.



Read original article here

Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Share a Kiss in Instagram Photo

Leave a comment

  • Jennifer Lopez posted four photos on Instagram to celebrate her 52nd birthday. 
  • In the fourth picture, she and her boyfriend Ben Affleck are passionately kissing.
  • The couple have been seen together since May, but this is the first picture posted by one of them.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Jennifer Lopez has made things Instagram official with Ben Affleck by posting a photo of the couple kissing at the end of a collection of pictures celebrating her 52nd birthday.

“5 2 … what it do …” Lopez wrote on Instagram with four pictures of a bikini photo shoot on a yacht in the south of France. At the end, Affleck appears and the pair are passionately kissing.

Fans and celebrity friends, including Jenna Dewan and Vanessa Hudgens, commented messages of excitement and support on the post, including hundreds of heart and fire emojis.

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo)

Lopez and Affleck first began dating 2002 and got engaged that year. However, they postponed their wedding in 2003, then eventually split in 2004. In May this year, 17 years after the breakup, the couple were photographed spending time together in Montana.

Over the next two months, Lopez and Affleck were spotted together on several occasions accompanying each other to restaurants and the gym, often with arms around each other. On June 14, pictures of the couple kissing while on a date were obtained by Page Six.

The first photo of the couple’s rekindled romance taken by anyone other than paparazzi or press was posted by Lopez’s friend Leah Remini on July 23, who added a picture of the three of them as part of a slideshow on Instagram documenting her 51st birthday.

A post shared by Leah Remini (@leahremini)



Read original article here

Business

Cuomo pressured to cut NY ties with Ben and Jerry’s over Israel sales ban

Leave a comment

Gov. Cuomo is facing growing pressure to take action against Ben and Jerry’s and parent company Unilever after the ice cream provider announced they would no longer do business in parts of Israel.

Under the terms of Cuomo’s own 2016 executive order, New York State is enjoined from doing business with any company engaged in the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel — and critics say it’s time to put up to shut up.

“I call on him to enforce his order that bans the State of New York from doing business with companies that engage in the anti-Semitic BDS movement,” Schuylerville Rep. Elise Stefanik told The Post.

“With so many new members in the legislature and the disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks in our city, it’s critically important for the state to reinforce its position and show support for members of our Jewish community,” added Staten Island Republican Nicole Malliotakis.

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks by Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Jerusalem on July 20, 2021.
AFP via Getty Images

Dozens of US states have anti-BDS laws on the books.

When pressed for a response, a rep for Cuomo, Rich Azzopardi, told The Post only that “this is under legal review.”

Cuomo’s silence so far contrasts sharply with longtime rival Mayor de Blasio, who condemned the ice cream company earlier this week.

Israelis walk past a shop selling Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in Jerusalem on July 20, 2021.
UPI

“You cannot have peace if you undermine the economic reality and create division. I just believe it’s absolutely the wrong approach and I don’t think Ben and Jerry’s should be doing that,” Hizzonner said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Empire State institutions and municipalities are already taking action against the ice cream maker and its parent company.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund, the primary pension fund for state workers, sent a letter to Unilever Friday warning that it was considering restricting investments in the company over the issue.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing pressure to take action against Ben and Jerry’s and parent company Unilever.
AP

Hempstead town supervisors Don Clavin promised Thursday to purge any Unilever from public buildings in the Long Island town, ABC7 reported.

The decision will go far beyond ice cream and include items such as Lipton tea bags, Dove soap, and Hellman’s mayonnaise.

“We’re going to go through every department and every contract’s going to be reviewed and we are going to hold them accountable for their support of this anti-Israel action,” Clavin said.

Read original article here

Entertainment

Alex Rodriguez slides into single life with bikini-clad women as Jennifer Lopez is coupled up with Ben Affleck

Leave a comment

Some men slide into DMs. Other men slide into the ocean. A-Rod does both.

Alex Rodriguez was spotted riding down a slide off a yacht while vacationing in St. Tropez alongside several bikini-clad women on Friday.

The former Yankees slugger, 45, was seen enjoying the blow-up slide throughout the day, making a big splash each time he hit the sparkling blue water.

The athlete, who recently showed off his weight loss after a tumultuous breakup with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez, put his tanned and toned muscles on display while going shirtless as he relaxed in the blazing sun.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ JOKES ABOUT NOT BEING INVITED TO EX JENNIFER LOPEZ’ PAL’S PARTY

Rodriguez was accompanied by a bevy of beauties aboard the luxury floater. He was even seen chatting with one of the ladies as she enjoyed a refreshing rinse in an outdoor shower.

The ladies were also seen having a good time as they soaked up the sun on the yacht deck.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

As Page Six previously reported, A-Rod sailed away on the decked-out floater in celebration of his 46th birthday.

An insider told us A-Rod and company will be hitting Monte Carlo and Ibiza over the next few weeks. They had previously been spotted yachting in Portofino, Italy.

Rodriguez will celebrate his 46th birthday on July 27.

The newly single MLB star has been living it up this summer and was seen partying in the Hamptons earlier this month.

A-Rod and J.Lo called off their engagement after “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy claimed she had DM’d with the athlete, although she maintains he “never physically cheated on his fiancée with me.”

Lopez, meanwhile, has been coupled up with her rekindled flame, Ben Affleck, for which LeCroy cheekily told fans, “You’re welcome,” when asked about the pair getting back together.

For more from Page Six, click here.

Read original article here

Entertainment

Alex Rodriguez slides into single life with bikini-clad women as Jennifer Lopez is coupled up with Ben Affleck

Leave a comment

Some men slide into DMs. Other men slide into the ocean. A-Rod does both.

Alex Rodriguez was spotted riding down a slide off a yacht while vacationing in St. Tropez alongside several bikini-clad women on Friday.

The former Yankees slugger, 45, was seen enjoying the blow-up slide throughout the day, making a big splash each time he hit the sparkling blue water.

The athlete, who recently showed off his weight loss after a tumultuous breakup with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez, put his tanned and toned muscles on display while going shirtless as he relaxed in the blazing sun.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ JOKES ABOUT NOT BEING INVITED TO EX JENNIFER LOPEZ’ PAL’S PARTY

Rodriguez was accompanied by a bevy of beauties aboard the luxury floater. He was even seen chatting with one of the ladies as she enjoyed a refreshing rinse in an outdoor shower.

The ladies were also seen having a good time as they soaked up the sun on the yacht deck.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

As Page Six previously reported, A-Rod sailed away on the decked-out floater in celebration of his 46th birthday.

An insider told us A-Rod and company will be hitting Monte Carlo and Ibiza over the next few weeks. They had previously been spotted yachting in Portofino, Italy.

Rodriguez will celebrate his 46th birthday on July 27.

The newly single MLB star has been living it up this summer and was seen partying in the Hamptons earlier this month.

A-Rod and J.Lo called off their engagement after “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy claimed she had DM’d with the athlete, although she maintains he “never physically cheated on his fiancée with me.”

Lopez, meanwhile, has been coupled up with her rekindled flame, Ben Affleck, for which LeCroy cheekily told fans, “You’re welcome,” when asked about the pair getting back together.

For more from Page Six, click here.

Read original article here