Rumours of an impending divorce between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have gathered pace in recent weeks – and last week, they reached fever pitch when it emerged that the couple’s £47m Beverly Hills home was on the market.
And now insiders tell Closer that the two-time Oscar-winning actor is, in actual fact, ready to check out of their marriage.
A source says, “Ben has been grappling with this decision for ages, but by the time he actually moved out, he’d already been through all the scenarios and emotionally accepted that splitting was the best decision. The last thing he wants to do is hurt J-Lo – he still loves and respects her. And of course, the family situation comes into this heavily, which is why he’s agreed to do this in a civilised and loving way, just like he did with Jennifer Garner. Before they file paperwork and officially call it quits, they’re going to get all their ducks in a row, which seems to be the standard practice in Hollywood these days. Ben’s goal is to do the same as Tom Brady and Gisele – get everything arranged and settled before filing so there’s no messy court battle.”
Rumours of marital woes first surfaced last month, with reports that Ben, 51, had moved out of the Beverly Hills home he shares with J-Lo, 54. As speculation about the state of their nearly two-year marriage has continued to dominate headlines, the A-listers have been attempting to dispel divorce hearsay with joint public outings, while otherwise remaining tight-lipped about the media storm surrounding them.
Last week, the pair were pictured holding hands at Ben’s eldest daughter’s graduation, before sharing an uncomfortable cheek kiss in front of cameras days later at his son’s basketball game.
Despite the public solidarity, the couple have allegedly hired a famous celebrity divorce lawyer who is already on their case, according to the DeuxMoi podcast, Deux U. The outlet’s insider is fairly confident that it’s over for good this time.
As drama around the state of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s marriage continues, insiders say that he’s determined to avoid messy court battles
And now, a source close to the pair tells Closer that their children – J-Lo is mum to Max and Emme, 16, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, while Ben shares Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and 12-year-old Samuel with ex-wife Jennifer Garner – are the priority as they navigate this tumultuous chapter.
“The biggest weight on Ben’s shoulders right now is the kids and managing this situation as best he can for their sake,” the insider says. “It’s going to be a very tough adjustment so his priority is being sensitive to that and making this as smooth for them as he possibly can.
“That being said, Ben’s not backing down – he’s very clear that he just doesn’t think it can work. He hates the fact that this is causing J-Lo pain and feels quite guilty about that, which is why he’s agreed to slow it all down. He wants to find a way where they can end their marriage amicably and remain on good, positive terms.”
J-Lo and Ben tied the knot in July 2022, 18 years after they called off their first engagement. But recent scrutiny placed the future of their marriage in doubt, particularly with sources claiming that their differing outlooks on media attention have caused several conflicts between them.
And despite additional sources alleging that J-Lo was throwing herself into work amid the turbulence in her personal life, the singer delivered a surprise announcement last week that she was cancelling her summer tour, This Is Me…Live to “take time off to be with her children, family and close friends”.
“I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down,” J-Lo wrote on her website. “Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time…”
And now, after multiple sources previously detailed Ben’s “hate for attention”, our insiders say that it was a huge bone of contention within their marriage.
The source adds, “J-Lo and Ben do have a deep connection – they are just way too different. She wants the spotlight on her all the time, and that’s the opposite of Ben. He’s happiest with a low-key approach to life, doing his work and letting that speak for itself. He can’t stand the publicity game.
“He’s prepared for things to be stormy for a little while, but once this is all over he’ll be able to find his equilibrium again, and he’s confident J-Lo and their kids will, too.”
