We got a request to cover Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s non-reconciliation reunion. From what I’ve seen and read, it looks like more of the same from Ben and Jen – they’re sort of back together, but they don’t want to phrase it that way and the timing happens to be very convenient for Ben’s projects, particularly Live By Night, which I’m sure he’s hoping is Oscar-baity. So here were are again with more church and breakfast outings. Because those pap photos aren’t enough to get the attention of people who pay only a passing interest in gossip, People has a report about how they’re doing. The subtext is that they’re back together and we’re supposed to imagine this idyllic scene where they gradually realize that they’re meant for each other:
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner aren’t letting their separation spoil the holidays.
“Jen and Ben spent Thanksgiving Day together with the kids at home,” a source tells PEOPLE, adding that Garner’s parents were also with them in Los Angeles.
“They cooked and seemed to have a great time,” says the source.
Despite announcing they were separating over a year ago, the source says the amicable exes are still living together and “things haven’t changed much” since they split. “There are no plans for a divorce,” adds the source.
However, the source also notes that Garner “denies that they are getting back together.” A friend of the actress previously told PEOPLE that Garner has denied reconciliation rumors to pals and “doesn’t seem to mind at all that [the divorce] is not finalized.”
Still, the Batman v Superman actor is “making a big effort to spend as much time with their kids as possible.” And the duo still enjoy spending time together as well. “It’s almost like they are back to being the family they were a few years ago,” says the source.
Ok, that’s what we figured was happening. Thanks for the update.
I’m also here for the pictures of Ben and Matt together again. They were seen outside a studio in LA together on Tuesday. While I don’t care as much about Ben and Jen’s relationship I want to be a fly on the wall when Ben and Matt are hanging out. What do they talk about exactly? Do they talk about sports, their kids, their wives? There are certainly business decisions to be made, particularly about their new show, Incorporated, which premiered last night on Syfy network. (I DVRed it but haven’t seen it yet.) So these two are working as producers again, which is smarter than doing more Project Greenlight honestly.
Checking out these photos of Ben and Matt – they kind of let themselves… rest when they’re not in training for a film right? Don’t get me wrong they look great and I still would it’s just that both of them aren’t as fit as they are when they’re in action films. (Although Affleck pretty much looks the same as he always does lately.)
Pictures of Ben and Jen are from 11/19, 11/27 and 11/28. Pictures of Ben and Matt are from 11/29. Credit: FameFlynet
I can’t help wondering how this situation affects the kids. If Ben & Jen keep on acting as though they’re all still one big happy family, the kids might be lulled into thinking that this is what “divorce” is really like. In which case, they’ll be pretty devastated when Dad eventually moves along and gets a new girlfriend.
yeah, I’m with you. Their kids are young. What are they supposed to think but things are fine with lots of happy outings. Jen and Ben should either get divorced or reconcile fully, why the limbo land?
I would bet their kids are privy to more info on their parents’ plans than we are. Hopefully, the kids will learn valuable lessons about taking time to value and evaluate relationships even if they end. I don’t think either would want to traumatize their children.
Firstly, I think these people have been in therapy for the last year and are still trying to figure out if divorce is right for them and uf so, what it will look like. But also, I think people make divorce a lot uglier than it needs to be. Each family should decide what it looks like for them. For some people it means that mum and dad live in opposite parts of the city and for others it just means that they live next door. For some, life is split between two households and for others there is one primary household and everybody, including new spouses is welcome there. The latter is probably better for kids than the former. But once again, these two are separated not divorced and it looks like they are investing the time to figure out whether they can work as married and if not, how to structure their divorced family. It often looks like people are pissed that their negative predictions for this family haven’t come true instead of rooting for a family to survive the odds. Regardless of whatever this is, its still miles better than the other big child centered split we have seen this year.
@reba standing ovation 👏👏👏👏👏
Well said, Reba!
I like seeing Ben & Matt working together again.
Also, I was thinking that Jennifer Garner needs to get out of her family-friendly-movie rut and try getting back into the action genre. I’d like to see that Jennifer again.
As far as it goes with the are-they-or-aren’t-they business, I just don’t care. I assume they are in some state of slow, comfortable relationship repair, and I’m fine with that.
I also would like to see her take on some new roles. Action or maybe some real drama – to grow off of her last role in miracles from heaven.
I found that people article interesting- with reconciliation rumors swirling- it does not give a strong denial – just a wierd – we are not getting divorced (which is contrary to what their original statement said) but we are not getting back together.
I would with Matt…Ben not so much.
I would with Ben….Matt not so much.
I think the big story will be the one where Ben wonders upon a new pair of ballz. Lol oh well if you like it … I love it !
I hope they are repairing their relationship, getting counseling, etc. Ben seems to be trying really hard to prove to Jen that he can be a good husband and father. I wish them well. At least, they are being civil for their children. It’s funny that the same people who feel so bad for the Jolie-Pitt children, because it seems that their parents cannot get along at all, also, feel bad for the Affleck kids because their parents are trying very hard to keep things peaceful and to get along! Wierd!
I noticed that too. Its really jarring.
If/when the Pitts decide to co-parent amicably, court-enforced or not, they will be praised. That is the type of situation where clear boundaries are important sooner rather than later.
Oh god, this again? And that article is just all over the place, they’re getting quotes from questionable “sources” again. The Live By Night premiere is in a few weeks, whether Jen attends or not will confirm the status of their relationship.
I don’t think she will be there. That is a huge statement I don’t think they are willing to make.
She will probably bring the older kids and try to spin it as a family outing.
Doubt it – they don’t take children to film premieres. And this is not a kids movie
Is it really so weird and strange that you get along with your ex better once you’ve separated? Same happened for me. The expectations towards friendly co-parenting are just so much different than the expectations towards a husband and partner. Plus, if and when (still happens) he pisses me off I can just hang up the phone or walk away and let time take care of it. Hard to do in a relationship. I don’t need to “work on” things, because we’re not a couple anymore. And I didn’t end the relationship because he was a bad father (in fact, he’s a great father). So no reason not to be friendly and occasionally do things together or spend holidays together? Even now that we both had other relationships and I have a new baby with my boyfriend. My son loves it and really, what should divorce look like? Screaming and crying and bad-mouthing the other one?
I don’t think it’s weird and strange at all. But it would be interesting to know how many splits are terrible and dramatic and ugly vs. amicable. I know plenty of people who can be civil with their exes, even with new partners and kids added to the mix, because they seem to know that it’s best for the family.
Whatever works for them. I would be slow to divorce with kids too. Thing is, you still have to deal with the ex spouse. They aren’t gone. So if I still felt love for my husband, I would hope we could work through things.
I get irritated at the comments when people seem to want them to hurry up and divorce or say they are confusing their children. If they can get along and parent their kids… That’s wonderful. Who cares if they ever divorce.
I think the reason people say “get divorced already” Is because 1.5 years ago they made a statement and announced that they have decided to divorce. The statement did not say “separate” and work on it. So it sounded like it was just beyond repair, so why delay?
That said, I agree with you that they have children and if they still feel the love, they (or anyone). Should try to work it out. Not to be miserable and stay together for the kids. But to work extra hard and try to work it out.
I don’t see anything wrong with it. I have family members that did the same sort of thing. If you get along, and it’s not a bunch of petty one-upmanship, then great! It’s a lot easier than shuffling the kids off from house to house- I find holidays exhausting enough and my family isn’t split up.
JEN PLEASE HIRE A STYLIST! First thing he/she will do is purge that closet of yours of all that terrible stuff that makes you look so bad. Girl, you are attractive and look great for your age. Stop trying to be ugly!
The jean skirt is terrible lol
Live by night is already being trashed by critics on Twitter…
I think BenAffleck even admitted to it not being an Oscar movie on some talk show.
I think the reason people react differently to the Brangelina split is because Brad and Ange are clearly splitting, but people still wish they could at least be amicable for the kids. Whereas Ben and Jen are amicable for the kids, which is great, but they are also the ones who issued a divorce announcement and Jen basically gave a full-on expose on her marriage and divorce to VF – all of which will be out there for her kids to read. Her prerogative of course, but it ultimately leads to people wonder what the deal is. I’m happy that they are trying to do the best for their kids. That’s all that matters, and I commend them for it. That said, even if they’ve reconciled, I don’t put too much stock into the “happy couple” photos and probably never will since we’ve been seeing these strolls for years already, and we know that things were far from happy behind the scenes from nearly the beginning.
The VF interview also made it clear that she was still in love with him.
Ben Affleck looks miserable.
He always does.
I still don’t believe they have reconciled. Many reasons. I think the very conflicting People quotes are two PR teams with different agendas and People just wrote them both.
18 months since the divorce announcement and neither has publicly dated anyone else. They still live in the same house, still vacation together, still attend couple therapy sessions together and still go out for dinner together – dinner without their kids and (significantly) on a double date with Jennifer’s parents.
I think they’re trying to make it work but that they’ll be slow to publicly confirm it – once is enough to mistakenly announce a big change in a marriage that involves kids.
I agree. I think the most significant of late (aside from the fact that they are papped together a lot) is the dinner with her parents. Months ago, right after the WV floods, radar online actually interviewed jen’s dad presumably about the floods, but trying to get a Ben and Jen scoop, and at the time he said that the status of their relationship is their’s to tell and he won’t be commenting on it.
He’s also been seen going to therapy alone. I have always said they are divorcing. But this holiday, with them out to dinner with the parents, etc., I have to say maybe they have been trying a private reconciliation or working towards that, and unless they are completely sure of where their relationship is going are going to keep it to themselves. Smart.
As far as not being divorced yet and doing things as a family, Goopy and Chris Martin’s divorce took several years. They still did and do a lot together as a family. No one said a word. I saw Ben and Jen’s relationship the same way, trying to do what they think is best for the children in their co-parenting, until now, with the dinner with her parents, which puts it into me thinking maybe they are trying again. But who knows?
Agree. Well, I for one, as you know, have been saying since June 30, 2015 that there would be no divorce! 🙂 And I do think that yes, they don’t want to make it public because they’re probably still not sure how things will play out, and they’re not going to go through another public media firestorm, only to have things potentially crash and burn again. I am skeptical because they have seemed so miserable for so many years, but it will be interesting to see.
Apparently today is Violet’s 11th Birthday! Happy Birthday Violet! Hope you are able to to grow up happy and “normal” despite your Hollywood upbringing and craziness around your parents!
I would respect Jennifer more if she didn’t control the separation so much. It’s like she could never let Ben breathe or out of her sight. She is rich regardless and does have a career. She could have taken a couple of vacation on her own with the kids and just enjoyed life for a bit instead of constantly smothering Ben. He does look miserable with her and I feel it won’t only last in the long run. Ben will break free eventually. He is still weighing his options.
Lol! Ben is a grown man. He can hire lawyers to facilitate the divorce. He can date too and not hide anymore. Why put everything on JG?
Oh Loca – Jen spent one month in Europe while Ben was filming Justice League then she went back to LA with her kids, she stayed in LA for the rest of the summer even though she wasn’t filming a new project, while Ben continued to film in London for three more months alone, only occasionally coming home. If she really was all up in his business she would have stayed there. Ben has more freedom than you think, how do you think he was able to have all those affairs while he was married? Not to mention his gambling habit. When he filmed BvS he again was alone in Detroit filming for 6 months, 6 MONTHS that’s a long ass time to be without your family, again Jen and the kids stayed in LA and visited him a few times. That’s when sh!t started falling apart for them. He was on a long leash maybe too long that he ended it up hanging himself. Ana is right Ben is grown ass man, he is the one that wanted the divorce he was ready to do it a year and a half ago until nannygate blew up in his face, now he suddenly doesn’t have the balls to do it, he’s weak, don’t blame the woman all the time.
Thank you Kate! I am sick and tired of hearing the free Ben narrative when all along he has always been free to do things he wanted and he has been acting like a single man until the nannygate. Jen, for the kids sake, would bring them over to wherever he was so they could see their father once in a while. I am sure it is a lot of work for her while maintaining a semblance of a career. I am sure she is now used to being a single parent. And obviously, she is not perfect either.
Correct me if I am wrong, but at 44 years old, I think he could be considered of age to make his own decisions and control his own life lol. If he wanted out bad enough, he would be GONE GIRL!
Did you ever think that perhaps they (but especially him) have the best of both worlds right now? All the career benefits with the Minivan Majority, as much family time as is enjoyable without being together 24/7, and fooling around on the down low without having to promise anyone anything at all.
I wonder how awkward it is for Ben to hang out with Jen’s parents. If I were her parents I’d be throwing shade every chance I got. 😀
ET is making a big deal out of Jen having coffee with Ben’s mom today. “Does this mean a reconciliation?” LOL! That I do not think is a sign at all.. She has been spotted with Ben’s mom quite a few times since their split. Being its Violet’s birthday, her presence is not surprising. Is ET a “celebrity friendly” outlet that would promote this rumored reconciliation for them?
I think things have changed just after declaring her feelings,love and pain,in the VF’s interview.It seems a paradox but I think that that was an ending and a new beginning for them:he has been much more present in their lives, whereas he has worked hard even abroad
Eh. I do agree with @Kate above that Ben seemed to change his tune as soon as the nanny news hit. I’ve always said that. It was blatantly obvious he wanted out of the marriage before the split announcement, but once nannygate exploded, he looked like a wounded puppy getting cremated in the court of public opinion. I’ve always said they’ll stay together – it’s classic codependency. And yes, I know they have three kids, but I don’t think that automatically makes it worth staying at any cost. But that’s JMO.