In what was once hailed as a rekindled Hollywood romance for the ages, the marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez is now teetering on the brink of collapse. According to insiders, the relationship that reignited nearly two decades after their initial split has been marred by mounting tensions, with both stars allegedly headed for a divorce after a tumultuous year.
Jennifer Lopez, who had believed she had finally found her "happily ever after" with Affleck, is now grappling with the sudden unraveling of her dream. "J.Lo doesn't know how it came to this," a source close to the couple revealed. "She really thought she'd finally found her happily ever after, and then Ben pulled the rug out from under her." The strain between the two has reportedly reached a point where they are giving each other the silent treatment, with Lopez trying to maintain a brave front in public while seething on the inside.
The turning point appears to have been Lopez's 55th birthday, which she spent in the Hamptons without Affleck by her side. While Lopez celebrated with friends and family on the East Coast, Affleck remained in California, closing a deal on a multi-million-dollar bachelor pad in the Pacific Palisades. This move, described by an insider as "the closure of the relationship," left Lopez feeling humiliated and abandoned.
Affleck's actions in recent months have raised eyebrows, with the actor reportedly oscillating between wearing his wedding ring and taking it off. "The fact that he bought a new home while she was celebrating her birthday in the Hamptons was really humiliating for her," the source noted. "Plus, one day he has his ring on, and the next day it's off - it's like he's gaslighting her."
Adding to the drama, Lopez made a statement of her own by switching her engagement ring to her right hand during a public appearance in New York City on August 1. This move, which came after a series of significant snubs by Affleck - including their second wedding anniversary passing without acknowledgment - signaled that Lopez may be ready to take control of the narrative.
The couple, who married in a Las Vegas elopement in July 2022, followed by a formal wedding at Affleck's Georgia estate, have reportedly been struggling for some time. "The writing is on the wall - it's over," an insider claimed back in May, predicting the pair's impending split. "She can't control him, and he can't change her. There's no way it could have lasted."
Affleck, who debuted a "midlife makeover" in early August, complete with a fauxhawk and a new wardrobe, has been described as "desperately lame" by those close to Lopez. "A member of Jen's staff sent her a photo of Ben and her jaw just about hit the floor," a source revealed. "She thinks it's desperately lame, and that he's clearly having a midlife crisis."
As the couple's marriage continues to deteriorate, communication between them has reportedly broken down entirely, with both sides now communicating through their assistants and lawyers. "Whatever civility there was is gone. The gloves are off, and both sides are making demands and refusing to bend," the insider said. While fans speculate about an impending divorce announcement, sources suggest that Affleck is holding back, waiting for Lopez to file first. "He's trying to be a gentleman," the source noted, "but Jennifer finds it annoying, like he's leaving the dirty work for her."
Despite the escalating tensions, both Affleck and Lopez are reportedly committed to protecting their children from the fallout. Affleck shares three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, while Lopez has twins with ex-husband Marc Anthony. "Jen and Ben know they must protect the kids and keep them out of it," the source emphasized. "Neither of them want to hurt or stress them out more than they already have been."
As the once fairytale romance seems to be unraveling before the public's eyes, Lopez is reportedly trying to view this challenging time as an opportunity for a fresh start. "It has been a hard year with some unexpected realizations, changes, and obstacles, but Jen is trying to view her 55th birthday as a fresh start," an insider shared. Yet, with Affleck's recent actions and the couple's ongoing silence, it remains to be seen whether this chapter in their lives will end in reconciliation or a very public split.
