Ben Affleck vents about high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck during Gigli film premiere. Photo / Getty

They were once one of the hottest couples in Hollywood, but Ben Affleck is pretty angry about the legacy of his time with Jennifer Lopez.

Affleck, 44, vented about his highly-publicised relationship with the pop star during a TimesTalks forum in New York City this week.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Photo / Getty

The Oscar winner and Lopez, 47, began dating in 2002 after meeting on the set of box-office bomb Gigli, and became engaged before splitting up for good in 2004.

"It could have been a bad movie no one cared about. Angelina Jolie had a bad movie that year and no one cared. But it was because I was dating Jennifer Lopez that made it a big f**king deal. So not only was it just a bad movie but 'they dated each other'," Affleck said.

Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck during Daredevil Premiere. Photo / Getty

"There was a reporter doing stand-up in front of the theatre that Friday morning, [saying] 'Here I am outside of Gigli, and as you can see, no one is here in line'," he continued. "I was like, 'What is this, hurricane coverage?'"

Following their dramatic breakup, Affleck fell in love with Jennifer Garner, who starred alongside him in Pearl Harbor and Daredevil.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are now divorced. Photo / Getty

The pair married in 2005 and are parents to Violet, 11, Seraphina, 7, and son Samuel, 4. They announced their split in June 2015.

Affleck paid tribute to Garner when asked during the TimesTalks about the most defining moment of his life.

"In my career or otherwise, it is the birth of my children. The entrance of my children into the world," he said. "It's a joy to hang out with them. I think the meaning of life is to make good people."

He added: "[Jennifer is] the greatest mum in the world."