Jennifer Lopez is reportedly struggling to let go of her ex-husband Ben Affleck, even as the Oscar-winning actor attempts to move on from their highly publicized split. Friends of the couple told the National Enquirer that Lopez remains "nowhere near letting him go," while Affleck has become increasingly "exasperated" and "horrified" by her continued efforts to stay close.
The former couple, who finalized their divorce last year, have appeared together in public on several occasions linked to Kiss of the Spider Woman, the new film Lopez stars in and Affleck co-produced. Their appearance at the movie's New York premiere earlier this month reportedly reignited Lopez's hopes for reconciliation-hopes that those close to Affleck say are entirely one-sided.
"Ben went against his better judgment, and now he regrets it," a source said of Affleck's decision to attend the premiere. According to the insider, Lopez insisted his presence was "crucial" for the event, only to resume contacting him incessantly afterward. "He's been pulled back into something he's been trying to escape," the source added.
Lopez, 55, has continued to reference her ex-husband in recent interviews, often crediting him for influencing her career or artistic drive. What she frames as admiration, Affleck reportedly views as a form of manipulation. Lopez is "making light of their divorce in interviews now, and she's trying to act as though she's totally over it," the source explained. "She's nowhere near letting him go."
Those close to the couple say Lopez has also been encouraging a blended-family gathering over the upcoming holidays, hoping to reunite her 17-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with Affleck's three children with actress Jennifer Garner - Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Sam, 13. She's pushing for a family get-together "for the sake of the kids," the source said. But Ben wants peace and distance, not another round of mixed signals.
Affleck's friends reportedly fear the renewed contact could draw him back into a pattern he has worked hard to break. He feels trapped in this cycle, one friend told the outlet, describing Lopez's behavior as a return to old habits that had previously strained their relationship.
Lopez, meanwhile, has reportedly told confidantes that she still believes they are "meant to find their way back to each other." The couple's tumultuous history dates back to their first engagement in 2002, their split in 2004, and their surprise reunion and marriage nearly two decades later.
The rekindled marriage collapsed last year amid reports of creative clashes and lifestyle differences. Despite the split, Lopez has continued to signal emotional attachment to Affleck both privately and in public appearances, while he, according to insiders, has been trying to move forward firmly.
