Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are dealing with a lengthy round of breakup rumors that—much like the film Gigli—have left everyone shocked and confused. Between reports claiming they’re no longer living together, paparazzi pics of them looking perfectly happy, J.Lo’s sudden tour cancellation (more on that below), and blurry images of Ben without his wedding ring, we are living through uncertain times. So naturally, we’ve gathered all the available info in one place to make sense of it.
Ben and Jen Are Living Apart...and Not Speaking
Their housing situation has been confirmed by multiple sources and in multiple outlets. First, TMZ reported on May 16 that Ben has been staying at a Brentwood home all by himself. This was confirmed by Us Weekly later that same day, and then on May 19, an Entertainment Tonight source claimed, “They have been staying in separate homes and the tension has been high.”
On May 28, an Us Weekly source said they communicate “primarily to discuss essential matters and updates.” Then on June 28, People reported that Ben was “moving his belongings” out of their home. And most recently, on July 27, TMZ reported that Ben had purchased a $20.5 million home...which he bought on J.Lo’s birthday.
Meanwhile, TMZ reported on August 5 that Ben and J.Lo aren’t on speaking terms, which is slowing down their divorce process.
J.Lo Is Still Wearing Her Ring
Here she is on May 17 (divorce headlines were dominating the news cycle at this point) visibly wearing her ring in front of paparazzi photographers while smiling.
She also wore it in the Hamptons on the Fourth of July:
But Ben Has Been Spotted Without His Ring
Ben was seen without his ring on May 17 (the same day this first photo of Jen ^^ was taken) in images published by TMZ. But his ring was back on his finger just two days later on May 19.
J.Lo Canceled Her Entire Tour Amid the Rumors
On May 31, Jen announced that she was canceling her entire This Is Me...Live tour because she is “taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends.”
Writing about the decision to scratch the tour, the singer wrote, “I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time…”
They’re Officially Selling Their House
The pair publicly listed their home for sale despite Jen’s wishes to do so under the radar. According to TMZ, their asking price is $68 million, which could potentially be a loss due to the amount of work and renovations they put into it.
A source dished to Us Weekly that Jennifer is allegedly “distraught” by the situation, saying, “She wants to sell their house off-market to try and get less attention surrounding it. Ben doesn’t care about the negative attention. He’s been through this before and it doesn’t faze him.” The source also revealed that Bennifer “can’t get on the same page [and] have been discussing divorce as an option.”
FYI: This All Started in the Tabloids
Rumors about Ben and Jen kicked off thanks to a tabloid report from InTouch on May 15. They spoke to an “insider” who said, “The writing is on the wall—it’s over. They’re headed for a divorce—and for once, [Ben’s] not to blame!”
This insider also claimed the couple “never stop loving each other, but she can’t control him, and he can’t change her.”
They‘re on “Different Pages”
Sources have remained cryptic about why Jen and Ben are having marriage problems. Us Weekly spoke to someone back in May who said, “They started having issues a few months ago as Jen had started ramping up work commitments and prepping for her tour. Jen is very focused on work. They are on two completely different pages most of the time.”
A source also told People at the time that the couple “did not celebrate Mother’s Day together,” while another Us Weekly insider said finances and parenting “have exacerbated” their issues.
Meanwhile, an Entertainment Tonight insider said, “Ben feels like Jen has a hard time feeling satisfied and that’s one of the issues they’re facing. Ben is one of the only people who feels comfortable enough to be honest and real with Jen. It’s part of why Jen loves him but also why she’s upset with him.”
Jennifer Liked a Post About Unhealthy Relationships
The post in question (from March 19) read: “You cannot build a healthy relationship with somebody” who “lacks integrity and emotional safety,” “doesn’t respect your time, doesn’t think it’s important to call/text back in a respectable time frame,” “lacks effective communication skills,” and “doesn’t know who they are or what they want.”
Divorce Papers Are Ready but Not Filed
In late July, the Daily Mail spoke to multiple sources who said Bennifer’s divorce papers are “finalized” but “not yet turned in.”
Per one insider who’s reportedly “close” to the couple, “They finalized the divorce papers with her a month ago but are waiting for the right time to drop them. At that time, they will release a joint statement that will say how they have much love for each other and how they fought to make it work but couldn’t. Honestly, in the end they could not come to a compromise. What they had before is gone and they have both accepted it.”
This is a change from the vibes in June, when a source told Daily Mail that J.Lo remained committed to saving their marriage:
“She wants this marriage to work so much that she is willing to make any sacrifice including giving up being J.Lo. She doesn’t want to be divorced. She doesn’t want to end up like Madonna—on her own at 60.”
HOWEVER, most recently in August, Page Six said that the pair are planning to file for divorce in September. (Note: this is also when they have a movie coming out.)
Jennifer Garner Is Rooting for Them
A source spoke to Us Weekly about Jennifer’s thoughts on all the Bennifer divorce rumors and said, “Jennifer Garner is encouraging Ben to work on his marriage to Jen. She fully supports their relationship and wants nothing more than for him to be happy.”
More recently, a Daily Mail source said, “Jen eventually got to a place where she was like, ‘Sorry, figure this out yourself.’ It was beginning to become too painful for her because it was bringing back so many memories of their divorce.”
A Reporter Straight-Up Asked J.Lo About the Divorce Rumors
During a press event for her new film Atlas, J.Lo was legit asked, “Is your divorce with Ben Affleck real?”
Her response? “You know better than that” Yiiiiiikes.
They Were Last Seen Together in May
Ben and Jen were spotted together in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 30, while heading to an event for Violet Affleck’s high school graduation. Ben’s mom, Chris Anne Boldt, was also in tow and walked behind the pair.
J.Lo’s Family Wants Her to File for Divorce
According to a Daily Mail source, the singer’s mom, Guadalupe Rodríguez, told her, “Cut your losses and move on to avoid getting any deeper in this mess.”
“She told her that she’s wasted years believing that Ben was some kind of knight in shining armor,” the source said. “He was not the person she built him up to be. It’s taken too much of a toll on her and because of this she has lost sight of who she is and what she stands for.”
Meanwhile, J.Lo’s sisters “want her to file for divorce first and get on with her life—focus on her kids and career.”
As for how J.Lo feels, a source told Page Six in August that "she’s furious," adding "He has humiliated her. He was the one who initiated getting back together. He’s humiliated her because she made a big deal that he’s the love of her life. They just had two weddings two years ago. This is some kind of a record, they’re not young kids.”
They Didn’t Spend the Fourth of July Together...or Their Anniversary
Per reporting by People, a source close to J.Lo revealed the musician spent the holiday “with family and friends” in the Hamptons in New York, a place she “always enjoys.” “
Ben, on the other hand, was reportedly in Los Angeles, where he visited his office and spent time with his three children.
The couple also spent their second wedding anniversary apart, but J.Lo was joined by Ben’s daughter Violet:
According to a source who spoke to Entertainment Tonight, J.Lo and Violet “have gotten close throughout Jen and Ben’s relationship, and maintaining that closeness is important to everyone.”
“Ben certainly doesn’t want to cause any strain between Jen and Violet, and he is in support of them spending time together,” the source added. “It’s a little tricky for him, but both Jen and Ben want all their kids to be happy, regardless of the issues they are facing in their marriage.”
They're Waiting to File for a Specific Reason
According to an Entertainment Tonight source, Bennifer "waiting to announce their official split, because they want to make sure everything is seamless when they do, especially with everyone involved. Neither of them want this process to be rushed. They are treating the separation with as much grace, understanding, and gentleness as they can."
Plus, "They want to make sure the kids are comfortable with the transition and where they are living, etcetera. They don't want to make it feel like they're pulling the rug from underneath their children. They're making a mutual effort to ensure that this transition is as healthy and easy as possible."
We’ll keep you updated with the latest on Ben and Jen’s relationship.
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