All eyes are on the red carpet when the Met Gala rolls around each year. So, it didn’t go unnoticed when this year’s co-chair Jennifer Lopez, 54, arrived without husband Ben Affleck, 51 and speculations are rife that the songstress was not happy.
“This year was very different from last year when he didn’t go. Jen was hosting this time, and it’s no secret that she really wanted Ben to be there supporting her. Apparently, she was begging him to go right up until the last minute, but he refused and stayed in California,” unnamed source told Heat UK.
Ben's absence was apparently due to a scheduling difficulty, as he is now in Los Angeles filming “The Accountant 2,” the sequel to his 2016 action flick. However, that didn't make it any less of a blow to his wife on her big night, especially considering he had time to watch Tom Brady's Netflix roast the night prior.
“The fact Ben went on Tom’s TV show really rubbed salt in the wound for Jen. He could have easily moved his schedule around and hopped on a private jet to be with her in New York for the gala. But instead, she had to walk the red carpet solo, which was humiliating,” he insider stated.
Not only that, but Ben's appearance at “The Roast of Tom Brady” drew a lot of criticism, with fans labeling his contribution "unhinged" and a "car crash.” The “Batman” actor even closed his outburst about internet trolls by adding, "I'm probably never going to work again after tonight." This allegedly explains why he skipped one of showbiz's most high-profile nights the next day.
Ben's Met Gala rejection has done little to quell rumors about the state of his marriage, according to our source, and has "added to the embarrassment.” While Jennifer and Ben both deny that there is turmoil in paradise, the subject has apparently been discussed in Hollywood circles for months.
“The whole situation just underlines to everyone that these two have serious problems. [Jen’s co-host] Chris Hemsworth not only had his wife there for support, they also dressed in his-and-hers themed outfits. That had to sting for Jen,” the informant said.
Meanwhile, Ben has hit a breaking point with Jennifer and has “moved out” of the home they share. “The writing is on the wall – it’s over. They’re headed for a divorce – and for once, [Ben’s] not to blame!” a tipster told In Touch Magazine.
Fans have noted that Ben and Jennifer are spending more time apart in recent weeks. Despite his wife's key role as co-chair of the Met Gala on May 6, the actor did not accompany her there. Ben's stated justification for skipping the Met Gala was that he was busy filming “The Accountant 2,” but an In Touch source claims he "decided to call it quits" on his marriage to the A-list singer.
“He’s focusing on his work and his kids now. Ben already moved out and they’ll likely have to sell the dream house they spent two years searching for. They’ll never stop loving each other, but she can’t control him, and he can’t change her. There’s no way it could have lasted,” the mole said.
Jennifer embraced public exposure while Ben avoided it, which was a recurrent issue in their relationship. "Getting back together, I said, 'Listen, one of the things I don't want is a social media connection.' Then I realized it's not a fair thing to ask. It's like if you're going to marry a boat captain and say, 'Well, I don't want the water.' We're learning to compromise,” Ben divulged in the “Let’s Get Loud” singer’s documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have yet to address the ongoing divorce rumors. So, devoted supporters of the Hollywood pair should take all these unverified claims lightly until everything is proven true and correct.
