Ben Affleck was recently seen enjoying a dinner date with his eldest daughter, Violet, in Los Angeles, notably without his wedding ring. The 51-year-old Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker was photographed heading to Tasty Noodle restaurant with his 18-year-old daughter, dressed casually in a black-and-white plaid overshirt, a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. This sighting has fueled ongoing rumors about potential marital issues between Affleck and his wife, Jennifer Lopez.
Affleck shares Violet, along with daughter Seraphina, 15, and son Samuel, 12, with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. The couple, who married in 2005, announced their separation in 2015 and finalized their divorce in October 2018. Now, Affleck is rumored to be facing another potential divorce, this time from Jennifer Lopez.
Just days before Affleck’s dinner date with Violet, Jennifer Lopez was spotted vacationing solo in Positano, Italy. Photos and videos obtained by TMZ showed the “Jenny From the Block” singer enjoying her time at a hotel, further fueling speculation about the state of her marriage to Affleck. The couple, who tied the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, have been the subject of numerous reports suggesting they are on the verge of a split.
At the end of May, a source close to the couple told ET that Affleck and Lopez were aware of their issues and were desperately trying to save their marriage. “Ben and Jen don’t want to get divorced,” the source shared, adding that the pair “are saying they won’t, but their relationship is simply not working at this point. They aren’t done yet and want to fix things because they love each other, but they are also both unhappy.”
Despite these efforts, another source told ET just weeks later that the couple was living apart and operating almost completely independently. However, Affleck and Lopez have continued to be seen out together, often wearing their wedding rings, which has added to the confusion surrounding their relationship status.
Affleck recently addressed his marriage to Lopez during an episode of Kevin Hart’s talk show series on Peacock, “Hart to Heart.” While he didn’t directly address the speculation or reports of troubles in his marriage, he did express admiration for Lopez’s impact on her fans. “She’s so famous… [and] people love her, and she really represents something important to people,” Affleck told Hart. “[With me,] people are like, ‘Hey, I like your movie.’ [But] then they’re like ‘AAAHHHH! J.Lo!,'” he exclaimed. “It’s amazing.”
Affleck recounted an experience where he and Lopez, along with their five children, were headed to a play in New York. The group included Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, as well as Lopez’s 16-year-old twins Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony. The entire group was caught in the chaos of Times Square, with fans swarming around them. “We were going to a play, and I was like, ‘F**k it, babe, we’re going to be late, we gotta walk a block and a half.’ And she was like, ‘All right.’ She didn’t say s**t,” Affleck recalled. However, the plan didn’t account for the fervor generated by Lopez walking down the street with her kids in public.
Amid the ongoing rumors of marital strife, ET learned earlier this month that the couple is quietly trying to sell the $60.8 million estate they bought together in May 2023. Lopez has also been spotted looking at other properties in recent weeks. Additionally, Lopez revealed in late May that she would not be embarking on her previously announced 30+ city tour, “This Is Me… Live,” in support of her new album, “This Is Me… Now.” In a message to her fans via her OntheJLO newsletter, Lopez expressed her apologies, stating, “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…”
A source told ET at the time that the singer canceled her tour because “she wants to focus on her family and the stress from it has been a lot for her.”
Despite the rumors and reports, Affleck and Lopez have continued to present a united front in public. However, the couple’s recent actions, such as Affleck being spotted without his wedding ring and Lopez vacationing solo in Italy, have only added to the speculation about the future of their marriage.
As the couple navigates their personal challenges, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to overcome their issues and stay together. For now, fans and the media continue to keep a close eye on their every move, eager to see what the future holds for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
Source: ET, TMZ, DailyMail.com
