Their love story seemed straight from the pages of a romance movie, but rumours continue to swirl that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have come to the end of the line.
Having tied the knot only two years ago, it’s been far from an easy ride for J-Lo, 54, and Ben, 51. The pair have been plagued with several tense red carpet interactions and allegations of J-Lo’s diva tendencies leading to marital issues behind closed doors.
As reports surfaced that the couple are living “separate lives”, an insider tells Closer that J-Lo is already preparing for the worst.
They reveal, “J-Lo is telling everyone that they’re going to get through this, but Ben has totally checked out. It’s pretty clear that a divorce is imminent, and J-Lo is taking steps to protect herself. At the end of the day, J-Lo is a survivor. As much as she loves Ben, she’s also very angry with him – and you can count on her to make this as hard as she possibly can. She’d love to save things, but if she can’t, she’s vowed to at least come out on top.”
And when it comes to divorce, J-Lo’s been here before – three times, in fact. The insider says, “J-Lo knows how to handle a divorce, and she’s already been meeting with lawyers. Even though they’ve been married such a short time, there’s still a ton of assets to divvy up. She’s also hired a special crisis PR team, and they’re brainstorming how she and Ben can cut the cord with as little collateral damage as possible.”
There have been plenty of hints at trouble in paradise for the couple in recent months. After reports emerged that he was living solo in a rented Hollywood pad, Ben was spotted without his wedding band. J-Lo then appeared to fuel the rumours, stepping out at the premiere for her new Netflix movie, Atlas, alone last week, as the Gone Girl actor enjoyed an LA lads’ night out.
Ben was later spotted with his wedding ring firmly back on, before photos emerged of the couple reunited in a car together having attended a family event. In one bizarre snap, J-Lo appeared to call Ben – with the name “Jennifer Affleck” appearing on his phone screen – despite the fact she was seated beside him.
And now, the insider shares that image-conscious J-Lo is worried about her reputation. They say, “It’s crucial for J-Lo’s brand that she doesn’t appear to be dumped, and she’s explained to Ben that it’s in both their best interests to put up a united front. He made sure to flash his phone screen with J-Lo’s photo and married name on it for photographers to catch, and he agreed to put his wedding ring back on. The hope is that these photo ops will calm the frenzy down.”
“Bennifer” rocked the world back in 2022 when they rekindled their former romance and tied the knot after two decades apart. The star-crossed couple first got engaged back in 2002, before calling it quits two years later.
After their initial break-up, J-Lo – who had previously been married to producer Ojani Noa, 49, and dancer Cris Judd, 54 – went on to marry Latin musician Marc Anthony in 2004, welcoming twins Max and Emme, now 16. The couple later split in 2012.
Meanwhile, Ben found love with actress Jennifer Garner, 52 – welcoming children Violet, now 18, Seraphina “Fin”, 15, and Samuel, 12. The pair’s 13-year marriage ended in 2018, with Ben heading to rehab that same year – but despite their split, the couple have remained close. Earlier this month, Jennifer was pictured visiting her ex-husband at his Brentwood mansion.
Now the insider adds that Ben and J-Lo will do everything they can to make sure their blended brood doesn’t get caught in the fallout. They reveal, “This is extremely tough for the kids, as it’s such a huge shift for them to go from this beautiful family to this fractured cold war. Both J-Lo and Ben are desperate to shield them from any upset the best they can.”
Just last week, the couple put on a strong act as they appeared at Fin’s school play – with Emme also supporting her step sibling. The insider adds, “They both showed up for Fin’s play to settle gossip, but also to make sure the kids know they’re still a top priority.
“Putting on a united front with Ben is the best thing J-Lo can do for her image, as well as her family,” they say. “She’s still fighting to save her marriage, but at the same time, she’s preparing for the worst. J-Lo will always be ready to cover her butt – that’s just the way she does things.”
Charlotte Roberts is News and Entertainment writer for heat, Closer, Grazia, Bella, and Yours, working at Bauer since July 2022.