Ben Affleck was spotted wearing his wedding ring while out with friends in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday, May 21, amid growing speculation about the state of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez. The 51-year-old actor was seen in a casual ensemble, sporting tan jeans and a navy button-up shirt, with his wedding band prominently displayed on his left hand. Earlier that evening, Affleck dined at the upscale Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.
Meanwhile, Lopez, 54, walked the red carpet solo for the premiere of her upcoming movie Atlas at the Plaza Toreo Parque Central in Mexico City. The singer-actress donned a stunning white Chloé gown with oversized ruffles and a plunging neckline. The flowing design covered her arms and hands, making it unclear if she was wearing her wedding ring.
This is not the first event Lopez has attended alone amidst reports of marital issues. On Monday, May 20, she stepped out solo for the Netflix sci-fi movie premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, while Affleck was filming The Accountant 2.
Sources close to the couple, who tied the knot in 2022 after rekindling their early 2000s romance, have indicated that their marriage is facing challenges. A source told PEOPLE on Tuesday that their relationship "is not in the best place at the moment," with the couple reportedly living a few miles apart from each other.
A music source revealed that Lopez and Affleck have different approaches to their personal lives, stating, "She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world. He is more introspective and private. This has been difficult day-to-day." Despite these differences, a film source noted that Affleck has "always been impressed about how she works so hard and has achieved so much success. But the openness and promotion is not his way."
An insider who spoke to Entertainment Tonight shed further light on the couple's issues, revealing that "Ben feels like Jen has a hard time feeling satisfied and that's one of the issues they're facing." The source added that Affleck is one of the few people who can be honest and real with Lopez, which is part of why she loves him but also why she's currently upset with him.
The source emphasized that the couple is going through normal problems and that nothing scandalous is happening. However, they also mentioned that Lopez, who tries to play off her indifference to public opinion, is affected by her fans' feedback.
A source who spoke to Page Six offered a more dramatic perspective, suggesting that Affleck feels like the last two years have been a "fever dream" and that he has come to his senses, realizing there is no way the marriage can work. The source even went as far as to say that if there was a way to divorce on grounds of temporary insanity, Affleck would do so.
Despite these reports, the couple was recently filmed smiling together in a car, offering a glimmer of hope for their relationship. As Lopez continues to promote her new movie Atlas and Affleck focuses on his own projects, fans and the media alike will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how the couple navigates this challenging period in their marriage.
