Exclusive Pics: Ben Affleck was all smiles as he continued his outpatient treatment for alcohol and substance abuse this week https://t.co/C9O5U2YLOd
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) August 14, 2018
On Friday afternoon it was reported that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were warned by the judge assigned to their divorce case that it could get dismissed for lack of follow up. There’s been a lot of speculation as to why they’re not finalizing it. It’s been three years since Ben was caught with the nanny and in that time there have been multiple reconciliation rumors along with a steady stream of stories about how well they’re coparenting. Surely they have the best legal representation and can move forward with the divorce if they want. Instead they’re stalling for some reason, which some suspect is due to Affleck wanting a ready made excuse for not getting engaged to Lindsay Shookus. That could be the case or it could be a money or custody issue. Whatever is going on, they’re not saying directly and they’re not trash-talking each other. As we’ve seen from the way other divorcing celebrities treat each other in the press, it could go a lot worse and I suspect that Affleck is capable of that.
The latest from US is that Ben is still in outpatient alcohol treatment classes and that he’s been doing meditation as well. Good for him.
A source told Us Weekly that the exes reunited at Affleck’s new Palisades mansion on Friday, August 10, and spent time with their daughters Violet, 12, and Seraphina, 9, and 6-year-old son Samuel.
Three days later, the 45-year-old actor was spotted at the treatment facility. A second insider told Us of Affleck, who just wrapped two films: “This is part of his practice and how he maintains his personal health. He’s been doing these classes for months. He’s also been spotted outside of meditation classes as well as meetings. He’s focused on being there for those in his life.”
US has much more in the article but it’s a rehash of past stories, which frankly I needed as it’s hard to keep up. Last month, in US’s cover story on Garner, they quoted a source who said that “The one thing [Garner is] not flexible on is sobriety. Jen is hesitant to sign off until she’s certain that the kids will be in the best hands at all time.” So this follow-up story to the divorce delay could be subtly conveying that Affleck needs to show that he’s sober before Garner signs off on custody particularly. Is this a nicer way of saying “Ben still struggles with his sobriety, but at least he’s trying?” Note that the source isn’t saying he’s abstinent or focused on his sobriety, just that he’s maintaining his “health,” which is what we’ve heard for months.
Photos credit: Backgrid and via Twitter
Ben looks less bloated and Jen looks as boring as ever
If Ben is trying to sort his shitbout and be the best version of himself for his young children, then I can’t hold that against him. If Jennifer is holding on to hope that he will sort his shit out and she and her kids will have the good version of him back, then I can’t begrudge her that either.
Maybe it’s all media fakery but I don’t have any issues with how these two have handled their separation or whatever. Maybe she’s clinging maybe he lacks the balls to move on – whatever – at least their kids aren’t living through a battle for the public’s support.
Never thought I’d say this, but Brad Pitt needs to take a page out of Affleck’s book.
Oh, Brad did take a page out of Ben’s book. The drinking page mostly.
There is no “good” version of him. He was secretly going to rehab before the public downward spirals, for instance, he went to rehab in 2014 for painkiller abuse but we never heard about it. He was never a very involved parent, always more interested in his career and working. That clearly hasn’t changed (in spite of everything) as his kids have been off from school and he’s been working nonstop.
His sobriety or lack thereof is not a reason not to finalize. He’ll never be sober enough or for a long enough period of time. Jen’s just being her usual pathetic doormat self.
I agree. this has been an ongoing problem for him and will continue to be an ongoing problem for him. She can always go to court and modify custody at anytime in the future and seems to have the upperhand anyways.
Why doesn’t she settle on custody based on the person he is TODAY?
It has been 3 years of her asking him to be sober in exchange for custody. If he was going to meet her requirements for custody then he would have already done that. This is a woman who does not know when to cut the cord and how to let go of people. It’s so very obvious this is a situation of unreciprocated love that Jen refuses to accept. finalize and move on Jen.
His sobriety is the only thing she can use as a weapon against him to hold him hostage in her life.
Agree with @stacey. He’s an addict, and that means the question of his sobriety will go on indefinitely, so what is her end game here?
I think it’s just more of the status quo for these two. She clearly stays relevant, to some degree, through her role as the long-suffering, martyred wife of Ben Affleck, and I think he just does what’s easiest and what has always come naturally to him, which is to let someone else control the situation.
So basically he’s just going through the motions of “wanting to get sober” until Jen signs off on the custody.. if he doesn’t want to get sober why not just not drink when he has the kids?
PS- never knew these two had a son also
Seems like he’s struggled with addictions forever and while I’m not a fan I give him credit for trying. Even if the custody agreement is the motivation. Whatever works.
I actually don’t think he’s capable of that (brange type stuff). I think they both did the best they could with this divorce. Hey, they’re no Paltrow, ha, but they did okay all things given.
‘alcoholic meditation class’ — there’s everything in LA.
Hopefully Ben continues his outpatient rehab if he wants joint custody of their children.
I would say Ben has just recently started to go back to his rehab sessions. I think he has not attended for some months and maybe Jen’s visit last week and her complimentary chauffeured drive somewhere might have something to do with it.
Funny when he was going before we had regular pics of him going/leaving then nothing now a new pic. He lapsed going and is now going again.
I totally get Jens stand against signing off on divorce until he gets his act together and can prove it long term. I would not want to put in the endless worrying every time I had to turn my three kids over to an Addict for 50% of the time which is what joint custody would be. I somehow think they will do it their way regardless of whether you guys think she is a doormat or not.
Are they supposed to stay married forever then because he can’t get sober?
I thought his lack of sobriety was part of why they were divorcing in the first place (on top of the fact he is in love with another woman), now it’s the reason she uses to not grant him a divorce.
Here’s a thought for Jennifer – don’t let him have 50/50 custody if you believe he is still unfit to this day and finalize your divorce.
And if the courts don’t agree with Jennifer and grant him 50/50 custody anyways, then she is going to look like an vindictive idiot for stalling.
At some point I hope Ben man’s up and proceeds with the divorce. Neither one of them are perfect and Jennifer has serious issues herself with lack of moving on with her life. She could always modify the request. Its time to cut the B.S. she still does not want the divorce and will find every excuse. She needs therapy herself. Provide real evidence Ben did something harmful as a parent or I am not buying it.
US’s latest online excerpt. Granted, it’s US Mag, but even so, it sounds pretty on the money for both of them. You can never be “100% certain” that an addict is clean or will stay clean, so this is a futile delay with questionable motives, IMO.
“The actress, 46, has been stalling since filing in April 2017. “Jen wanted to give Ben the time and opportunity to work on his health and sobriety,” a source says in the new issue of Us Weekly of the actor, also 46, who has struggled with addiction to alcohol. “She isn’t in a rush.”
Affleck, however, is ready to move on, especially since he’s been dating SNL producer Lindsay Shookus, 38. “Ben would have liked to have finished this and closed the books sooner,” adds the source, but “Jen just isn’t willing to settle the custody issues until she’s 100 percent certain that he’s clean.”