The ex-spouses celebrated their 13-year-old son Samuel’s birthday together at a paintball club near Los Angeles. Ben appeared happy in Jennifer’s company, with Affleck gently hugging Garner during the game. A source close to Lopez shared that the paparazzi photos upset the 55-year-old actress and singer, who divorced the two-time Oscar winner in February.
“Lopez saw the paintball photos when the whole world had already seen them, and of course, it made her reflect on the time she spent with Ben,” the insider said.
The photos confirmed long-standing doubts Hollywood star Lopez had regarding Affleck’s relationship with his 52-year-old ex-wife. “Jennifer’s friends doubt that Jen Garner and Ben are just friends. She felt betrayed because she spent so much time supporting Ben through his struggles and endured a tough year while their marriage was falling apart. The way he quickly started spending more time with Garner only increased her concerns about his relationship with her while they were married,” the insider added.
Ben and J-Lo dated in the early 2000s, and the actors rekindled their relationship in 2021, marrying in Las Vegas the following July. The couple purchased a $68 million home in Beverly Hills. But their fairy tale couldn’t last forever: the couple was already unhappy during their honeymoon in Italy.
By 2024, the situation quickly deteriorated. Affleck moved out of their family home and began renting a $100,000-a-month apartment in Brentwood, just two blocks from Garner’s house. His ex-wife, whom he was married to from 2005 to 2018, soon started visiting there frequently. The actors maintained a friendly relationship after their divorce, and aside from their son, they have two daughters—19-year-old Violet and 16-year-old Seraphina.
However, another close friend of Jennifer Lopez shared that she wasn’t jealous of Ben’s relationship with the Elektra star. “J-Lo never felt jealous of Jen. Garner and Affleck are parents to three children, and that’s the connection they have. Jennifer doesn’t always see photos or videos of Jen and Ben together; she doesn’t seek them out, but when she does see them, she knows they’re together for a reason, and it’s usually related to their kids.”
The Hustlers star noticed the rekindling of the romantic relationship between Affleck and Garner. “If Jen and Ben got back together, what would J-Lo say? Not much, because she did it herself. She wants Ben to be happy, and if that means with the mother of his children, then so be it. J-Lo truly believes in real love, and everyone follows their own path, and she knows that the children of Garner and Affleck would really like it,” the source added.
