She’s been putting on a brave face since her split from Ben Affleck earlier this year, but behind the scenes, sources tell heat that Jennifer Lopez is feeling humiliated as he spends an increasing amount of time with ex Jennifer Garner.
Ben and first wife Jennifer – who separated in 2015, and divorced three years later – recently spent a very cosy Thanksgiving together with their children, Violet, 19, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, volunteering at the Midnight Mission in LA. The former couple, both 52, were all smiles as they were seen serving meals to the homeless alongside their brood. And we’re told that the happy family reunion has left J.Lo, 55, worrying about how close the spouses really are.
An insider reveals, ‘Jen felt threatened by Jennifer for almost all of her marriage – the way Ben would run to her for advice any time they had a fight drove her crazy.’
Ben and J.Lo – who were first got engaged in 2002, but dramatically broke up just days before their wedding – filed for divorce back in August following two years of marriage after reuniting in 2021. Months before their official split, Ben moved out of their Beverly Hills mansion where they lived with their blended family, Jen’s twins Max and Emme, 16 – whom she shares with her ex, Marc Anthony – and Ben’s three children. While Ben spent the holidays with Jennifer and their kids, J.Lo celebrated at home.
Posting a picture on Instagram of herself posing with a roast turkey, the singer captioned it, ‘I hope everybody had a beautiful and happy Thanksgiving. I am so incredibly grateful for all of you.’
Our source says that she was left even more upset after Ben had promised he would be coming to her family Thanksgiving dinner, but pulled out of their plans last minute.
‘Jen had every reason to believe she and Ben were going to be spending a lot of time together over the holidays, because he promised that he’d spilt his time 50/50 between her and Jennifer Garner,’ we’re told. ‘But then when he flaked on their plans and had dinner at Jennifer’s instead, it was humiliating for Jen because she’d told everyone that Ben would be there for her dinner.’
Ben and Jennifer Garner, who has been dating businessman John Miller since 2018, were together for over a decade after tying the knot in 2005. Their divorce came in the midst of Ben’s struggles with alcoholism, but the pair have remained close, co-parenting their children and attending various family functions together. Back in 2021, Ben spoke about their split, saying, ‘We did it amicably… Did we have moments of tension? Yes. But fundamentally it was always underpinned with a respect.’
He added, ‘We had a marriage that didn't work, this happens, with somebody that I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn't be married any longer. Ultimately, we tried, we tried, we tried, because we had kids. Both of us felt like we don't want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage.’ Two years later, in a different interview, he revealed that they still ‘care about each other’ and ‘have respect for each other.’
Proving that they’re still on good terms, the pair have been spotted with each other on numerous occasions in recent times. Just last month, they were seen arriving at an LA community event together, shortly before J.Lo turned up separately. Two months previously, Jen G visited Ben on his birthday at his rental home, just days after he filed for divorce from J.Lo. And, in June, they spent Father’s Day together as a family
Our source reveals that while J.Lo has been left feeling like their marriage didn’t matter, she’s trying to put a brave face on it. ‘All Jen can do is hope that his conscience kicks in and he realises their blended family should still be a priority. In the meantime she’s making sure she’s out and about looking her best, because she’ll be damned if she’s going to give him, or Jennifer, the pleasure of seeing her fall apart.’