P Diddy sends J-Lo wedding blessing

P Diddy and Lopez were together for 17 months

Rap star P Diddy has wished his former girlfriend Jennifer Lopez the best of luck in her forthcoming marriage to actor Ben Affleck.

"I hope it works out," he said, adding that marriage was "a beautiful thing".

Affleck proposed in a "spectacular" way

The music superstars were an item for 17 months until February 2001, when Diddy - formerly known as Puff Daddy - was standing trial after a shooting at a New York nightclub.

He was subsequently found not guilty on all five charges of gun possession and bribery.

Lopez went on to marry dancer Cris Judd, but the couple split after nine months after she filed for divorce in July.

The singer and actress - who has become as well-known for her love life as her career - confirmed her engagement to Affleck during a TV interview that will be broadcast on Wednesday.

There had been earlier rumours that she may get back together with Diddy, who sent his best wishes while preparing to host the MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday.

"By Thursday, everyone will be focused on me again," he said.

Lopez and Judd were married for eight months

Lopez revealed the engagement during an interview with US TV channel ABC News.

The 32-year-old at first seemed reluctant to confirm the rumours - but then admitted it, showing off her pink diamond engagement ring.

She said Affleck's proposal had been "traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course Ben would do it".

"It was very, very beautiful," she added.

Lopez, star of films such as Out of Sight, The Cell and The Wedding Planner, met Affleck, 30, last December on the set of their new film Gigli, but the relationship did not become public until this summer.

'Irreconcilable'

The wedding will be the third for Lopez, who married actor Ojani Noa in 1997, but split up with him a year later.

Her divorce with Judd, which cited irreconcilable differences, is expected to be finalised in January.

Affleck, who won an Oscar along with fellow actor Matt Damon in 1997 for their film Good Will Hunting, has starred in a series of Hollywood blockbusters, including Pearl Harbour, The Sum of all Fears and, most recently, Changing Lanes.

Last year he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol abuse.

This will be Affleck's first marriage.