Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s second shot at a happy ever after came crashing down last year, just 24 months after they tied the knot.
But even though their divorce was finalised in January and J.Lo is hitting the dating scene again, we are told that she’s struggling to move on – firstly, because of the impossibly high standards she has; and, secondly, because no one compares to her ex-husband.
‘Jen says she really wants to date someone, but then she quickly seems to find fault with any guy she meets,’ an insider tells heat.
‘She’s had all types of men reaching out to her – even through her agent. She’s gone on a few low-key dates, but she always seems to find some reason why it won’t work. She says she just hasn’t felt that spark, but most people think the real issue is Ben. She really bought into this idea that they were soulmates who were always destined to find their way back together. Letting that romantic notion go is proving to be very difficult.’
heat previously reported how J.Lo, 55, found it ‘painful and humiliating’ to see the viral video of Ben, 52, and his first ex-wife Jennifer Garner, also 52, earlier this month, in which he was captured wrapping his arms around her during a day out paint balling. But, our insider is quick to clarify, ‘Jennifer is very happy with her partner John [Miller], and Ben also respects that relationship.’
BAFTA-award winner Ben married Jennifer Garner in 2005, the year after he and J.Lo officially split after calling off their first engagement. They separated in 2015, but continued to co-parent their children Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 12. Their divorce was finalised three years later, and Jennifer found love again with businessman John. Meanwhile, J.Lo quickly moved on, marrying third husband, singer Marc Anthony – with whom she shares twins Emme and Max, 16.
But despite J.Lo not usually staying single for long, this time around we’re told she’s playing it cool – despite intense speculation. It was reported last week that she’d caught the eye of her new co-star, award-winning Ted Lasso creator, Brit actor Brett Goldstein, who is said to have personally cast J.Lo for their upcoming movie Office Romance.
And as J.Lo and Brett, 44, film in New Jersey, our source says, ‘They have been spending a lot of time together, and Brett has been very open about having a crush on her. By all accounts, they have great chemistry and have been very flirty. The question is whether Jen can actually put Ben out of her mind long enough to let anyone else in.’
