Just months out from their second wedding anniversary, rumours are rife that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are living apart and on the verge of divorce.
And, as a stressed-out Ben struggles to cope with the pressures – and state – of his high-profile marriage, he’s turned to a familiar source of comfort and support – his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.
“It makes sense that he’d reach out to Jen – she’s been here before with him and she knows all the red flags,” an insider tells Woman’s Day of the formerly married couple, who have remained friends and devoted co-parents since their split in 2015.
BEN’S HOUR OF NEED
Jen, 52, was seen arriving at Ben’s temporary home in Brentwood last week, just hours after he was spotted without his wedding ring on. Over the years, the actress has been by Ben’s side as he battled alcohol addiction, and insiders say she’ll do whatever she can to keep him on the straight and narrow.
“He’s been incredibly stressed out and everyone’s been on high alert for any kind of relapse,” the source explains. “While there’s been no suggestion of that happening, Ben has been needing his own space to decompress. And if he is at risk of going off the rails, Jen knows what to do.”
In recent weeks, Ben, 51, and wife J.Lo, 54, have been plagued by speculation that their fairytale relationship could be all but over, with J.Lo’s penchant for fame and sharing her personal life with the public said to be in huge conflict with “introspective” Ben’s preference to stay out of the spotlight. “After a while it causes tension,” a source told People of their different personalities. “It has been difficult in the day-to-day.”
According to a Page Six insider, despite their love for each other, Ben “understands there is just no way this is going to work” with their clashing personalities and priorities. “He feels like the last two years was just a fever dream,” a source says.
As Ben deals with his marital issues, ex Jen seems to have once again put her own life on hold to support him – a move which hasn’t gone unnoticed by her long-term boyfriend, executive John Miller, 46.
“He’s come to accept Ben will always be a part of their lives as the father of her kids, but it’s frustrating,” an insider says. “Jen will always be there for Ben, if only for the sake of their kids.”
But Jen seems willing to play marriage counsellor as she “wants nothing more than for him to be happy.”
A source tells Us Weekly, “[She] is encouraging Ben to work on his marriage.”
J.LO’S BRAVE FACE
Ben and J.Lo put on a united front as they attended a movie event in LA with their friends, but that hasn’t stopped whispers that the writing is on the wall for them.
“Ben and Jen can play happy couples all they like when the cameras are on, but the truth is they’ve been living under separate roofs for the past month,” a source tells Woman’s Day.
“As for J.Lo, she’s completely focused on work and saving her ailing tour. She’s worried her marriage is overshadowing her career – and not in a good way.”
Indeed, J.Lo has been struggling to sell tickets to her This Is Me… Live tour. “She fears she may have made a big mistake focusing on her and Ben with her last movie and it’s turned people off buying tickets,” an insider tells Woman’s Day.
Though the actress raised eyebrows when she ‘liked’ an Instagram post about unhealthy relationships, she’s said to be determined to save her marriage to Ben. But one source tells The Sun “the bottom line is that she can fake it and he can’t.”
J.Lo certainly appeared in good spirits as she attended the premiere of her new Netflix film, Atlas, in Hollywood, looking noticeably slender and flashing her wedding ring. Ben, however, was nowhere to be seen on his wife’s big night.
WHAT ABOUT THEIR KIDS?
If Ben and J.Lo call time on their marriage, there will be a big upset from their children, who have made a huge effort to become a happy blended family since their parents wed in 2022.
J.Lo’s child Emme, 16, and Ben’s child Fin, 15, in particular, have formed a special bond in recent times. The teenagers are often seen hanging out with Ben and seem to have similar tastes and hobbies they share together.
“They’ve become really good friends, which is rare in their world, and Emme’s really become fond of Ben’s family,” a source tells Woman’s Day. “It’s so much more conventional than hers and she’s loved the stability and the routine the Afflecks have.”
The insider adds, “Samuel, too, has loved having a big brother and another sister to hang out with and learn from.”
