Update: TMZ reports that these pics are deceiving because “there is no reconciliation and no chance for one” between Affleck and Garner and they quote a source who says “the damage is already done. They’re leading separate lives.”
These are photos of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner outside what paparazzi agency FameFlynet describes as “a doctors appointment.” Normally we would speculate as to what kind of doctor’s appointment the estranged couple might be attending together, but we don’t need to in this case because their publicist told People Magazine all about it. These two are in couple’s counseling again. We’ve heard in the past that they were in counseling for at least two years, and now that they’re splitting maybe they’re back in counseling to try to minimize the impact on their kids. That’s a good plan and they’re making sure we know about it. I am truly amazed at their ham handed PR game, but it’s possible they were caught out by the paparazzi and People is putting two and two together. At least the quotes are only in People Magazine this time and aren’t spread out to US, E! and Page Six.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are focusing on figuring out the next step of their relationship.
The pair were spotted leaving a family counseling center in L.A. This is the couple’s first visit to the center since announcing their divorce in June. Before their decision to separate, they attended weekly counseling sessions at the center, but stopped going in the months leading to their split.
The couple were also were seen together on Thursday at an appointment, and they were smiling as they walked to Affleck’s car.
Neither of them were wearing their wedding rings, but at the time they announced their plan to divorce, the couple told PEOPLE in a statement that they planned to “go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children.”
These two haven’t filed for divorce yet, and although the timeline is murky it’s pretty much established that they announced the divorce right after Garner found out about Affleck’s affair with the nanny. They were separated prior to that, but that’s when they announced. (At first they tried to play it off like a conscious uncoupling, but when the nanny started going to the press that’s when Garner was “betrayed”. It didn’t benefit her to admit that her husband had been unfaithful with the help.) Now that the nanny has no doubt received a nice settlement and faded into the background, Affleck and Garner are putting on a show of togetherness which may or may not be the case behind the scenes. I’m buying it, especially because they looked miserable together in the weeks leading up to their split announcement. They’re not good enough actors to look this happy. Many couples get a renewed spark when they face the reality of life apart. Whatever is going on, I think they should let it play out behind the scenes. It’s going to be a rollercoaster but at least they’re getting counseling.
There are two related tabloid stories I’d like to mention. OK! Magazine has an insane cover story about nanny Christine Ouzounian allegedly pulling a hand that rocks the cradle on Jennifer Garner. We don’t subscribe to OK! anymore because it’s usually complete fiction, but Jezebel has some amusing details. They claim that Ben and the nanny had sex in the shower and that Ouzounian left out a used pregnancy test as some kind of signal to Garner. That doesn’t sound outlandish given her aspirations at fame. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who told Garner about the affair in some idiotic attempt to get Ben to commit.
The National Enquirer has a speculative story in this week’s print edition that isn’t far off either. They claim that Ben “has an adolescent obsession with satisfying his lust for hookers, gambling, booze and extra marital affairs that ‘borders on bipolar and sociopathic behavior!’” according to some random therapist they quote. Another psychiatrist, Mark Goulston, tells The Enquirer that Ben “fits the profile of being addicted to adrenaline, with cheating to get ahead and a ‘win at all costs’ attitude.” Maybe we wouldn’t have phrased it exactly like that, but most of us gossip hounds have known that for years. Why is Garner sticking around?!
Photo credit: FameFlynet
Holy exhaustion, Batman!
Right……….These people are some of the biggest fame whores I think I have ever seen.
How do you know for sure they’re whoring their divorce out for publicity? It’s more likely than not there’ll be intense media scrutiny any way, so might as well control it the best they can. I’m pretty sure no one wants to go through such a painful, horrifying mess on a public scale. This isn’t some soap opera guys, these are actual human lives. Be a little more respectful.
@moon. you sound like Ben’s pr people. A soap opera is exactly what this is, and Ben and Jen made it into one, by constantly calling the paps for every family outing to the library, soccer games, pottery painting, and farmer’s market, and family vacations while they announce their divorce. They engineered this whole thing and now Ben’s trying to fix it just as publicly because he got caught f*cking the Nanny.
OH. FOR. GODS. SAKE. REALLY.
They both seem money hungry although neither one of them would ever have to work again. They want to make movies even if it means sacrificing their family. They had some arrangement where one would work and the other one would stay home with the kids. I wonder how that’s working out for them. When it’s over, it’s over even though they’re probably going to give it another shot for the kids. They’ll pretend for a while. Good luck to them anyway.
^this. They are starting to make George and Amal look like shrinking violets.
Is she trying to work out a way for them to get back together? I thought it was over and done.
Do people go to counseling after the divorce? I am just clueless on those things..sorry, no offense.
He’s probably smiling because he and Tom Brady have another private jet away to Las Vegas planned. lol
Right he probably did his fame whore obligation of the day…Time for Vegas Baby!
You know if she’s hauled his ass to a Dr office I hope she has enough sense while there to get them both tested. Coz you know he was double dipping up until the end.
yes, where kids are involved, it can be helpful to work out a plan on how to proceed to minimize the impact on the kids. Or not. A friend’s ex pledged in therapy that he’d bring it up in therapy before he introduced the kids to someone new, then did it anyway and had the kids lie to their mom. (sigh)
I’ve known couples who go talk to someone for guidance on how to handle things with the kids. You don’t want to lie to them, but at the same time they don’t need to know all of the details either. They kind of work like a family mediator for running of the household questions.
As part of my custody agreement my ex and I are required to go to a family therapist to help in making large decisions, and prior to taking my son to a child therapist both parents have to meet with the Doctor – again, the clinic requires it. So this visit could be a lot of things besides ‘getting back together.’
Some states’ family courts require divorcing parents to attend counseling. You actually have to file proof of attending.
One state calls it ‘children in the middle’, which is really what it boils down to.
Ben’s movie Batman is coming out. He doesn’t look good leaving his wife and 3 kids; alot of people see him as the bad guy. Sooo I think they are just pretending until after his movie comes out. Now that Jen knows everything, I don’t see her wanting to stay married to the scumbag.
Is Ben looking a little soft?
Any who, marriage counseling is great if this is what they’re really doing. I’m glad to see and read that they are trying to keep it amicable.
Yes he does look flabby. I think he gave up whatever “supplements” he took to get Batfit.
He is definitely looking a little soft now, which is fine I guess (I know I do, hahaha), but I’d appreciated it if he stopped holding his arms out from the sides of his body like he is still at his fittest and biggest.
he’s the anti Amal: where she glues her elbows to her sides to look vulnerable, he puffs his out to look bigger.
lol yes…glued elbows…. drives me batty.
He’s bat arms…lol
yes! now I can’t unsee bat arms! He should wear fabric bat wings for Halloween. He could be cute furry fruit bat, soften his image.
Maybe he’s back on the sauce.
I don’t think it was counselling. The doctors whose names are on the door are all pediatricians.
I was in a “sturdy heel” shoe store and left. Yes, i found “sensible” but dear God, am i ready for Jennifer Garner shoes?
A lot of you guys predicted that she would eventually “forgive” him and “try to make it work” once again. I really hope that’s not the case, but based on this story and these photos… I could see it. Maybe this really was just an image-rehab ploy and they were never going to divorce in the first place. Letting Ben fall from grace so that Jen can “save him” with her saintly angelic ways and they can come back “stronger than ever.”
NOOOO JENNIFER
*squirts with misty cat bottle*
Headlines of them reuniting around Christmas or New Year.
Jen will take him back, I’ll bet.
I think you are right! St. Jen redeems Sinner Ben.
Just in time for his big movie release next spring…
One of the few times I’ll hate myself for being right.
Yup.
Jen may be playing the long game….and take him back.
Lol “sprays with misty cat bottle”
Y’all are so funny.
Ha ha…do you use the spray bottle with your cat, Shamby?
I use a the nose-tapping method. It’s fairly effective…I only have to use it with the little boy cat, my older girl kitty is an angel.
I don’t, I tap my kid as well. Funnily enough, he’s a boy too. He’s a devious little booger. I just thought the spray bottle was appropriate here. 😀
Careful with those misty cat bottles. A roommate tried that on my cat many years ago. Turned out the cat liked getting wet. Added to the fun of scratching the sofa. For the cat, not the roommate.
?
Seems to me that their next step is divorcing and trying to coparent their kids. I’m starting to wonder if all of this is for attention.
Yeeeeeppp. That is what I was thinking as well. Just some outside help with the transition.
I wish like hell I had seen a therapist to help with my breakup. Once dust settles, you don not want to embarass yourself.
She must really want this to work, but by golly, what a roller coaster!
Why does everyone still believe they were separated before the announcement? That is what they said….BUT they were getting papped at the Farmers Market leading up to it. That is just a bs line their people put out there to make it seem like they tried all this stuff instead of giving up. When in actuality it was she found out he was banging the nanny.
Maybe he’s putting it all on Tom Brady now. lol
I’ve been wondering too if she is going to try to take him back after all is said and done.
Lol I was thinking exact same thing, the heat has shifted to Brady. Bet Ben is off the Christmas card list. Ben probably fed jen a bs story that it was all Brady with the nanny and she is so desperate will buy it. Meanwhile in the east coast, Tom is trying to feed Giselle the story that it was all Ben/nanny. Hahaha. What a bunch of fools. The nanny is the big winner, she played them all. She may not get her end game but made a lot more money than she would as a nanny. The best laugh would be if she is really pregnant, Dna results will be worth a fortune. The two are the biggest fame ho’s ever and constantly play the media. And the PR. I FEEL BAD FOR ALL THE KIDS AND ONLY THE KIDS.
Yes, you know he did. He put it on Brady. Lol
I just saw the Superbowl Rings photo w the Nanny again and I’ll bet Giselle was not pleased at all.
Call me crazy but I really do believe the U.S. Story that came out right before the announcement. He wanted to announce she was reluctant and in denial and wanted to wait. I think the nanny scandal forced her hand but who knows maybe whoever he was with in Canada dumped him and now he wants her back? Praying to god she’s not that desperate.
Yes, I do believe it, only because I have seen the behind the scenes of other celeb divorces and usually things are discussed long before the details are made public. (Just an example) the public will think “they separated in August”, when really they have been working on it between each other and lawyers since March. It is a wound, and when you announce you let the world into that wound. Both parties (and their teams) usually work on getting things in place before they announce. Of course, some people are genuinely surprised, but that makes things unnecessarily messy and ugly. Its unwise. People usually batten down the hatches before making the news public.
I agree that’s usually how it happens but this definitely feels like they should have waited at least a few weeks to iron things out more. It’s been messy, messier than I would have expected.
I agree with you, Tiffany.
Looks like they’re in divorce counseling, which is normal…
yup. I know couples that went to counseling through a divorce and a few months after to navigate everything. They said it was the best thing they ever did and they had kids to think of. Not saying that is the case here but I wouldn’t be surprised if jen is making Ben go to minimize the impact on the kids going forward
……or is she trying to get back with him?
I cannot for the life of me imagine her trying to get back with him. It makes sense that they’re going through counseling to figure out the best way to co-parent. More people should do that, imo.
I actually wish more people did this. I get that divorce happens but there’s often idea that it’s an immediate fix. And while I have known a handful of instances where that seemed to be the case, they were not ones with children involved. Generally if the relationship is bad enough that divorce is your only option left then that same bad relationship is what you have to work with to coparent. And that’s a pretty crazy expectation. The same patterns of interactions play out just in separate houses.
Agreed. Wise move.
Yes, it looks like divorce counseling to me too. It is a smart move for the kids.
Of course we get pictures of them coming out of the counseling office smiling.
Truthfully I’m glad the WB to him to start smile And not look so miserable because it was getting pathetic.
He’s happy because he’s back with the Nanny, and Jen is playing along with his pr game to try to rehab his image. Typical manipulator.
Jen, I hope you’re getting well compensated.
I think Nanny is history, she’s looking at a certain NFL Quarterback. lol
Unconscious Re-Coupling – ?
hmmmmmm maybe
I don’t understand why they are still together, trying to breathe life into dead relationship. Sure they have kids but divorce and moving on isn’t the worst thing in the world. Dragging out the process and the tiresome ring thing isn’t helping the kids.
I believe Jen is playing the lonnnng game and she is going to end up trying to work on the marriage again.
Oh Garner… How Many Chances it’s Too many Chances? Turn the page and start a new Strategy sis….Or are you Applying for Sainthood due to your Valiant foray into Wifing with all your heart and Might /Motherhood/Dimply Photos/World Renown Foot Problem Shoes???
“Wifing With All Your Heart”: a community of women dedicated to loving the sh!t out of man-children who don’t deserve their affection. Chapter leaders: J. Garner and K. Middleton. All applicants welcome.
Leann Rimes for treasurer!
I am hoping it is divorce counseling and not couples counseling.
On a side note.. I have to wear ugly shoes, sigh! No more cute sandals or heels due to tendonitis in ankles.. I suspect Garner’s problem is she has terrible taste. LOL.
*Dead and Gone*
She REALLY wants to know how many licks it takes to get to the center of an Bensie Roll pop.
World Renown Foot Problems!!!! NEVER FORGET
Someone finally paid the right amount of hush money to the Nanny and has a shit eating grin to prove it!
or the Nanny stories are pointing in the Tom Brady direction, so Ben is Laughing.
Bet Jen tries to take Ben back and reboot the marriage. Looks like couples counseling.
Yeah, new video of her on DM does look like she got what she wanted. Her hair is perfect, but she doesn’t flirt with paps anymore. So she didn’t go away, but obviously not interested. Well, I hope he was desperate enough and had to pay at least a million. Plus some deal with WB. Like a well-paid job.
She deserves better, any woman does. She has three kids under ten and he’s diddling or diddled the nanny. What an embarrassing cliché. Obviously, it’s her choice, but sometimes those things grandma said are true….once a cheater, always a cheater.
“They aren’t good enough actors to look this happy”
Awesome line. Too funny
Truer words were never spoken. I wouldn’t put it past sleaze ball Ben to throw it all on Brady haha.
l’ll take their way of splitting over Kelly Rutherford’s any day of the week.
My brother and his ex went to counseling when they divorced and to a child psychologist to determine the best arrangement for custody and to minimize as much as possible the negative impact on the kids. I think it worked very well. No divorce is pain free, and of course it was a transition for the kids and hurtful, too, but I think they made the best of a bad situation. I think considering the cheating and everything, it’s pretty big of Jennifer to think of her kids first. I mean, that’s what we all hope we could do, but not everyone does.
That was us. To the last detail.
Congrats to your family for being awesome.
Congrats to you, too. I think it really says a lot about who you are that you could put aside the hurt for your children’s sake. Great mom!
I agree, GNAT…I don’t understand why people are lambasting them for trying to make the divorce as easy as possible for their family…Divorce is horrible, especially when you have children, and anything you can do to ease the impact on the children, and even for their own sanity, should be applauded, not ridiculed…
This!^^^^^^^ x1000!
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Bennifer Apologist. Sue me.
Agree with you and GNAT. This seems like the right move.
Said it upthread earlier and agree 100% that more people should do this. As much as everyone involved might hate it, if you have kids then at least one aspect of your relationship doesn’t end. And as the second wife that’s hard to swallow but if you love the kid(S) it has to be acknowledged. At one point I actually suggested that my husband see if additional counseling with his ex would help with coparenting. But you need two willing participants so good on Jen and Ben for both trying so far! It doesn’t help anyone to continue dysfunctional patterns.
i just can’t anymore with this.
such games hollywood plays.
what’s it got to be like living a fake life?
and for what?
money?
RP.
For some reasons,many like to think that the celebrities are better than them because they are rich or famous .
My ex and I did counselling after we broke up. For the kids. Same same. It was good. We’re all friends now and the kids are better for it.
Of course, if we didn’t have kids I’d want to punch him in the face, multiple times, but that’s behind us.
LOL
love your post.
i’d like to repeatedly punch my husband in the face, too.
and we’re still married 😎
Lol, I adore my husband (know you do, too) but we all have our moments.
My husband and I are in this moment and he is right. I need holidays ( I work too much,I am stressed,I sleep badly,I don’t spend time with our kid or him)
IMO I think Ben is scared of what awaits him as a single guy if people will just hate him and reject him this is all about his image and for Jennifer she just wants Ben at all cost loving and adoring him so in those ways they really fit each other but for how long we shall see.Talk of a toxic relationship.They make love seem like some stupid lie and game.
…bet we get rumors of a reunion between them around Christmas,,
I like Jen but Jen is a doormat in a way.
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, Batman v. Superman press tour is going to be…interesting.
The pregnancy test story doesn’t work for me, the nanny was a single woman and dating. No reason to assume it meant affair. I don’t get it?
yes..
Actually, the nanny wasn’t single and dating, she was engaged to a guy in the Bahamas. Which also makes the preg test story not work, because she could’ve been preg by her fiancé.
true
I had to laugh at this line, CB:
“They’re not good enough actors to look this happy”
I think the odds are it is just divorce counseling. Although, I would love a conspiracy that went a little something like this: Ben and Jen have an open marriage, but that’s obvs something Jen would never let get out. Ben dabbles with the nappy and genuinely angers Jen, it’s blurring the ground rules of their open relationship, in a gray area. In any case, nanny threatens to go public, Jen is desperate to not have their open marriage on blast, so they cook up this little divorce scheme to distract and as a coverup, without ever planning to go through with it.
Yeah, pretty sure they’re in divorce counciling. Look at type A Jen bringing a notebook so she can take notes and list her bullet points of why Ben is a douche.
Their body language says it all Ben is not into it but he has to act for the camera Jennifer just wants to get back with Ben I have never believe in these two and as time is going on I wish they will go away they are becoming a nuisance.
I think the opposite. He is giddy with joy that she is being seen with him and not scowling. There are other pics that showing him with a very goofy grin. He needs her to make these appearances with him – her public won’t forgive him unless she does….
@DIANE the smile is for her fans not Jennifer he is no fool he knows hers fans cannot stand him as for Jennifer I do not see any love there from his end just a man happy that he is loved by a woman as much as he loves himself.
We can disagree 🙂
I think he needs and wants her back for many reasons. You can’t look at his behavior outside of his addiction(s). He’s been clearly spiraling out of control for years. I don’t think he ever really thought he would lose his wife and home and the reality of that had to be huge and impacting. I think also his Mom may have been talking to him about his dad and that past to encourage him to change course for the sake of his family. Maybe this finally got his attention to acknowledge the need for help (a rock bottom?). I said maybe. I have no idea what is going on in that family. I’m just reading body language and nuances in articles and photos all over the place. It’s a giant jigsaw puzzle, but the pieces do tell a story.
I also think that Jen is looking at this as her family and not as her career. If she thinks its best to salvage her family at the cost of a greater career/image, I think she’d do it.
A few days ago, I found a link that had a list of the various quotes over the years that Jen and Ben said of each other. His quotes of Jen were very telling – he knows her value as a person.
But why does he *suddenly* look soon happy? After that miserable/scowling Dumbo ride (his face juxtaposed with that happy kid’s ride was ridiculous), why the turn around? Relief that he is free? Bad acting? I don’t get it.
I dunno maybe it has to do with the Nanny being shut down plus lectures on PR.
CB – you left out of the story – and I think this is a major point – that Jennifer Garner changed outfits for the counseling/photo op. One dressy outfit going in (dress and heels) and a casual outfit (checked shirt/jeans) coming out. Sheesh.
That’s juicy! I saw the People article this is from, of course they don’t mention that either. What does it mean though?
And I think in the same OK story with the showering and preg test, it had Nanny Oozing writing a tell all book, which supports that she did NOT get a payoff if it were true.
I just really really want to know what went down with Nanny Oozing. I mean Bens PR denying? That had to sting so bad. It could be all true as she says or all true as he says or some other possibility we haven’t even thought of.
Wait what are you sure those photos were taken on the same day?
And she was carrying a blue gift bag also. Where did her dress go….she didn’t carry it out with her.
They are coming out of a different building. DM is so lax and stupid. How can people believe they are coming out of the same appointment with different clothing for Jen, jewelry, etc? She carried nothing with her to change clothes. The second building is brown/red brick. The plain office they went into with her in a dress is totally different.
Since that he dropped his ring( a new step until the divorce,the freedom) ,he looks happier and since that she dropped her ring,her mouth looks bigger.
Except this magnificent staged photo-op,it is nice to see some post marriage counselors together
The photo here is them coming out of the Pediatrician’s office, not counselor. They apparently when there together hours after the counseling. If you go to DM, you’ll see the photos at the counselor. Interesting to me, there is a video of Ben leaving the back of the office. In the photos going up the stairs, he is only carrying his phone/keys. However, in the video coming down, he has a large backpack. Also, when he sees the paps outside, he turns like he is going to go back inside and then decides to go on down the stairs. He pauses on the stairs for a few seconds, doing something with this hands (maybe sending a text), and then proceeds on down.
I think his goofy smiles (there are pics on other sites) is just pure joy that Jen is willing to be seen in a photo with him and she is actually wearing a pleasant expression – not angry or stoic. He needs her to accept him publicly right now.
Ok that would exsplain Jen outfit change PHD gossip was talking about.
That video does sound odd maybe there was someone else inside that came with him?
Ok so I saw the video and regarding the backpack I think at some point during he’s session he got the backpack from the car. Which is why he didn’t have it going in, but hand it coming out.
What? Outfit changes? Big backpacks and gift bags? Hours at the counselor and peditricians offices? This is weird and juicy stuff, love to get to the bottom of it…..
I think he just wanted to have a quick fag, so he wasn’t texting, just putting his cigarettes back in his pocket.
Count me in as doubting this was marriage counseling. They are probably in divorce counseling. I don’t see Jen taking him back. He’s humiliated her all summer with this nanny crap. She’d be sending a horrible message to her girls about relationships. So, no, I think the divorce will proceed from here on out. They probably need a third party to discuss things without Jen wanting to go Sydney Bristol on his lying, cheating a$$.
I agree with you they are divorcing, but not because Jen wants it. I see her as having worked very hard to become Mrs. Alister in Hollywood, and she was desperate to keep this marriage going even though he’s clearly been over it for years. I think he just proved to her he is willing to do anything, including humiliate her and the kids, in order to leave the marriage.
I agree. When Ben said the marriage was work it never sounded like work he enjoyed.
If a man wants to break free, he will. Had a friend who was happily married but unknown to her he wanted out. He tried taking up smoking cause he knew she hated it. She didn’t react how he hoped. So he cheated on her and told her and that was the nail in the coffin. Men can be just that black and white and selfish. I still think Ben cheated on Jennifer throughout the marriage but didn’t exactly want to lose the family man image either.
It’s hard to say what really went down in the end.
Jen and Ben had an agreement/open marriage that was never supposed to be public knowledge but the nanny forced everything out in the open because she wanted Ben to divorce and be with her, I think.
++++
If she gets back together with him, it would be the stupidest thing she could do for her own career and PR.
The celebrity press will love it, they love breakup, cheating, divorce , get back together stories.
@EVERMORE u seem to be rooting for them getting back together I bet my two cents you love them as a couple.
Forget the career what about her self worth and respect for herself. Careers come & go I would rather be able to look myself in the mirror and know that I’m not doormat. But if you love yourself first I could someone putting up with this mess.
She should hang on to get those back-end batfleck dollars. She’s earned them.
I really think Ben is in some kind of outpatient treatment for his addictions. There was a blind that said that most of their marriage counseling sessions were actually about trying to help him with those addictions, but he wouldn’t deal. Maybe this…. I hope so.
I don’t know Jen’s plan here, and she may not either. She may be taking it one day at a time.
When I left my gambling, etc. ex, I told him that if he would get the treatment needed and get his game together, then after a long period of sanity and counseling, we could be family again. I loved the man that I knew he could be if he didn’t have those demons active in him. He never sought treatment or help and so that was never an option.
That’s the thing about being with an addict – you know when behavior is attributable to the addiction and you really can separate that from the person. It’s about learning not to be an enabler to the addict. I met several couples in GamAnon meetings that had been in recovery for years and were very, very happy, so it can happen.
Just throwing that perspective out there – not saying what is going on here.
I think so too. Everyone tries to make her look like a doormat and actually he is the more insecure of the two. He may want to be free but I think he also knows it will be his end. Sure he will make money, etc. But ultimately his addiction will get the best of him.
I think this makes perfect sense. They will need to co-parent and that can be really hard to do well if you are not amicable with your ex.
The smiles may be genuine. Supposedly they have had marriage troubles for quite a long time, it might be a HUGE relief for both of them to be able to just stop. Now that they are not romantically involved, they can find a way to function and continue to be good parents to their kids. Jen might like him a lot more as a coparent than a husband and vice versa.
I have a friend who recently divorced. Her and her husband had almost split a few years ago, they stuck it out, got counseling and in the end, found that they just were not compatible. They got a divorce, he was in court holding her hand when they went before the judge. And they are now friends. She dog sits for him. etc. It was very painful for them, but all that counseling helped them to navigate it so maturely. I suppose it didn’t hurt that they really were on the same page. I think the counseling helped with that. There was no cheating etc either, just two people in different places.
Also, and this is where I may be a bit of a Pollyanna, But…………..at this point if I were Ben and Jen, *I* would want to use the paps too. Not for my image, but they have to realize all this Nanny-gate crap is going to be seen by their kids some day— maybe this is their way of making sure they show SOME good examples for the kids? Like, see how mommy and daddy remained friendly and did what was best for you?
And I am still not convinced he cheated with the nanny. I think it is something that he is 100% capable of…BUT….she also comes across as someone who could totally have set him up, knowing that we would all believe her. The former is more likely, but for me, the latter IS still possible. Especially since better proof never came out. Those arranged pics in front of his house were chaste. I am just not sold.
Does one of pics where Jennifer is looking down while coming out of the doorway show a big bald patch on Jennifer? 🙁
No, but lightening her hair really damaged her hair. It never looked good in Atlanta. She’s darkened it back a little.
She’s dragging it out to get a cut of all that future Batman money. She’s gonna collect for her and the kids.
She will get batman money for the kids regardless.
I’m assuming “next step” is pretend to be a happy family until after batman v superman bc WB desperately needs a hit and has been pressuring Ben to get his $h!t together.
I doubt they’ll divorce. It was announced after the nanny story went public, but in general, I believe Jennifer knows he was, and is ,cheating. So they probably had an arrangement about this, as long as he comes home to her, and stays with the family. Might sound strange, but I do know people who live like that. Only when the nanny showed more ambition than perhaps expected, Jen decided that’s it. Because to her, a cheating, gambling, drinking husband seems to matter less than public humiliation. We are talking about a woman who waited until their 10th anniversary before announcing. As for Ben, I think he wanted out for a long time, and might have even consciously forced her with his behaviour. However, it seems he doesn’t really know what to do with himself when put in the situation of truly being on his own. Jen knows how to play him- she did from the start, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement about reconciliation later this year.
I’m with you.
These two just make me sick at this point. I’ve been saying all along this would happen. Nick and Amy Dunne. It’s so silly that the focus now is on only the nanny, as if that was their problem. No, that was just one of the final symptoms of the problem that plagued them for years. These two were unhappy for years and on the verge of splitting for years. I’m sure the adrenaline rush and novelty of feeling like they “can get through this”rough patch (again) Is deceiving for both of them. We’ll see how they are a year or two from now. I personally think they’re very ill-matched, always have been, and that is at the root of their unhappiness. at this point ,they just seem like brother and sister – is there really any romance there at all? I certainly haven’t seen any for years and years. Just seems like a mother child/friend relationship.
Also, if they’re actually trying again, then the timing is weird to take their rings off? When they kept them on basically all summer long. Wouldn’t you think if they’re trying again – especially if Ben is begging for forgiveness – that he at least would keep wearing his to show commitment, even if Jen didn’t wear hers? I don’t understand it. Man, they are going to have some confused kids. Sometimes, I get the feeling they’re just playing everyone.
Good luck with Jen.
He’s the one smiling and flashing his ringless finger for the paps here. Don’t think she wants him back… Don’t know anyone male or female who’d groom themselves/dress like this at a meeting if hoping to remind the other what they’ve just tossed away.
They spend more time together now than they did when they were ‘a couple’. Shesh. Either let it go; or get it together. YOU HAVE CHILDREN to think about, not just yourselves.
> Why is Garner sticking around?!
Can I give a possibly unpopular opinion? It’s because people who want excitement get involved with other people who want excitement. If Jennifer Garner would’ve truly wanted just a nice guy to have a family with then she would’ve gone for that. Sure, we all evolve at different paces, but I don’t think she’s *that* much more mature than Ben Affleck is. His issues are just easier to point at than hers.
I get what you’re saying, and it’s a plausible theory. It’s the thrill of it all, instead of seeking a compatible, consistently nice partner.
Some people also just like drama, even if they won’t admit it.
Codependent people have a ton of issues (that they will not admit to). They just look like they are the healthy ones next to the one with the addiction. They sometimes also think that they are the one who are angelic, whilst the addicted person is the one with the problem and if only they would fix their problem, then everything would be well. Yet they continue to enable the situation.
So many stories of people who fall for the charming alcoholic and think that they can change them if they just try hard enough. Some people also enjoy being the saviour and the “good guy” next to the one who has more obvious issues.
She wanted Ben Affleck and she got what she wanted. I feel like that was more important than actually finding a suitable partner and having a stable relationship and family life.
…and I don’t mean to sound cruel. I just think that codependent people do themselves a disservice by buying into the idea that they are definitely not the one with the problem. That just means that they’ll do the exact same mistakes again, because they’re unaware of their own part in the problem.
People just issued a story that says despite the visit to the marriage counselor, they’re moving ahead with the divorce – to help deal with emotions and smooth the transition, etc. I would tend to believe this story since it was probably fed to People directly by their PR reps. It says they’ve been working on this arrangement for a year…
I think Ben smiles here because of Brady news. He is devoted fan, so for him it’s a huge deal, plus Tom is his friend. So he is probably ecstatic.
I really dislike her jeans. They look awful on her, in video too, not just in photos.
I also think such closeness to the soon-to be-an-ex is unhealthy and dangerous. When you don’t love someone anymore and you both have moved on, it’s okay. But she adored this man with all her heart, it’s too soon to be joking around with him and accepting rides from him. She might get wrong ideas and get even more hurt. Distance is crucial here. Unless he has decided to get her back, and she is coming round. As always.
+1
Despite People’s latest story saying there’s no reconciliation, at this point, I’m not going to believe anything until I see a divorce filing. I could see these two publicly saying they’re not making a go at reconciling to prevent more embarassment in case it doesn’t work out.
I agree she needs to keep her distance for a while, until she can clear her head and emotions. Hopefully, she’ll get the divorce done soon to end speculation for her and to start moving forward.
Actually they are coming out of a pediatrician office in the above pics. When she had the dress on that was the marriage counseling office.
You know what? Maybe they can be good friends and good co-parents. Why does the media and everyone have to analyze every pic of them with why were they there and oh this isn’t good. Looks to me as if they are handling their situation just fine. Many times when you take the strained marriage out of the equation people can get along just fine and actually be friends. Who knows they may very well be sleeping together still! OMG!
The only thing these pictures tell me, is that Jen and her ex are two people in desperate need of sunglasses.
Lol
The way Jennifer Garner is helping him with his image is just sad. Have some dignity Jennifer. He cheated. And everyone in the world knows it. And he is not even denying it anymore and not suing. So its true.
And yet Jennifer is just like those politician wifes who stand beside their man at press-conferences where those admit to cheating. And they stay like nothing happened and support their husband. Because career of husband is more important to those wifes then their own dignity.
I wish Jennifer would have balls and would not show up with Ben like happy family every freaking day. There was never divorcing couple that would show up like this and spend every day together after splitting up. Its only happens because Ben wants to save what left of his image, And show everyone that Jennifer is ok with cheating. If not for scandal then they would not spend all that time for paparazzi. Its really sad that Jennifer has no dignity and would play in this game.
It would always be sad for Jennifer after divorce. Because well – he is A-lis star. And she was always C-lister who was in few known movies during short time.
There are always those actors that have no big IT to become movie star. But get lucky and few years get parts (mostly supporting) in movies that make some money. But then after 3-5 years are quickly replaced by new ones like them. Jessica Beil, Eva Mendes, Jessica Alba. Amanda Peet and those kind. At one moment they are everywhere and then just vanish from movies. Because they dont get cast in big movies. New younger Jessicas and Evas replace them.
If Jennifer would not marry Ben Affleck they where her career would be right now? We would not hear about her at all. She would just do some straight to DVD forgettable movies.
And after divorce will be final everyone would stop care for her. Ben will find himself some 25 years old Amber Heard like girlfriend. Jennifer will find some ordinary person to date. But she will never find someone as big as Ben. And judging from her showing up with him now – I think she knows it too and was clinging for him as long as she could.
He would probably walk away few years ago but there were always newborn kids, then Oscar campaigns. And then he stepped away finally. And still she would show up with him after public cheating scandal. If it was up to her then I think she would tolerate any cheating and would stay with him for 20 more years. And it was him that stepped away.
You nailed it but for the part about him getting with a younger starlet I truly see him getting back with Jennifer Lopez but I think she will ask him to clean up his act before taking him back and I think he will.He never stopped talking about her after they separated and her autobiography was all about him if you look at the part where she said he was her first real heartbreak.I think they will take things slowly but I see them being a couple again.
interesting theory
When pigs fly, IMO.
JLO likes boy toys it seems. I can’t see BA being happy in that role either. Maybe to play around with, but not to settle in with. Having his clothing bar coded might be a little too much structure?
” her autobiography was all about him if you look at the part where she said he was her first real heartbreak”
Untrue. Yes she wrote he was her first real heartbreak but there was a few sentences at the most! Where do you get this “all about him” nonsense from? Her autobiography was all about her! I solely read it for the Bennifer dirt but the whole book is just her coming as as someone as incredibly self absorbed.
Ben looked incredibly bored towards the end of their relationship. If he loved her he would’ve married her, simple. Men aren’t that complicated. He never wanted to be Mr JLO and after reading her book I can see why nobody would. Previously I actually liked her.
if Ben wants anyone its Blake Lively. I think he was enamoured by her. It’s that time in his life where he will parade around with someone in the nannys age bracket.
Being the wife of an A lister in Hollywood means different things to different people. If you are a WAG then it would mean a meal ticket, exposure to luxury and all that it entails at the highest level and attending award shows in designer clothes etc. Jen is not a WAG, so the idea that she is so desperate to be married to an A lister is really quite funny. She had her own career whether it was right up there or not depends on whom you ask but certainly she was doing ok by Hollywood standards. If you want to use income to judge success there are people on TV that earn more than movie actors so being a TV actress did not mean that she was destitute by any stretch of the imagination. In fact as of today most reports indicate that their wealth or earnings are almost equal. Being married to Ben did not give her this wealth, most of her earnings came from before she became Mrs Ben Affleck. Someone like JJ Abrams that gave her that first big shot is still in her corner so she might still get another chance at a kick ass role. She has a production company, so she has a chance to make movies that she wants and hire the people that she wants. This idea that she is willing to be a door mat for Ben Affleck for ever because she is obsessed with the A list status is just ridiculous. There is more to life than the A list for some people. Luckily its a free world and we can all pick and choose what we want to believe at will.
All I see are gumby legs. Knees in, knees out, feet up, feet down. It’s like they were caught doing some weird polka.
I don’t see anything wrong in trying to separate from one another with the least rancour possible. There are children involved so there is no need to project hatred or venom as some seem to be suggesting here. Yes her husband chose to humiliate her and throw the family under the bus to satisfy his selfish needs but the fact that they have three children together means that they are tied together forever whether they like it or not. So should she be filled with hate for Ben and project this on to the kids so that they become affected by all the negative energy between the parents? How is that a good thing. You don’t have to like how she is handling her divorce and you can even condemn her for it along with condemnation for her choice of husband, her mothering skills, the number of children she chose to have, her choice of food items and where she gets them and her clothes and shoes and hair and make up and imagined love for money and career status and perceived A list obsession etc, etc, along with everything else that is condemnable in a human being especially the fact that she even exists on this earth at all or wasting oxygen for doing so, because you can. It will change nothing. Why, because it is her life and she is entitled to live it as she deems fit just as much as you or I. Its that simple.
+1
Haven’t seen even one comment suggesting Jen should be filled with hate for Ben and project this onto the kids. Nobody said such a silly thing and I don’t see the point of such a hyperbole, as it really makes you arguing with a wind ))
There is a fine line between remaining civil for the children, getting help to deal with the emotions that come up as the family falls apart and not keeping the distance necessary to process the deep pain from a heartbreak. It is impossible to joke around with an ex that you loved so much so soon. He still has his power over her, I think. It brings up the suspicion, she is ready to succumb: play hard to get for a bit, but at the end go back to him.
She and her husband are multimillionairs thanks to the celebrity-making industry. It allows them to receive so much money for their mediocre acting, which entertains people, but is of no merit to the world, society or whatever. Still, they are getting paid so much whereas peolpe who literally make this world a better place are not. That’s the industry. But it also entails being a circus animal, where we all gossip about their lives and loves and kids and shoes. If she doesn’t like it, she can take a hike.
Oh, and it will change a thing )) People were outraged at her still wearing the ring and making photo ops with Ben, she stopped doing it. People said they wanted Ben to smile, look who can’t stop smiling now. They care very much and try to live their life, so that people like it. It’s that demented ))
Your comment is so sensible, Toyin
I commend them both for truly trying to create an amicable split via family counseling, etc., if that’s really all there is to it. Like I said above, I’ll believe it 100% when I see the divorce filing. People just issued another story saying Jen wouldn’t take him back at this point and that once she took her ring off, she was like a different person. A small part of me feels like these People articles are a bit of “thou doth protest too much” from Jen’s camp (I.e. she doesn’t want people to think she’d take him back so easily after everything came out publicly.) But I do believe that maybe it’s finally true for Jen – taking her ring off was probably hugely symbolic (to her, personally), and meant that she was emotionally ready to make that leap, unlike Ben whose ring seemed to be on and off for a while there. Once you make that transition emotionally in a relationship, I think a certain wall goes up, or something is lost and you can’t really go back anymore. I will say, as I’ve always said, these two actually seem happier now – both of them. I think they will be better, happier co-parents and friends than spouses – don’t think they’re a fit that way. I think the next real challenge is going to be when one of them starts dating …
I believe the article today was a specific response to the conjectures in comments and Lainey on Friday. She is answering the question about her state of mind.
I think she has a good support system that is helping her keep from getting caught back up in the cycle of old behaviors. That is very important. I think she would have a fight on her hands in her family and friends if she started to backslide.
I also think they will be civil in the future, but I don’t think Jennifer will ever be able to truly relax around him again to be friends. There has been too much betrayal and hurt for that. You can forgive, and move on, but still have barriers and boundaries.
I went too see the article you’re talking about, but instead just read that Liberty Ross got engaged )) Now that was a horrible story. She said that within two years she was able to build up a good relationship with her awful ex-husband and they are co-parenting and everyone is getting along. So hopefully that’s where the Afflecks will be in couple of years, if they do divorce.
Getting along is good, but that’s not friendship. Friendship requires trust. That is much harder to achieve in situations of severe betrayal. I think they’ll be able to get along as they love their kids.
I agree with all you said, Diane. But I’m just not yet 100% convinced she’s moving on (although almost!) There were those articles a few weeks ago that said she wanted to try to rebuild their friendship and would see what happened from there – essentially, she was “leaving the door open” but taking it one day at a time. That’s kind of what this looks like, no? But I do think her taking her ring off seems like a major step forward and a shift in mindset for her that we’ve never seen before. I don’t think she’d do that “lightly.” But I also think if she has even the smallest inkling of taking him back, she’s not going to want people to know that right now, given all that has happened. So, she’d probably want to keep that under wraps until she felt sure they were on solid ground again – seems like that would take a long while. :/ I don’t know – they’ve come this far. I hope they keep moving forward independently – they seem like they’re finally moving towards being happy separately.
Haha JoJo agree. It isn’t over til it’s over. I think whatever happens will be a hard thought decision and hope/pray for the best outcome for ALL of them. Life is so messy.
They are really famewhores, why can not this to be their private thing
I think Ben Affleck is a master manipulator. I think he wanted to be “free” but is also conflicted about losing his image as a husband, father. The thrill of the chase will be gone if he is a single man. I doubt he will be single long though as he seems to need to be in a relationship. His smiles are creepy and his eyes are vacant and empty. I don’t know if he is on some drugs or what but I can’t stand to look at him.
I agree with you Ben is a master manipulator but Jen is dumb not to realise this he keeps pushing her boundaries and she keeps giving how far will he go and how much is she willing to accept.They say narcissist know how to select their victims I am sure when he has moved on with some other woman he will be asking favours from Jen which she will willing accept putting it on the sake for her kids.The only reason they have not filed yet is because Ben is weighing his options what will benefit him most losing fans or staying and if he opts to divorce he is trying to get Jen to always do stuff for him without a thought of how this may benefit her.
I don’t think she’s dumb. I think she loves well and expects to be treated the way she would treat the beloved. It’s her personality to forgive easily, I think, because she wants to believe the best in people. I read the various quotes from Ben about her throughout the years and the thing he was always consistent about was her extraordinary kindness. That is a wonderful trait, but it is one a narcissist might prey upon because that makes for easier manipulation. She needs strong support around her to protect her from own emotions right now. I think also that he did finally cross her personal line in the sand with the Nanny and that is giving her inner strength to stand strong. I don’t think he really knows what he lost, but over time he will. He might find another woman, but he lost that special place in his little family. I’m not saying he won’t be involved with the kids, but now that will be on his initiative and that’s where he’s going to feel the loss. I suspect he very much took for granted that it would always be there no matter what he did. It’s a subtle shift but it’s huge.
I totally agree. She is a loving, nurturing person and she became his enabler. I hope she seeks continued counseling for herself and her children. I believe her to be a strong person, but she is extremely vulnerable right now. She would be much better off if she didn’t have to be around him at all but unfortunately that is not realistic. I also agree about the nanny being the “last straw”. If she finds herself weakening she has to reflect on the pain and humiliation he caused their family. His total disregard for her and the children is sickening. I read that he was texting her constantly asking for her to deny the nanny story. Good for her that she didn’t help him. Her resolve to remain strong against him has probably thrown his world into a tailspin. Again, reading the various quotes made my him and from sources over the years about him indicate that she was his anchor and he relied heavily on her. Too bad she couldn’t rely on him.
By stepping in to “solve” the addict’s problems, the enabler takes away any motivation for the addict to take responsibility for his or her own actions. Without that motivation, there is little reason for the addict to change. Enablers help addicts dig themselves deeper into trouble.
He did something that has wrecked his image. Helping him fix it IS enabling.
I think this is my last post on any more articles on this subject. It appears to be a train wreck and I need to look away.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who told Garner about the affair in some idiotic attempt to get Ben to commit.”
No. Tom told Garner about the affair.