JENNIFER LOPEZ - HAVE J.LO AND AFFLECK SPLIT?

JENNIFER LOPEZ is denying reports she has torn off her engagement ring and split from fiance BEN AFFLECK following allegations he spent a night out partying with strippers.

Lopez has moved to quash the story following reports she arrived in Los Angeles and declared she was single last Thursday (31JUL03) - the night before their troubled on-screen collaboration GIGLI hit cinemas.

The singer and actress had been awoken on Wednesday (30AUG03) by her radio presenter sister LYNDA, who asked her live on air about the NATIONAL ENQUIRER's allegations her fiance had spent the night with strippers at a Vancouver lap dancing bar earlier that month (17JUL03).

Lopez stated that, "It sounds like Ben. I'll have to ask him."

A source confides to the NEW YORK POST that Lopez, who had taken her engagement ring off, then fled the Winnipeg, Canada, set of her new movie SHALL WE DANCE and headed for her Los Angeles home on Thursday (31JUL03).

J.LO then arrived in New York for a photoshoot for America's W magazine on Saturday (02AUG03), where she was reportedly "very cranky".

After she finished working, Lopez took 15 pals, including rapper Q-TIP, to KOI restaurant, before partying in SHELTER nightclub where "they rang up a $9,000 (GBP5,620) bar tab in the VIP room".

The source adds, "Jennifer kept talking about the 'drama, drama, drama', and told several people she was single before hitting the dance floor for the rest of the night. She was not wearing the engagement ring."

Meanwhile, Affleck pulled out of a planned interview with ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT correspondent CHRIS BOOKER - the boyfriend of Lopez's sister - claiming he was "too sick" to attend.

The actor has also refused to take a lie detector test as demanded by the Enquirer, who maintain their article - which Affleck's spokesman described as "garbage" - is entirely accurate, and supported by documentary evidence.

However, a source close to Lopez insists the reports are all false, telling the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, "She doesn't give a f*** about the story. She thinks it's funny. The wedding is still on."

Meanwhile, Gigli bombed on its opening weekend (02/03AUG03), reaching only seventh in the box office charts after taking a measly $3.7 million (GBP2.3 million) whilst receiving a savaging from critics.