It’s only been a matter of weeks since it was confirmed that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s fairy-tale romance had come to an end, but the drama surrounding them is far from over.
After Jennifer filed for divorce last month, rumours began that Gone Girl star Ben had already moved on, forging a connection with heiress Kick Kennedy. But Ben’s team were quick to deny the claims, insisting, ‘They are not now or have ever dated’.
Now, a source tells heat that Ben, 51, imposed a dating blanket ban on himself, as he’s determined to keep on 55-year-old Jen’s good side. With the couple reportedly not having a prenup, they’re now faced with dividing up the £489million worth of joint assets – a fact, we’re told, that has made Ben nervous about rocking the boat.
‘How smoothly the divorce goes is going to depend entirely on Ben and Jen playing nice, which means he’s got no choice but to suck it up and be as accommodating to her as possible,’ an insider tells heat. ‘He’s pretty much living in fear of her right now, which is why he made such a big point of denying the Kick rumours.’
It was reported that socialite Kick, 36 – who, as the second eldest daughter of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, is part of the famous political dynasty – had been spotted with Ben on more than one occasion. But a spokesperson for Ben quickly shut down speculation, saying, ‘There is no truth to any of it.’
Our source claims that, while Ben is keen to get back on the dating scene, he’s unlikely to go public with potential romances any time soon. ‘He really wants to start having fun again, and he’s got so many hot women blowing up his phone, but he’s putting a halt on dating plans. He can’t risk upsetting Jen,’ we’re told.
‘From his point of view, it’s frustrating that he’s being held back from having fun, but he can’t risk it. He’s hoping she’ll want to wrap up this divorce quickly, but she could easily drag it out if he does anything to trigger her.’
Rumours of trouble in paradise for Bennifer – who tied the knot in July 2022, 18 years after they called off their first engagement – had been rife for months. The actor reportedly moved out of the couple’s Beverly Hills mansion in May, where they lived with their family, made up of J.Lo’s twins Max and Emme, both 16, who she shares with ex Marc Anthony, 55, and Ben’s children Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, who he shares with ex- wife Jennifer Garner, 52.
Despite their split, we’re told that Ben is still feeling trapped. ‘Ben’s big complaint about his marriage was how controlling it was, so you can imagine how upsetting it is that Jen essentially still has control,’ says our source.
‘He’s basically at her mercy – if he doesn’t behave the way she wants, she could make it all that much more miserable for him. That’s the last thing he needs, especially with their kids involved.
‘When Jen filed the papers, she did it with the intention of getting this divorce done as quickly as possible, but if Kick or someone else appears in Ben’s life, there’s nothing, to stop her from changing tactics.
‘She’s got enough money to drag this on indefinitely. If Ben knows what’s good for him, he’ll keep his dating on ice until he’s divorced.’