Both US Magazine and Page Six claimed to have an exclusive late yesterday with the news the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have fled to the Bahamas with their kids. People has the news of course too, with similar quotes about how these two are great parents and how they’re trying to shield their kids from the media, which is smart and definitely in their best interests.
It’s worth noting that none of the tabloids had this split on their cover in the latest editions. Ben and Jen dropped this news on a holiday week when they knew the print media would be slower to pick it up. They also have meticulously controlled the information in the press, to the point where they’re giving different but complementary insider quotes to the major celebrity outlets. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had an entire media team working on controlling the story surrounding their divorce. It’s like they took a page from Goop’s divorce playbook and took it to the next level. Here are the latest themes in the Garner-Affleck divorce PR narrative.
They’re in the Bahamas to protect their kids
US Magazine’s source: “They got the kids out of L.A. as soon as school was out. [The Bahamas] is a place they’ve been going to for years that’s very private and special for their kids. When either of them have had work commitments they have been leaving to go fulfill them.”
Page Six’s source: “It was important for both Ben and Jen to get away from the media spotlight and spend quiet time with the kids. They have been spending a lot of time with the kids. This has been hard for everyone, but they are both doing everything to put the kids first.”
People’s source: “They plan on co-parenting and doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids… They were together as a family that day [they announced the divorce]. The family felt it was important to be together and they were together. The family is united and, no matter what, will protect the kids.”
Ben is miserable; Jen is doing great
People’s source: “This isn’t easy for anyone and it’s devastating to Ben too. He loves his family and will always put them first.”
Page Six’s source: “Ben looked more gray then usual [on vacation in the Bahamas], but Jen was in great spirits. Jen seemed in a great mood, and was spotted working out with a trainer. The gray — it’s a concern. Ben and Jen are just worried about how the kids will adjust. That’s why they went away together.”
They’re modeling their divorce after Paltrow and Martin
US Magazine’s source: “They are going to try and model their divorce like Gwyneth and Chris. They feel like they have to be mature adults for their children’s sake and that they will figure out the healthiest way to co-parent. They want the kids lives to stay the same and to not have to change just because they aren’t going to be married anymore.”
Again, they’re great parents when Ben is around
People’s source: “Ben was a family man when he could be and his kids adore him. He traveled a lot but when he is with the kids he’s really with them, taking them out for treats, having fun with them. And there is nothing more important to Jen than being a good mom.”
People’s source (2nd story): “Ben is a good dad when he is around, but he has so many outside interests and personal issues to get beyond.”
Ben wasn’t present
People’s source (2nd story): “He’s like a ’50s dad. He thinks work is your priority and providing money for your family is your priority, and raising the kids day to day and making a nice house is the wife’s priority. It leaves too much of the burden on Jen to be a mom and dad to the children when she also has a career.”
People also has quotes from a “childhood pal” of Jennifer Garner’s, who repeats the claim that “They’re really great parents. They’re really involved.” Jennifer’s friend also states that Jennifer told her Ben was her “soul mate” a few years ago.
The Garner-Affleck divorce was planned to a T and that not only benefits their images, it should also hopefully keep things as stable as possible for their three young kids. I’m not buying this claim that Ben is miserable, though. Ben was miserable in the marriage and he was miserable being tied down. He’s probably thrilled to have his freedom now, even if that means he has to play this media game for a while.
Affleck covers the new issue of EW as Batman along with his Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice costars Henry Cavill and Gal Godot. (EW also has new photos from the film, which is out in March, 2016.) In the accompanying interview, Affleck calls Batman “the American version of Hamlet” and adds that Batman is beat down somewhat. “He’s at the end of his run and maybe the end of his life. There’s this sort of world-weariness to it.” Affleck also dissed his first, earlier superhero role, in 2003’s Daredevil, where he co-starred with his future first wife. “Daredevil didn’t work, at all. If I wanted to go viral I would be less polite. That was before people realized you could make these movies and make them well.” Yeah this guy really does need a media team.
Photo credit: Janet Mayer/PRPhotos, WENN.com
Oy. Can we call this Self-Consciously Uncoupling?
Love this ^
People divorce amicably every day. Gweneth and Chris are not the first to do so and will not be the last to do so. I would expect no less from Jennifer and Ben. But then again I’m a forever optimist and always try to look at the good in people.
Exactly even Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt went on holiday after announcing they will divorce.
actually it was before announcing the divorce.
but swack is correct.. Gwyneth and Chris are not the first couple to make divorce not a war.
I remember those pictures, that looked like one incredibly uncomfortable vacation. Brad’s infamous “Trash” (or was it “Garbage”?) shirt anyone?
@Bridget..
IIRC Brad left at one point for a couple of days to go to a baseball game with his brother/father
Thank you! Let’s not over inflate Gwenyth’s ego anymore than it already is.
Most separating couples who fight tend to do so over $$$$$$. In this case, as well as GP&CM, money is clearly no object, as all the parties are wealthy in their own right. As with most things in life, a big fat cushion of $$$$$$ in all directions makes everything a whole lot easier to deal with, then when one of the parties is desperately trying to get their hands on the richer party’s cash, as we’ve been seeing with Sherri Shepherd & her ghastly, gold digging ex
Sometimes it’s not about the money and totally about control. Some men and women don’t want to give up control of anything so the divorce is not so nice.
Damn right it does. As someone who grew up dirt poor, lived paycheck-to-paycheck through most of her 20’s, and finally has financial comfort and safety, I can say that IMO, money does cushion a great many blows. Blows that would otherwise devastate poor folks. Especially lots of money.
Not making light of painful separation. But it helps to be able get pampered and jet off.
I was going through a divorce last year and GP’s announcement of conscious uncoupling really helped me. I knew I wanted to divorce amicably and get along well for the kids, but the conscious uncoupling theory really helped me with a framework to do it…don’t worry…I actually researched the therapist that’s came up with the theory and not GP’s random “experts”
Good for you! Not many people would do what you have done to make sure that the divorce was amicable.
Team Nazarene sandals.
omg.”nazarene sandals” too funny..
Okay, so since this hasn’t been covered, one question, are Ben and Jen committed parents?
lol
Magic Eight Ball says
“Reply hazy try again”
haha.
Ben himself has said he was NOT a committed parent ” there in the moment ” , that even while he was helping the kids in the bath he was thinking about cutting a film or things that needed to be sorted with a film project so …yah FK off PR spin. But at least they are mitigating the damage ,as one day their children will access the Internet and Google their parents. So kudos for that…l
But are they doing what’s best for the kids?
“They plan on co-parenting and doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids…The family is united and, no matter what, will protect the kids.”
Why oh why is no one talking about the wellbeing of the KIDS?!
Looks like the major (reliable) media outlets will not be reporting on his (multiple) infidelities. He is part of a franchise with a big studio, after all. Vested interest to protect his less than pristine image.
His most recent affair could be with a celebrity, so keeping quite is in her best interest bc she doesn’t want to be labeled as the mistress and ruin her career. A non- celebrity or stripper would be eager to cash in on their story when they realize he is not going to pursue a relationship with them. We shall see what unfolds in the next few weeks. Their PR teams are obviously working overtime to make it appear as though their break up had nothing to do with his wandering eye.
I agree. If someone is blamed as the homewrecker she can kiss her career goodbye.
Not really.
AJ didn’t kiss her career goodbye.
AJ didn’t take a father from his kids though.
Plenty of home wreckers in Hollywood. Julia Roberts. Kristen Stewart. Claire Danes. Tori Spelling.
You mean plenty of unfaithful husbands, right, since they’re the ones who actually took a vow.
I think they both have dirt on each other. Hence the “amicability.”
Ugh, I wanted for Jen to go all Emily Thorne with a red sharpie for gossip’s sake.
I kinda buy all of it.
I think he is a good dad, but has issues to deal with. He also sees fatherhood as more compatible with work, but tries for his kids.
I also feel like he wants to be a family man, but it conflicts with his addictions.
Addiction is a terrible thing, honestly. It can corrupt the best of intentions.
I hope he gets help, but he is really not in the right business for it.
All that said, glad they are putting the kids first. Cant stand Goop, but she did do that part right.
If he really believed that it’s the mans job to provide the money and the woman’s to keep a nice home and happy kids then why on earth marry an actress? A nice non ambitious woman who only wants to have a family and keep home would be happy with that but not someone with a good career.
A marriage isn’t going to work unless people both know what they want, want what the other person is and share the same future goals.
There’s lots of drug rumours on top of his admitted drinking and gambling to much. He seems to be losing control. I wonder when he’ll introduce his new girlfriend to the world.
Yep..
He should have married a Civilian like Matt Damon did.
Civilian? When did Matt join the army?
I know, I hear people refer to the non-celebrity all the time as civilians, like actors and performers have some high calling or something, like secret agents. They’re just jobs. Jobs I like to read about and make fun of, but just jobs.
Damon used the word himself in an interview. “I got lucky, I fell in love with a civilian. Not an actress and not a famous actress at that.”
Even if he would have married a “civilian” he would still have that wondering dong problem. Along with the gambling, drug and a$$hole issues.
Even a “civilian” is no guarantee of a sane marriage. Case in point: Hilaria Baldwin, who went utterly rogue once Alec put a ring on it.
@nimbolicious. LOL! Boy did she ever! And now she’ll probably start all those dumb ass daily yoga pix again😩
He married her because she was knocked up.
Or they chose to get married because they were expecting a child together. The way you phrase it, you’d think it was an immaculate conception.
Lila fowler- oh my god I remember those sweet valley high books!!!😃
People Mag is writing this story in parts. Every few hours is a new part, probably reviewed by the PR folks for both. So far, Jen is perfect and self sacrificing and Ben is a good parent, but has issues and is not always around. Even the “nice” stories are blaming him and making her a saint, maybe subtle, but it is there. Must have been part of the deal to end the marriage..”Honey, you can blame me (but don’t say I cheated or had other addictions), so long as you just let me get the hell out of this!” Something just seems off and calculated about the whole thing.
Now a family vacation together, probably to explain why daddy is living in another house on the same property, which has to be a bit confusing for young children. But each couple has to decide how to handle a delicate situation involving children and this is one. Hopefully, for everyone’s sake, but especially the children, this works out peacefully and without a great deal of malice.
I’m not buying the “Honey, you can blame me angle”. Affleck was worried about ancestral skeletons from more than a century ago. No way he is driving any part of the less than flattering narrative.
Ha! Truth.
You are probably right. His ego is massive, but she is not exactly Snow White, though that is how she is being portrayed. Something else was probably going on.
I just don’t get what the purpose of those ridiculous pap walks with Ben’s shoot me now expressions if they had been separated for 10 months. It was obvious he was being forced to do that and he was not going to fully cooperate. Something else was going on and that is why I think they are one of the most calculating couples out there. Image was everything.
I think he’s just self-aware enough to know there’s no way to come out of this looking like the good guy. Taking the blame, but with a focus on how serious and committed he is to the work, that’s as close as he get’s to a win here. It deflects from his many indiscretions and issues and makes it seem like he’s just crazy dedicated to his ‘craft’ (instead of crazy dedicated to strippers and gambling and probably pills).
For the many people who only read People and don’t know what a hot mess he is, this narrative can easily read as ‘poor Ben just wanted to support his family and make a go of his career comeback’. He’s portrayed as a loving father and husband who focused on the wrong thing but with good intentions. It could be so, so, so much worse for him, so I think he’d take it.
I’m not sure he was forced. He probably thought it was a good idea image-wise, but couldn’t really pull it off. He looked haggard to me in a lot of the photos, like he was out all night, the day before.
Jessica, good point.
I don’t think it’s “honey you can blame me”, but more that’s he or someone that’s in charge of this mess realizes that there was no way anyone would blame Jennifer for this split and they’re trying to minimize damage. I agree with Jessica, that him working too much looks WAY better than the drinking, gambling, and alleged stepping out. The dimples brigade helped to re-build his career and he’s gambling that this divorce won’t ruin all of that. Because frankly, it looks like he’s leaving the perfect family.
From the photos, they’ve barely started building the structure on the property. Looks like he’ll be at Matt Damon’s house for several months. One of these outlets will eventually get their hands on the building permits and the date they were filed.
I can’t say how happy I am Ben and Jen are getting so many headlines these days! I hope they get more gossipy and replace the 5 posts each day of the Kards/Jen clan.
Now if only another high profile celeb would breakup Tiger Wood style we would really be in business to kill them off the gossip beat.
They were a boring couple and now it looks like they’re gonna be boring divorcees. Can’t hate on them for really tryin to protect their kids though. Hope it works out.
The thing is, Ben is still going to be living on the same property. They are making a separate home for him (like a bachelor pad) right on their property. It’s not like he’s just going to move out and the kids won’t see him. The vacation was probably something they did at the end of every school year so why should this year be different? They don’t want to emotionally screw up their kids though I’m sure the oldest must have witnessed some fighting/arguing I’m guessing.
Didn’t Bruce Willis and Demi Moore do this? A lot of couples at a certain point in their marriage probably would if they could.
So much information and soo little time to digest before we get bombarded with more info the next day.
Let me catch you up to speed, “Ben and Jen are committed to their kids”, so sayeth the (tab)Loid.
I know, right?
It’s hard keep up w/the PR ambush this week, especially as we CBers have been on top of breaking developments in their marriage for a long time anyway (about ten yrs). This is all too, too much Ben/Jen news, even for me, and with the references to the goodness of GOOP, my head’s now spinning…
Yet still, no will answer me this: What about the KIDS?!
The top picture sums it up well for me: she’s looking at him, and he’s looking at the camera. I think Ben loves the camera and desperately wants, and needs, the camera to love him back. I remember seeing photos of Ben Affleck at the “Bourne Ultimatum” red carpet and after party events. You could just see it in his face … the envy (and slight disdain) that all the fuss and attention wasn’t about him.
Meh. They had the way back time machine going on TV, the other day, and showed Jennifer with her past exes. I think she has “gushing bride” look down pat.
He’s always done that face when he checks out, though. Look at some of the old Ben + J. Lo Forevahhhh photos, circa 2003/04—same looking off into the distance with a combination of misery and contempt. Has no one told him? Does he not care?
BRF?
@LizzyFizzy, who wrote: “He’s always done that face when he checks out, though. Look at some of the old Ben + J. Lo Forevahhhh photos, circa 2003/04—same looking off into the distance with a combination of misery and contempt.”
I’m talking about instances when he was photographed by himself and on one occasion, while he was watching Matt Damon being congratulated for the film. I don’t think it matters ‘who’ he’s with when being filmed … I think he just wants to be the focus.
He either looks disdainful or sulky, even his ‘hot’ look is full of contempt. She is likely doing ‘great’ because she just lost the weight of Batman from her shoulders…and is free from fake public happy faces.
Someone noted JLo’s life is generally more low-key than during Bennifer 1.0 – I think he needs the media attention and I would not be surprised if he’s the one calling the paps…meanwhile his wife was losing it over her kids being papped all the time.
Ben loves the camera. On the red carpet his girlfriends or wife looks at him like he put the stars in the sky but his reaction isn’t the same. Look up pics of him with both Jennifers and Gwyneth.
I think Angelina Jolie has that same “gushing bride” look whenever we see her and Brad on the red carpet. She looks at him like he shits rainbows and fairies and he is looking at the camera. She clings on to him for dear life and he sort of is just….there. With his stupid shades.
He barely looks at her or touches her and seems like he can’t stand her. I always felt sorry for her because of this.
(Cue the loons throwing themselves on the keyboards typing furiously posting pics of the few times he actually does look at her, but if ya have to go that far back…don’t bother).
BALLS.
I disagree with you there – I think both Brad and Angelina have their Red Carpet Couple routine down pat. She gives him the beaming looks, he grabs her butt.
I think most celebrities are narcissistic. Maybe not AJ, but Brad definitely is. I see them the way I see Bill and Melinda Gates -she is the charitable one, and he goes along with it. The guys aren’t the driving force here, and I think Brad is always thinking about his image. Anyone who tries so hard to be ugly when so handsome is spending lots of time and effort on it.
@ A You don’t have to go back far. You can just go to Brad and Angelina related threads posted by Kaiser and look at the recent pics of them on the red carpet. I do remember seeing pics from the Oscars 2014, the BAFTAs, and the Unbroken premiere in which they looked pretty in sync.
I call BS on all of it. What I can appreciate is that they have decided to not publicly drag each other through the mud but it’s as if these people dont understand that you can be a grown up in a divorce and not be attached at the hip. Question: If I still have to go on vacations with the other person, live on the same property, go out to dinner all the damn time, why not just stay married? I always hear people say that it’s not good to stay together for the kids but isn’t this essentially what they’re doing?
IMO- They’re faking it for the kids and the media and if I, as an adult, am asking this question what do you think the kids are thinking.
I don’t know. Have you ever broken up with someone and there is a release from the obligation portion of being ‘one’? I have, and then it’s strange that you can suddenly appreciate the person separately from your couple-dom, as a friend.
Adding, I’m sure they both really do love the kids, so in that sense, that part isn’t being faked.
@Kiddo: same here. I’m on really good terms with my ex-boyfriend. After we broke up, we luckily managed a transition into friendship. The pressure of making it work as a couple was gone (I know that sounds aweful) and we again could see each other’s qualities without the emotional over-load of the last months of our relationship.
We go out and see each other regularly. He is one of the few people I can have an absolutely awesome conversation with.
These people live in a completely different world from ours. I’m guessing that as long as both people in the relationship are mature enough to want the best for their children, they can live together yet apart due to their enormous wealth. They aren’t sharing a single family home. The other person in the relationship is basically living in another mansion (by normal people’s standards) on the same property. It is probably possible to live for an entire year without really running into one another unless sharing something communal like the swimming pool or tennis courts. Same thing probably applies when they are on vacation. Other than the time they spend with their children, they could be staying in different villas or homes at their resort or private island. For the sake of the children these arrangements seem very ideal and probably something most people would love the option of having in order to be close to their children without having to be in close quarters with their ex.
kibbles….excellent point!
He isn’t living in a mansion on the property. From the photos, they just started building and it is not a large structure.
I thought the same thing. If you can vacation together and go to the farmers market together etc etc why divorce. Then I though about what Kibbles pointed out in regards to the money difference. It’s not like my family where we squeeze our family of 5 into two double beds at the Holiday Inn Express when we travel. Heck, half the time at the end of a vacation we are on the verge of divorce from the vacation itself, even if we started out a happy family. I bet the Afflecks aren’t even staying in the same building and have two nannies and Ben’s mom with them too. Or likewise at home no way would I put up with doing dishes and laundry for my estranged husband while we divorce – but I bet Jen doesn’t have those issues with him in the guest house either.
Why in the world isn’t Bale doing Batman anymore?
I’m already sick of reading over and over how Ben is a great dad and is miserable. He’s not. And as much as he can do damage-control people aren’t gonna buy his new ‘miserable but awesome dad’ act.
Ugh, Ben. How is it possible to be such a sh!t, yet always look like you are taking one? Run free, Jen G!!!!
Well I’m thinking if he screws up the lead up to Batman by being thoroughly debauched and by rolling out whoever it is he got caught in Canada with he will have put a wrecking ball to his career so of course it benefits them both to be amaicable. Hopefully it sticks.
I know a lot of couples do this kind of divorce; hanging together.. but for anyone that has done it.. is it confusing for the children. I mean I would think children would see their parents together and hope that they are going to get back together. Like seeing them laughing or talking or eating dinner.. I would imagine the children getting confused and unrealistically hopeful for a reunion..
there children are still very young and I think of little Samuel because his vivid memories are going to be different than that of his sisters. He will only know the time his parents were not together. This is why I say people don’t usually stay together for children. We have seen couples break up when pregnant or the baby is just born.
I hope they make this work.
Not only children. One of them may get confused and think there is a hope. Which is the opposite of letting go and a terrible torture.
They have two loving parents, they are luckier than most children, regardless of their parents marital status.
Why all those recent outings to the farmer’s market for the paparazzi, do you think? And why do they say they took the kids to the Bahamas as soon as school was out–does their school start summer break late, or were they all flying back for farmers market outings and then flying back to the Bahamas?
I don’t understand all the “family outings either”.. But I thought I saw a picture of Jennifer on one of the Entertainment shows just before the divorce announcement and she was leaving (at the airport).. they made a point of saying she was still wearing her ring.
I just never understood why she was shopping so much. I mean there were times when she was out almost every single day. Do they need that much stuff or does she have some kind of spending problem.
Kids can eat a lot of fruit. My husband and I do too. If we could afford lots of organic fruits and berries we’d be eating even more, making Popsicles, etc. i am constantly buying fruit. And cherries/berries don’t last long in the fridge, even for people who have multiple fridges.
I think they were just laying the groundwork for the amicable co-parenting narrative, and showing that he does make an “effort” to spend time with his family.
Nice theory
Hardly surprising that their divorce is being sugar coated by their PR teams just like their marriage was. That tv show about his ancestors has shown that Affleck and his PR team will go to any lengths to hide the truth, whitewash his image and manipulate the media.
+1
That is pretty much what ALL celebs do.
True. They all do it. In fairness, they’ve really not much choice. It would be unfair to imply Ben is one of the few. What sets him apart is the ability to afford the best ‘cleaners.’
I totally get that Ben is miserable and Jen is happy….Years ago, I was married, with two little children. My husband was an alcoholic, emotionally and mentally abusive (not saying Ben is, I have no idea)…When my husband was drunk he would repeatedly tell me he hated me and wanted a divorce and I would cry and beg him not to…this happen many times…one day, I smartened up, and when he drunkenly said he wanted a divorce, I said “great, me too”….I left with the kids, and when he sobered up, he was miserable, and begged me to come back, that he missed me and the kids, that he loved us, wanted us to be a family…I said, “talk to my lawyer”…he was miserable and I was happy! Some guys, don’t know what they want or they want to be the one who does the divorcing! Especially, if addiction is involved…I could not believe the relief I felt when I left! Maybe, Jen is feeling some of that…
I totally respect what they’re doing for the kids. And I do believe their intentions, when it comes to the kids, are in the right place.
That’s said, I feel like Jen/Ben are in a different place than Goop//Chris. Of course I have no idea, but Goop/Chris seemed comfortable with their decision by the time it was made and ready/able to continue to be around each other – at least that’s how it appeared on the outside. The way Jen has always idolized Ben, I can’t imagine that she’s in a place yet where it could be easy to be around each other all the time without breaking down or feeling really emotional. It seems like, at this point, they need to do what’s best for the kids, but they also need distance from each other, although maybe they’ve had that if they’ve truly been separated for 6-10 months. I wonder if it will be hard for them – her especially – to be together in the Bahamas as a family. Seems like they never took this type of vacation when they were married, but here they are doing it as they divorce. Might raise some self-doubt and second-guessing …
I agree. Goop and Chris were much father along emotionally when the divorce was announced.
They have taken family vacations over the years. There just aren’t ad nauseum photos. He had the place in Hampton Island outside of Savannah, which is very private, and Jen said they go there often for family vacations. It’s Ben’s favorite place and he loves it down there and it’s very private. I remember once she mentioned some place they have been for a family vacation and there were no photos of the vacation. We’re used to seeing photos of them locally and don’t realize how they go away and aren’t photographed. She has talked about how they take the kids to West Virginia and spend time down there. I doubt they’ve done much this year with their schedules and marriage on the rocks.
I’m betting that this “togetherness” vacation in the Bahamas is really just them flying out there to keep the kids away from the press until things die down and Ben will come back for Comic Con and all the other stuff fairly soon. Note the “return as their work commitments require” part of the announcement. He can’t stay away from work that long. Only Jennifer will probably be there with them the entire summer.
Definitely. It was to protect them and get them used to the news also while showing them that they are still going to be a family. Poor kids. Tough time for them.
1/Ben Affleck looks fat in Batman suit
2/ their RP are selling us how their divorce is friendly .
All the divorced friends that I know say that a divorce is painful ( for everyone) and how the first year is complicated
I thought Ben looked HOT in the Batman suit!!!!
My friend said the same thing. Look at fat, bloated Batman.
Yep
Some people just aren’t built for superhero suits. Affleck is one of them.
The bat logo on his chest looks like a bra. I can’t unsee it.
They are in the Bahamas…where they were a few months ago while “separated”….just before she went with him for hearings in Washington at which she wasn’t participating…while they were separated …uh huh.
Is there a side eye icon I can use? Also why 10 months exactly? Anything to the fact that it is a pregnancy plus one month? Hmmm
Oh and apparently Saint Jennifer, Patron Saint of the Farmers Market is a secret smoker. Gasp! Pearl clutch! What will Good Housekeeping magazine say?!
There’s the 10-month report in one article, the six-month report in another article, and then in the recent People the separated for a few months report. I tend to believe the separated for the last few months as the true source for how long they’ve been truly separated. I think they were struggling for ten months but still together, and separated a few months ago.
keep on reading from what I have read on this site and others it could be Tiger Woods style. Seems they probably have not been broken up for 10 months despite what they are saying seems it might have happened right after her and Violet went with him to Capital Hill. Seems he was seen in Bahamas at with another woman in March then again in Nova Scotia in April. Some sites say this affair is one of his co stars in to the Wonder and has been going on since then. There is some reason that Jen did not go to Detroit last summer with the kids as planned, they had even rented a house, but she didn’t go. Maybe he was caught then and she thought he had ended it but then found out in April he didn’t. Something happened in March/April. I am not buying the 10 months separated narrative abit. I think he is being told how this divorce is going down or else she is going to spill the beans. I think she has the upper hand and definitely think it is his cheating, and also the booze, pills and gambling. There is a poster who put up a blind on this site that seems to fit him and if its true, whoa there has been alot swept under the rug about him and he must be sweating bullets its going to come out.
Its going to come out that that was not Jen with him in the Bahamas in March, it was the same woman he was caught with in Nova Scotia. She must be brunette and from a distance could be taken for Jen. Jen does NOT smoke nor would she.
+1 🙁 To the wonder …
90% of released pics Ben won’t look at her. She always has attentive, loving looks, and straight at him. Same, forever. Body language says volumes.
OT” a bit.. I was flipping channels and came across the movie The Sum of All Things.. I had completely forgotten that Ben was suppose to be the next Jack Ryan.. now he is the next Batman.
funny uh.
Re: his comments about Daredevil – I don’t think it’s offensive — it’s brutally honest and somewhat refreshing. The movie was absolute sh-t. For him to say anything else is insulting. Yes, dissing the movie does diss everyone else involved in making the film, but why side-eye him for telling the truth (somewhat tastefully – he himself said he could say worse if he wanted to go viral) and commend Channing Tatum for saying similar things about his failures?
In any case, I’m still holding out for the original Bennifer!!! <3 Ben & JLO Foreva <3.
We watched Danny Collins last night. It finally came on DVD. I loved Al Pacino in it, so flamboyant as an old rocker, and Bobby Cannavale in it. Great acting. Cannavale’s acting was note perfect in the movie. Jennifer Garner had a smaller role but was good also. It was filmed in 2013 but released this year. But what was sad was in the movie Jennifer was pregnant and had a child and Bobby was her husband. The love and respect and devotion they had for one another in the movie was beautiful yet sad to watch when compared to the news of Ben and Jen’s divorce and how she probably always just wanted their marriage to be where the husband looked at and loved her the way Bobby Cannavale did in the movie.
I guess if you want that kind of love and adoration you should be careful not to trap a man with a pregnancy (be careful not to get accidentally pregnant, not saying she necessarily controlled that). It would have helped if he could have Decided on his own terms and schedule that she’s the one for him.
He chose to marry her. He didn’t have to. See Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan. Benicio del Toro and Kimberly Stewart.
Agreed. I don’t necessarily believe it was deliberate on her part, although not getting pregnant is pretty controllable for the most part. But I do think it set them off on a course they may not have otherwise taken. I believe that he wanted to do the right thing, particularly at that time on his life where he was seeking stability. And I do believe that he genuinely loved/cared for her. Do I think he necessarily would have married her if it weren’t for the fact that she was pregnant? I’m guessing not. I think the pregnancy just accelerated their relationship, and he wanted to want it, and she wanted nothing more. I do think they both adore their children – they just weren’t a fit for each other from the start personality-wise, although they tried hard to force it into a fit. I still find it odd that everyone seemed to think these two were so perfect – yes, they projected an adorable famy unit, and maybe that’s all people focused on, but anyone with even the slightest powers of perception or ability to read body language could see how awkward these two were together, as far back as 8 – 9 years ago.
“Trap a man”? What is this, the 1950s? What a ludicrous, sexist thing to say.
Dolce crema: I agree that she was thrilled to have gotten pregnant to be able to reel him in for sure! Getting pregnant is definitely under the woman’s control (birth control).
Yo Dana: C-O-N-D-O-M-S. Not getting pregnant is at least (barring breakage) somewhat under the man’s control. Yeah, he was so trapped he decided to have sex with her (without a condom) several more times.
Yo Trash: Can’t picture Affleck carrying protection. But yeah, he could have carried them too- he is equally as accountable. HOWEVER, she seems like the more “responsible one” of the two though… which then leads me back to my point.
Could he just pretend to tolerate her, just once? I understand there many a report of her being insufferably controlling (which is what every self respecting addict of any kind would call a spouse with boundaries) but OMG it can’t be that bad! I want to slap his face more and more with every pic that comes out. Ugh.
And acting is his profession. I absolutely hate those half closed eyes too. Not sexy. Not smoldering. Makes him looked drunk or drugged. He needs to be slapped for that too. Always playing to the camera, not looking at his wife. Every time he does that pose it reminds me of Zoolander.
I don’t believe for one second that Ben is not completly relieved to be out of his marriage. I do think he loves his kids, but I also think he has been out of love with Garner for a long time. I wonder if he might be a better father once he knows he can spend time with his kids, but be free to pursue his addictions on his downtime. I know that sounds cold but I don’t think this guy is wired to be a family man. It’s just not in him, no matter who he might be married to. As far as Garner, I didn’t see happiness in the farmers market pap outings, I saw forced kind of painful looking smiles.
I don’t think this divorce will be the same as goop’s because garner is still in love with Affleck. I also don’t predict Ben will be seen with his new twenty something (s) for a very long time. He will be extra secretive and careful because he knows how that will be perceived. And like other posters have pointed out in previous posts, no way will he have a thing to do with Jlo. He wants twenty somethings with no children. Ben will control the PR for this divorce with everything he has. I think the one thing that matters to him as much as his freedom is the public’s perception and career.
I wonder if they will release photos of them on vacation like Chris and Goop.
I’ve never seen a fat Batman, except at Comic Cons. He needs a bra in that photo. What is he, a C cup? And that belly looks awful. His stare in the mask looks okay.
With the rumor being that Jen is a control freak, them managing their divorce like this is par for the course. It is pretty amazing to watch, though, as the press follows along like obedient pets.
I love coming here to Celebitchy because y’all tell it like it is – not as their PR people want it to be told. lol
I have a difficult time picturing Ben taking care of his 3 kids ALONE without a nanny or two to help him. He doesn’t strike me as that devoted of a Dad…..even though he might want us all to think he is.
I doubt that the kids are even a bit confused. They’re had a ringside seat to this, forever. More like they’re being used as a PR shield.
Nice casinos in the Bahamas……
I think the reason they are downplaying Bens’ romps in the hay is because Jen has a had a few herself while married. (just my opinion) They may have struck a deal not to bring up Bens, even though alot of people assume he’s unfaithful, it wouldn’t change most peoples’ ideas of him if it came out, but to find out Garner may have strayed would be the end of the world for her. Like a child, if “you tell, I tell”.
One of the blind item reveals on that other gossip site claimed that was the case. Most of the reveals were about Ben, though. Nothing that hasn’t already been mentioned before.
Right, cause she’s not busy with three small children, she must be banging some side piece.
For some reason I keep thinking about that last scene in Mrs. Doubtfire; it is a movie.. but I think that last scene is so great for kids.. it is a great message.. I feel for the kids.. but I hope in the end they will be alright.. Sally Fields character pissed me off though..
oh and I know Robins Character didn’t have all those vices.. but still; maybe in the end each will be a better person/ parent/ because they will be happier.
https://youtu.be/1Kuz3zve4LE?list=PLKWwCjGnCSRDQFJ0EyJtHicQ24djI2iT2
In the Batman poster, he looks old and fat, especially next to his co-stars. I wouldn’t see that movie if you paid me.
Not saying Ben has the body or charisma for Batman, but the costume for the upcoming movie was based on Frank Miller’s Batman. His character design was stocky instead of the leaner Batman’s that had been drawn before. Knowing this, the suit makes sense to me and is actually a pretty good recreation.
I still don’t think Affleck should be Batman, but I also don’t think Henry C should have been Superman. Unfortunately, I have no input on Hollywood decisions from here in my ATX home.
This whole thing wreaks of Goop’s influence on Jen. Remember that interview she did with Howard Stern where she basically said Ben was a mess when they were together but praised Jen as “amazing, beautiful, etc. etc,” she even said they are neighbors and Jen went to some girls get together at her house and that Jen is “hilarious and I really like her a lot.” That means they are friends maybe not close but they share one major thing in common, they have been in a relationship with the mess that is Ben Affleck. I guarantee you that Jen sought advice from Goop and Goop basically said Ben has the same issues he had 15 years ago, he will never change, not for you or your kids, get out and be happy with your kids, this is a losing battle. Everything that they are doing now post divorce announcement is text book “conscious uncoupling”, smells fishy… still good for Jen, as I said before, the only option for Jen is divorce, life is too short to feel unloved and unimportant by your husband every f-ing day. jen isn’t perfect but she doesn’t deserve the crap she’s had to deal with.
I have a friend that lives in Montreal and she said she saw Jen at the U2 concert their a few weeks ago, she said Jen looked really good and was friendly to whoever recognized her and asked for a pic.
@jets I think it’s highly unlikely that Jen would have confided in Goop or vice versa. What you left out is that on Howard Stern, Goop also said that when she made those statements about Ben, she was referring to who he was back then and not now. Also, Ben has apparently remained friends/friendly with Goop. I believe the only reason Goop would have invited Jen to the gathering would have been as a nice gesture since they now live close by. im not saying Goop doesn’t like Jen, but again, think it was primarily just a “neighborly” courtesy.
He is having an affair with either Olga from “To the Wonder” or Gal Galbot, Wonder Woman. All the blinds are using “Wonder” as a clue.
I have no doubt that Ben has screwed around and maybe with an actress or two over the course of ten years. I don’t know. But I find it so disgusting that every woman Ben works with is accused of banging him. Like all women are weak and have no morals and want to bang married Ben and/or not turn him down even if he hits on them. The scenario is disturbing to me as a woman. Because virtually every one of his costars has been named at one time or another on here by in-the-know posters over the last five years as screwing him.
Gal Godot speaks highly of her husband and daughter. She and her husband opened up a boutique hotel in Tel Aviv. She said in an interview a month ago that when she was getting ready to be called out of her trailer to audition for the role in Batman she was so nervous and couldn’t calm down and called her husband and he talked her through it and had her put on music and dance and keep moving.
But, hey, she would chance throwing her marriage and little family all away to bang womanizer Ben because apparently every actress that works with Ben is weak and has no morals and/or loyalties when it comes to lifting their skirts for married Ben, supposedly.
Then I would say based on Gal’s comments that it is Olga
@TeamGarner, Olga and her boyfriend of maybe three years split up in December. She really seemed in love with older actor Danny Huston, though, in their photos for a few years, and always with his young daughter (I thought it was hers), but it’s over. No photos this year with a new boyfriend. Olga comes from a fascinating life, poor in the Ukraine, discovered at like 15, speaks maybe four languages, fiercely independent, very driven. She was married twice. I could see Ben finding her completely fascinating. She gave an interview a while back this year and although never talks about her private life did say this.
“I really think that all men and women need each other for is love,” she says. But for Kurylenko, love hasn’t always gone smoothly. She recalls a “horrific relationship” with a “destructive” man. I have never given anyone as much as I gave this person; he tortured me emotionally and gave nothing back,” she says. She looks sad. “It’s not his fault. He’s damaged. Even his friends said go away from him, but I thought I could handle him because I am strong.”
She said later in the interview something that gave me a clue who it was regarding a tea leaves reader while she was in Istanbul or something telling her she was with a troubled man and she said, I know. In December she was in Istanbul for a premiere. In December she and Danny broke up. So it sounds like it was him. I thought maybe she and Russell Crowe would date. She said he was a delight to work with. He directed her in his first film that came out last December.
If Danny (if it was him) was that troubled, and she’s with Ben (if, a big if) , she’s in for another wild ride with a troubled man. Also, she’s 35. So if he’s with her, there goes the theory he’s with a 20-something.
But I really thought after she and Danny broke up, That Russell would move in. Here they are at a premiere for the movie in March and they look very fond of one another.
http://www.theaureview.com/sites/default/files/gallery_assist/201/gallery_assist28033/prev/AU-WatDiv-5159.jpg
The “Wonder” thing started from Lainey. I do not for a minute believe that Lainey has anything on Ben. Why all this cloak and dagger if she actually knows something for a fact and has some sort of evidence?
http://en.mediamass.net/people/olga-kurylenko/pregnancy-rumors.html
Olga pregnant? Who is the father?
LOL
Happy 4th!
I’ve never seen Mediamass as anything but they ask you to click on and then tell you it seems not to be true, even bizarre stuff where they have the people totally wrong, like so and so is about to get married, when the guy has been married for 15 years.
MediaMass is just kind of a joke thing with headlines and never once do they say it’s true once you click on it. It’s always, it doesn’t seem to be true. Duh. You fall for it a couple of times until you realize what it is.
There is a picture of her pregnant with another pregnant woman on another site.
At least looking pregnant.
“Up to him to provide for the family”..what a joke..how much money do they have ? and how much do they need ? They could quit working forever and have enough money to live very nicely on..He has an ego problem, that’s why he won’t leave the spotlight..She’s been hung up on him and his ego and hasn’t wanted to let go..she could be a single mom and spend all her time with the kids..what single mom wouldn’t want to do that ?
“They’re doing everything in the best interest of the kids…They want the kids lives to stay exactly the same.”
You see, THAT last part right there is the very thing that has me so worried about kids caught in the middle of their parents so called “happy” modern day divorces. Because you know what? Your parents marriage breaking up IS a huge deal and by its very nature means that life WILL NOT remain “the same” and that should be seen and explained as a good thing if the marriage was unhealthy. In contrast, the healthy thing to do is explain to your children that both parents will continue to love them the same way and that will never change but there will be some major changes and adjustments and that’s OK. But Ben continuing to live on the same property? And them going on a vacation (and possibly future vacations) together as if everything is perfect and their family unit as it was is still in tact?? That’s called living in denial and is perhaps why they stayed married much longer than they should have-if you believe reports.
A parent’s job during divorce is to help children adjust to the inevitable changes and sadness as best as possible and let them know that life can/will bring a lot of things to us that make us sad but to teach them the coping mechanisms to work through it and show them them that you can and will find new happiness again in spite of it. It is NOT to pretend that life is always smooth sailing, never comes with any bumps and to sweep any difficulties under the rug.
I can’t even imagine how confusing it must be for a child to hear that mommy and daddy are divorcing but we are all going to continue to live together in the same place, do everything together and have still have a say in the day to day decisions the other parent makes! (See: Chris & Gwyneth and how “great” that’s allegedly been working out…) Why the hell don’t they just stay married? I don’t get it.
Because things will be changing, the divorce is happening, but the change will be more gradual and perhaps less will change. So he will come by and perhaps have a room there in the future, but they shouldn’t expect mommy and daddy to keep working on their failed marriage.
One thing I don’t get … Lainey’s blind says he was spotted at the service station with a woman, and then he was later seen
at a hotel holding hands with the woman. While I do believe this could be true, I’m just wondering … why didn’t someone, somewhere confirm this? If he was with a woman, wouldn’t someone have taken a photo with their phone? The gas station attendant who spoke about Ben being there to the press – wouldn’t he have mentioned this woman in those same stories? Also, gas stations have outdoor cameras too. Why didn’t they also release the video of this woman in Ben’s car or wherever she was, just like they so freely released the image of him at the counter without his wedding ring? Also, wouldn’t someone at the hotel have taken a photo and put it on Twitter, etc.? How is it that there’s not a shred of proof? Again, not saying I’d be surprised at all if it’s true, but I’m just wondering, in the age of camera phones and every single real life action being reported on Twitter, how is it that no one has a photo, and no eye witnesses came forward to talk about or show a photo of this woman? I’d think that would be Twitter gold.
Jojo: Maybe BA’s PR team made a deal with the tabloid to hold off on that stuff til much later after their divorce announcement was made, etc.
Easy. Because there was no woman at the gas station. Lainey is adding on facts after the fact like she has insider knowledge (always after the fact of a sighting coming out from elsewhere, not before). The guy didn’t mention it because there was no woman at his gas station. And he gave his story to the newspaper all excited about seeing Ben. He may have had a woman hidden away at a hotel, but she wasn’t at the gas station She’s full of it. At this rate, I would find it suspect he was at a hotel with a woman if she has to embellish the gas station story. She’s full of it a lot anyway.