It isn't news to the world that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, the couple America has been obsessing over for much of the past year, have postponed their wedding. The news that has taken America by storm all of a sudden is that the couple has actually parted ways entirely, if not permanently. It was reported this weekend in People that the Academy Award-winning screenwriter and original Flygirl boarded separate planes at Los Angeles International Airport. Lopez reportedly went to her home in Miami, while Affleck was spotted at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.Affleck and Lopez have been the subject of an abundance of media coverage since their initial sightings together and have lived with intense media scrutiny. They appeared on numerous magazine covers, tabloid pages and television specials, forging a cultish national obsession in the process. Spokesmen for both actors cited the relentless coverage in announcing the delayed wedding.

One speculative reason for the postponement is the disastrous box office performance of Gigli. Although heavily advertised for its stars, Gigli was almost universally slammed by film critics as one of the worst movies in recent history. The film was so rejected by audiences that it grossed less than $10 million during its theater run. Affleck's appearance last month at a topless bar in Canada also hurt the pair. And Lopez is known for the brevity and publicity of her relationships. The marriage to Affleck would have been her third, in addition to a tumultuous long-term relationship with hip-hop mogul Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs.

"Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date," Affleck and Lopez said in a joint statement released over the weekend. The wedding was scheduled for a location in the Santa Barbara, California area, but details regarding the guest list and precise location were kept private. No new date has been reported.