FANS were thrilled by the prospect of ‘Bennifer 2.0’ when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reunited three years ago.
But in recent weeks, it’s been claimed the couple’s marriage is on the rocks and insiders say “there is no way this is going to work” due to the public intrigue about their romance.
Ben and J-Lo initially dated for two years until 2004 but got back together in 2021 and tied the knot not one but twice the following year.
Rumours about marital difficulties emerged earlier this month after the couple hadn’t been seen together publicly for seven weeks and it was claimed Ben moved out of their £47million mansion.
Despite putting on a united front last week – including wearing their wedding rings – sources say there is trouble bubbling under the surface and Ben has “checked out” of the marriage.
Yesterday, a source close to Ben told Page Six: “If there was a way to divorce on grounds of temporary insanity, he would.
“He feels like the last two years was just a fever dream and he’s come to his senses now and understands there is just no way this is going to work.”
As conflicting narratives continue to emerge, The Sun spoke to behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, who has analysed their relationship.
She tells us: “J-Lo and Ben are at a critical stage in their marriage. I’m not a psychic but the next few weeks will be pivotal as to where they make it work or part ways.
“Like a lot of couples who get back together for a second time, their relationship’s survival depends on them setting boundaries, reminding themselves of those boundaries and maintaining them.
“They are at a fragile point in their relationship where it can be salvaged but one of the keys to doing this will be not posting anything on social media that hints or misdirects people about the state of their marriage.”
Jo suspects the couple’s relationship problems may have been amplified because J-Lo has faced a few difficulties in her professional career.
Fans were unimpressed with her science fiction flick This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, which was branded “absolute cringe” and “creative narcissism” by fans.
Her tour has struggled to hit the high notes too. Earlier this month reports emerged that there were ‘crisis talks’ with her management about cancelling tour dates due to poor ticket sales.
An insider told Variety the fans weren’t as invested because she had become “overexposed and has put herself out there way too much.”
Jo says these stresses and the fear her popularity may dwindle could cause additional pressure for her and Ben’s relationship.
He doesn’t know how to behave and does this weird left-field behaviour, which will make people more curious than reassured.
Jo Hemmings
She says: “J-Lo’s latest album isn’t really taking off and that is bound to be putting strain on the relationship.
“If she’s struggling in her career, that will make her anxious, stressed, tetchy. All those things are not good qualities to have when you’re in a marriage going through troubles.”
In recent weeks, insiders have claimed the couple’s problems stem from J-Lo love of the limelight contrasting with Ben’s preference for privacy.
Since reuniting the musician has used their relationship as fodder for her new album, titled This Is Me…Now, and documentary film The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
In the footage, Ben was often seen scowling and rolling his eyes – especially when J-Lo unveiled love letters from their romance during the 2000s.
Talking about his decision to appear in the doc, he said: “Things that are private, I’d always felt are sacred and special. So this was something of an adjustment for me.”
Even Jennifer noted that Ben felt “uncomfortable” about their love story being used to create her album This Is Me… Now and opening up their home to film crews.
Jo says she is “surprised” Ben allowed camera crews into their homes and the tension on-screen highlights they have “two very different relationship styles”.
She tells us: “Ben would consider discussing love letters and intimate elements of the relationship ‘too much’ to be sharing with the public.
“But for J-Lo, she would consider it a validation and endorsement of the happiness of their relationship, so there’s no wrong and right here.
“There needs to be balance and a middle ground that they need to find and agree on and to keep those boundaries to avoid more difficulties.”
Jo says it’s important for any couple who has reunited to work through the issues that plagued them the first time they were together.
She explained: “One of the early warning signs was that it didn’t appear that they had worked through how they were going to publicize their relationship.
By Teresa Roca
JENNIFER Lopez gushed love is “twenty years patient” when she wed Ben Affleck two decades after they called off their wedding in 2002, but now it seems their fairytale wasn’t worth the wait.
JLo, 54, and Ben, 51, had a whirlwind romance when they began dating in March 2002, as Ben proposed just four months later.
But in September of that year, the stars postponed their wedding just three days before, as they released in a statement: “When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realised that something was awry.
“We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised.”
They ultimately announced their split in January 2004 after 18 months together.
Jennifer married singer Marc Anthony six months later and welcomed twins Emme and Max, now 16, before their divorce in 2014.
Ben went on to tie the knot with actress Jennifer Garner, who he shares three children with, in 2005. They divorced in 2018.
After a series of relationships, they reunited in 2021 and eloped in Las Vegas at the Little White Wedding Chapel.
They then had a second wedding at Ben’s $7million Georgia mansion.
During their marriage, fans have noticed tension between the couple.
During a coffee run last year, Ben seemed “miserable” and appeared to slam a car door while helping Jen into the passenger seat.
The singer was even caught on camera seemingly snapping at Ben at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
And now the love story appears to have officially ended. Ben has reportedly moved out of their $47million Beverly Hills mansion, as Jennifer was seen house hunting.
The couple hasn’t been seen together in seven weeks and during their last public outing, they appeared tense.
JLo even attended the Met Gala without Ben earlier this month.
“She publicity loves the press and social media and details every aspect of her life, whereas Ben is much more resistant and more reluctant to have that going on.
“That caused issues because he craves a private relationship, he doesn’t want it to be scrutinised or reported on at every step.”
Reflecting on why his and J-Lo’s relationship failed to work out in the 2000s, Ben previously said: “The catalyst for that was the amount of scrutiny around our private life.
“I had a very firm sense of boundaries, initially, around the Press… While Jen, I don’t think objected to it in the way I did.”
Jo explains that finding “the balance” can be difficult for high-profile celebrity couples due to the need to remain relevant without giving too much away.
“There is no escaping from the public’s want to forensically look at and investigate a high-profile couple’s relationship,” she says.
“But there is a difference between giving tastes for people to look at and encouraging them to talk about your relationship.
“Some get around this by putting up professional photos or a moment on holiday. I think J-Lo is doing too much and Ben doesn’t like it.
“There’s no doubt they are in love but love isn’t everything and they need to have agreements in place about how they handle themselves publicly.
“For example, it may be ‘I will display myself and show myself more often if you pull back from constantly posting.”
This week, fans were baffled when Ben appeared to give a coded message to photographers while driving around with J-Lo.
The actor flashed his phone screen at cameras, which showed he was calling his wife – despite her being sat beside him – and she was listed as ‘Jennifer Affleck’.
Some suggested that could be proof that the couple were on the right track and working through their marital difficulties.
Branding the move “very bizarre”, Jo tells us: “I couldn’t see what Ben was trying to achieve but perhaps it indicates his awkwardness at the whole prospect of being seen publicly.
J-Lo has acknowledged the facts that things have got to a pretty poor state and that Ben is checking out of their relationship.
Jo Hemmings
“He doesn’t know how to behave and does this weird left-field behaviour, which will make people more curious than reassured.”
Amid the relationship turmoil, Ben was pictured with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner who is believed to be a “go-between” for the couple.
The actress and Ben, who share three children, have remained close friends since their divorce in 2018.
An insider told US Weekly that Jennifer is “encouraging Ben to work on his marriage” and understands how a spotlight “can put a strain” on relationships.
The source said: “She fully supports their relationship and wants nothing more than for him to be happy.”
Jo tells us it’s “a good sign” that J-Lo reached out to Jennifer for help and believes the star may serve as a mediator for them.
She says: “It’s very indicative that J-Lo wants it to work, she is an excellent go-between for them without any strong agenda – she’s not looking to get Ben back and is not jealous of their relationship.
“It shows J-Lo has acknowledged the facts that things have got to a pretty poor state and that Ben is checking out of their relationship.
“Reaching out to Jennifer, whose relationship with Ben ended for not hugely dissimilar reasons, shows J-Lo is enthusiastic and wants the relationship to work.
“Jennifer understands how to get through to Ben, who seems to have fled the scene apart from odd appearances, and is the right person to help them through this rough patch.”
Ultimately, Jo concludes that the future for Ben and J-Lo is dependent on them setting boundaries.
She says: “I hope there is a way back for them but they have to resolve all the issues they had in the past and set boundaries.
“They have to agree, if they want to make it work, that sacrifice, work and compromise have to be wholly funneled into their marriage and not allow anything to distract them from that.”
