First, before J.Lo finally filed for divorce, sources claimed her inner circle, including her longtime manager Benny Medina, HATED her hubby. Not a great sign! More recently, because they seemingly didn’t have a prenup before tying the knot, Ben’s bestie Matt Damon could get dragged into the messy divorce, which we bet has soured him on Jenny from the Block!

The duo started their production company Artists Equity after the Bennifer wedding, meaning Ben’s stake is now community property in the divorce, according to TMZ. So the singer is entitled to financial interest from their films and could fight Ben for some of his stake in the company! With all that in mind, it got us thinking… If J.Lo’s friends never liked Ben, how did his friends feel about her?? Was everyone seeing the red flags or nah?!

Related: Ben Was With Kick Kennedy In 2020 — Until He Chose To Date Ana de Armas!

Well, it turns out The Martian star was actually very open about how he felt about the lovebirds when they rekindled things. In 2021, Matt chatted with Extra on the red carpet of his movie Stillwater and he weighed in on the romance, sharing:

“I’m just so happy for him.”

So, not exactly a glowing report or any kind of comment on Jennifer herself. Just that he’s happy for his friend. Hmm. It seemed like such a sweet sentiment at the time, but looking back, was this a little cryptic? Was he purposefully not mentioning the other half of the relationship?? Hmm.

FWIW, the 53-year-old did acknowledge Jennifer a little later on — but he still kept his thoughts vague, adding:

“He’s the best. He deserves every happiness in the world. I’m glad for both of them.”

Huh.

By the way, this wasn’t the only time he commented on the relationship. In May of that year, before the romance was confirmed, he appeared on Today where Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb questioned him about the rumored sparks. He coyly teased:

“I just heard you guys. I was sitting here waiting to come on TV. It’s the first time I heard about it.”

But he did gush about them both, saying:

“It’s a fascinating story. I hope it’s true. I love them both. I hope it’s true. That would be awesome.”

Back then, Matt seemed to like the Hustlers alum, as far as we can tell. So we guess it was only her friends seeing the warning signs before anyone else!

But as Ben’s bestie, we wonder if Matt has a different opinion these days?? We mean, he must if he’s about to get caught in the middle of the divorce, right? And just imagine the horror stories he may have heard from his buddy as the marriage was deteriorating! He’s gotta have all the tea — and he’s clearly Team Ben all the way!

Matt’s been by Ben’s side throughout this whole split, and the pair have been spending a ton of time together both before and after the filing. From what we’ve heard Ben has been totally focused on work. Over the weekend, the father of three even seemed in good spirits as he joined The Instigators star, his wife Luciana Barroso, and their children for dinner in Los Angeles. So Matt’s loyalties haven’t changed! Romances can come and go but this bromance will never change.

Reactions, Perezcious?? Share them in the comments (below)!

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

The post What Matt Damon Thought Of Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Rekindled Romance -- That Could End Up Haunting Him! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

As Perezcious readers know, J.Lo filed for divorce earlier this month. But per TMZ insiders, the couple shockingly didn’t sign a prenup before getting married. That means that anything they acquired in their 2-year marriage is now community property — meaning they’ll have to equally divide their assets. The performers were booked and busy these last few years, but that’s not the only reason this split is getting messy and very complicated, according to insiders!

Related: Ben Affleck Has ‘A Darkness To Him’ That Jennifer Lopez Could Never Fix

Just four months after Bennifer tied the knot, the Good Will Hunting lead formed his production company Artists Equity with Matt Damon in November 2022. Via TMZ, Ben’s stake in the company is now community property. And it is one of the biggest assets at play in the divorce. OMG!!

This means that Jenny from the Block is financially entitled to share profits from the company’s recent hits, such as Air, the upcoming Unstoppable which she stars in, The Instigators, Small Things Like These, and The Accountant 2. Because of this, Matt could get dragged into the divorce, too, since he is a major stakeholder in the company. It’s currently unclear exactly what may play out. But if things are as messy as they sound, and if Ben really didn’t do anything to safeguard his business from his marriage, then who knows?! Maybe J.Lo would fight him to retain some of his stake in the company for good? That would be wild!

Now, Ben will also have a financial interest in some of the projects she was involved in, too, like Shotgun Wedding, Atlas, and This Is Me… Now. But while it may be annoying for to split her income, it’s not quite the same as having his company on the line!

According to the outlet, issues like this are why the ongoing divorce talks have gotten increasingly tense — causing the duo to stop speaking to each other. Hopefully, they can reach some kind of agreement before things get too heated! Reactions?!? Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via WIRED/ELLE/YouTube]

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Ben Affleck‘s marriage to Jennifer Lopez may be over, but he doesn’t seem too down in the dumps about it! On Monday, a source told People the Argo star is “doing well and is very focused” amid the divorce, adding:

“He thrives when he has work projects. He’s been great when it comes to the kids too. He’s doing exactly what he wants. He seems very happy.”

Oof. “Doing exactly what he wants” — that sure sounds like a jab to J.Lo, huh? Not sure if that was the intent here, but ouch!

Related: Why Jennifer Lopez Marriage Was A Good Thing For Ben

When not keeping busy with work or hanging out with his rumored new girl Kick Kennedy, the 52-year-old has also been seen out and about with bestie Matt Damon. The pair were spotted going out to dinner in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Ben joined Matt, his wife Luciana Barroso, and their kids at the Italian restaurant Toscana. A family meal with Uncle Ben. TMZ described him as having a “pep in his step” as he entered the establishment and he was even seen laughing with the valet while heading out. Look:

Not what you’d expect given his circumstances!

One reason the actor may be moving on so easily is because, per the People source, the Good Will Hunting star felt he was “done with his marriage” for months. It ended for him when he moved out of their marital home and into a Brentwood rental earlier this year. They were first discovered to be living separately in mid-May, and J.Lo’s divorce docs state they’ve been separated since April 26. So, he’s been done with the romance for a LONG time, even if the marriage was still technically on.

While he’s putting on a brave face in public, the confidant insisted Ben was “upset” by the split at the time though, especially his move from the marital mansion, adding:

“You could tell that he was upset about it though. He knew he was letting [Lopez] down. He felt very bad about it.”

But, ultimately, he felt it was the only option:

“He and [Lopez] just have very different lifestyles. He realized he would never be happy with her lifestyle. And he didn’t expect it to change.”

A different insider said the Air director can be “very moody and dark at times” — which has been a rumored reason for the breakup. His personality was just too incompatible for the Let’s Get Loud singer, who “appreciates life in another way. She’s very grateful for everything.”

We guess they’ve each had time to privately mourn the end of the marriage behind closed doors since way before the divorce was filed, but it’s still kinda surprising to see Ben moving on seemingly so easily! Do y’all think this is making the divorce even more painful for Jennifer?? Or do you think she’s just as over it as he is? Tell us your reactions (below)!

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

The post Ben Affleck 'Seems Very Happy' Amid Jennifer Lopez Divorce -- He's Been 'Done' With Marriage Since WHEN?!? appeared first on Perez Hilton.

The duo’s new film Unstoppable is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in two weeks, but the newly divorced Bennifer will NOT be making a joint appearance, sources told Page Six on Thursday.

If you don’t know, J.Lo has a supporting role in the movie… which just so happened to be produced by Ben and Matt Damon‘s production company, Artists Equity. There’s been a lot of speculation about whether or not they’ll both attend, but a source insisted there will be no awkward run-ins. This ain’t gonna be a repeat of It Ends With Us with the cast mates avoiding each other on the red carpet!

Related: Jennifer Just Filed This SUPER Personal Request Amid Ben Divorce!

The insider claimed Jennifer will attend the early September screening, but her estranged husband will not. And DailyMail.com sources have claimed that some producers of the film have been “pushing the two to appear together at the premiere in Toronto to create buzz on the film.” But it sounds like that won’t be happening!

The singer’s appearance could (and likely will) stir up buzz, though. It’s highly possible that a journalist or two will question her about the breakup, even if she tries to ban them from mentioning her ex. We all saw what happened at that Atlas premiere! Now that she’s formally filed for a split, we wouldn’t be surprised if she has to dodge a few invasive questions! But at least it sounds like she won’t have to see Ben! Thoughts?? Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

The post Divorce Too Painful -- Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Will NOT Be Promoting New Film Together! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

Of course, the Rounders star has been very good friends for a VERY long time with his co-star on Good Will Hunting. Matt and Ben Affleck go way, way back to their pre-fame Boston days together. But now, as Matt looks on, seeing Ben struggle with the disintegration of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez has been an awful situation.

Related: Matt Damon WARNED Ben Affleck About Marrying Jennifer Lopez!

The 53-year-old Damon admitted as much in a rare comment he made during the latest episode of the Radio Times Podcast. On the podcast, where Matt was joined by Ben’s brother Casey Affleck, the A-list film star took aim at the difficult life Ben has been forced to live in the public eye by relentless paparazzi photographers and fans who want more and more gossip. Damon admitted that he has been lucky NOT to have to go through nearly as much scrutiny, saying:

“I’ve been really lucky in that way … especially when I look at Casey’s brother, Ben. I can’t imagine living under that kind of scrutiny.”

No kidding…

Matt continued by noting how much differently Ben has been treated by the media, magazine and tabloid coverage, and fans in general over the last several decades:

“And it’s been like that for 25 years and we’ve had parallel careers in a lot of ways and so I’m fortunate to have been kind of excused from that part of [fame].”

Undoubtedly, part of the difference in treatment is that Matt has been married to the same woman for a very long time. He wed his wife Luciana Barroso way back in 2005, and they’ve lived happily ever since. To that end, he rightly recognized during the podcast that his love life simply isn’t as attention-grabbing as that of Affleck and Lopez:

“That magazine culture that was so huge … 25 years ago [they] kind of ignored me. Like a guy who’s married, it’s so boring.”

Damon continued:

“What would sell those things were scandal and sex and all that stuff that people would read … and as long as you didn’t do any of that stuff it wasn’t really worth their time to wait to take your picture and so I ended up kind of getting left alone.”

He’s not wrong! He’s not wrong at all! Ben and Jen have definitely been under a microscope this entire time. And now that Affleck’s relationship with J.Lo is falling apart again, the whole thing is just revamped for the digital age. What do U make of Matt’s comments here, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF with your thoughts (below)!

[Image via Nicky Nelson/MEGA/WENN]

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The Batman v Superman star is infamous for his seemingly permanent scowl, but that’s not what we’ve been seeing lately. As he’s spotted about town working, he’s actually looking… happy! Take a look!

Ben Affleck looks happy arriving at his offices in LA – as Jennifer Lopez divorce drama drags on https://t.co/4VGnaqjPfY

— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) August 9, 2024

See? So what’s up?

Related: Ben Only Hesitating On Divorce To Spare ‘Humiliated’ J.Lo, Says Insider

A source told People it’s just about keeping busy, especially with the things he loves — making movies and hanging with his kids! The insider said:

“Ben’s doing well. He thrives when he’s busy and he’s been working nonstop. The kids are still off from school. He spends a lot of time with them, too.”

Aww! The insider acknowledged it isn’t just a happy time for the guy:

“It hasn’t been the easiest summer for him either. He’s just trying to stay focused and make every day as good as possible.”

Obviously a divorce is going to be tough on anyone, even if it did give you two decades’ worth of closure. But he’s getting by. And with a little help from his friends by the sound of it.

We’ve heard he’s leaning on longtime BFF Matt Damon in this trying time. Makes sense with the work schedule, too, since they decided to work together again. From The Last Duel to Air to their next one, a thriller called Animal.

Hey, getting quality time with family, doing what you love, and working with your best friend? Who could ask for a better cushion when crashing after a breakup, right?

[Image via MEGA/WENN.]

The post How Ben Affleck Is Getting Through Jennifer Lopez Divorce Drama: 'He Thrives When He's Busy' appeared first on Perez Hilton.

To some, buying a house is just about square footage and commutes, but in the context of the Air director’s rumored divorce from Jennifer Lopez, this purchase has been a big deal emotionally. Not only does it suggest they really are moving toward a divorce — though that seems to be moving slowly AF behind the scenes — it also shows that Ben is putting himself first in this drama. A source told Us Weekly on Wednesday:

“Ben needed new energy in his life.”

The couple previously lived in a $68 million mansion in Beverly Hills, which he never liked. They’re currently trying to sell it.

Related: Nick Cannon Would ‘Absolutely’ Get Back With Mariah Carey!

Addressing the former estate, this source continued:

“This one is more his speed. He’s in a better mindset and is pushing forward.”

The real estate purchase reportedly caught the Let’s Get Loud singer off guard, though she had her suspicions “[because] he had been living in a rental,” a source closer to her acknowledged. A confidant close to the Good Will Hunting alum doubled down on the significance of this move — claiming it marks the end of the marriage! They said:

“Ben moving into a new home was the closure of the relationship.”

Oof!

As for what tore them apart, a J.Lo source claimed it had nothing to do with their personal issues or conflicts over fame and instead was due to their schedules, arguing that they “both have demanding careers that often require them to be in different cities.” A second insider said they were on “different pages” and “don’t have a lot of common ground, and the honeymoon phase has worn off.” Damn. They don’t have a lot in common?? Shouldn’t they have realized that?? Were they so blinded by the sheer beauty and magnetism of… eh, who are we kidding, who wouldn’t be?

Oh, and they’re seemingly not on the same page about the divorce, either. A third insider said Jenny from the Block would keep fighting for her romance — if she could:

“In a perfect world, Jen would like to make it work with Ben. It’s heartbreaking to her and she tried very hard to make it work.”

Aw!

Jaime Bronstein, a licensed relationship therapist — who has not worked with Bennifer — suggested a reason things failed a second time around. She figures the lovebirds may not have put in the necessary work to make their relationship different this time. The MAN*ifesting author explained:

“[You have to] learn how to communicate better and talk to each other about what went wrong before so you don’t do the same exact thing. Maybe Ben and Jen returned to the same patterns after some time.”

Yup, that seems about right. Sad!

As for the divorce, a fourth source insisted “neither of them want this to be dragged out and contentious” while noting that they have a prenup in place to make it easier:

“Ben and Jen are in agreement that they want it to be seamless.”

Uhh… not so sure we’d call any of this seamless. But OK! A fifth source said:

“Behind the scenes they have been finalizing what that will look like if they pull the trigger. Their main goal is to remain amicable.”

They’ve also got their kids to think about, who reportedly are trying to Parent Trap them back together. Oh, yeah, and there are also reports that they aren’t speaking to each other and haven’t seen each other in weeks — something that has slowed down the divorce proceedings. Not so amicable then? Well, an Affleck source actually says they are in communication but didn’t offer further details. Hmm.

The first source went on to say that the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star, who has struggled with addiction, is focusing on himself and his well-being in this difficult time, sharing:

“Ben feels like he’s been weighed down this year. He will always care for Jen, but he knows the marriage is done, and he wants to focus on himself right now.”

Keeping busy with work and leaning on his pal and colleague Matt Damon has helped a lot, the fifth source opened up:

“Matt has been so supportive throughout this ordeal. […] Matt’s a great distraction, and he makes Ben laugh.”

Meanwhile, J.Lo has spent much of her summer in the Hamptons and “taking care of her kids,” Emme and Max, who “are her priority.” The insider added that “getting out of L.A. has helped a lot,” though she was spotted back in Cali over the weekend looking for her own new house. She’s gotta start her next chapter, too, after all.

Ultimately, it sounds like there hasn’t been any hopeful progress made in this estrangement. Not shocking but still a bummer to hear! And BTW, one last surprising Ben tidbit. Despite not liking attention, the 51-year-old Gone Girl alum could care less about his separation being so high-profile, a sixth confidant concluded:

“Ben doesn’t care about the negative attention.”

Just goes to show he’s really over this relationship, otherwise, we’d think he’d care a little bit more about the headlines or protecting J.Lo from any criticism! Reactions?? Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

The post Jennifer Lopez Source Gives NEW Reason For Ben Affleck Split -- And THIS Move Marked The End! All The Latest Deets! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

It’s no question things have been tense between the actor and his estranged wife Jennifer Lopez recently, but we didn’t expect him to take such drastic measures! In some new photos from the weekend, the 51-year-old actor is rocking a bold new haircut. Very midlife crisis…

Related: Jennifer & Ben REFUSE To Speak To Each Other — And It’s Screwing Up The Divorce!

Ben was spotted in El Lay in a leather jacket, aviator sunglasses, skinny jeans, and Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt while showing off a mohawk! Buzzed down to just about nothing on the sides and VERY short on top! Whoa! He was also reportedly riding a motorcycle! Um… what??

Ch-ch-check it out (below):

Ben Affleck is rocking a new look amid his ongoing marital issues with Jennifer Lopez. https://t.co/tAj9KuQa0o

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) August 5, 2024

WOW!

Who had Ben going full rockstar mid-divorce on their 2024 bingo card?! Speaking of the split, no, he did NOT have his wedding ring on. Probably clashed with the biker jacket aesthetic.

The question is, however — is this new hairstyle a “crisis cut” or is he just prepping for a new film? He was filming The Accountant 2 last we heard, but that’s in post. He has a lot of new movies he’s been working on getting together, including a thriller called Animals with pal Matt Damon. But he wasn’t going to star in that one. Maybe he’s playing a smaller role? Like he did in Air and The Last Duel?

What do U think? Is this for a movie? Or just a wild decision like the phoenix back tattoo? Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

The post Ben Affleck Shows Off BONKERS New Haircut Amid Jennifer Lopez Divorce! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

The two actors met on set of the movie Slow Burn back in 2000, and the collaboration quickly turned into a whirlwind romance. By 2001 The Goonies star had already popped the question! Back then you could barely see them separated from one another, with tons of PDA shots and loved-up moments. But sadly it just didn’t last. Well, we say “sadly”… though not necessarily?

Related: Jennifer Lopez Wears ‘B’ Charm Bracelet As She & Ben Affleck Continue To Be Apart!

Only six months into their engagement they decided to split and call off their nuptials. At the time, a rep for the Good Will Hunting actress revealed the couple never even set a date for their wedding, and released the short but definitive statement:

“Minnie Driver and Josh Brolin have decided to cancel their wedding plans. Their decision is mutual and amicable.”

Heartbreaking at the time, for sure! Now, though, Minnie can look back and say it was all for the better.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times, the 54-year-old bared her heart. She explained how she found out when she was 12 that her own father had another secret family, and it destroyed her idea of love for years. She said:

“If I look at my history, what it did was make me want to be married so much and then choose men who were so not the right men to be married to.”

Men who were… Ouch! Sorry, Matt Damon and Criss Angel! But specifically referencing her engagement to Brolin, she said:

“The one time I was engaged, it would have been, I think, the biggest mistake of my life.”

Oof! She doesn’t explain why it would have been so bad, why her exes were “not the right men to be married to.” Maybe she just means not right for her? But DAMN that sounds bad, right??

Of course, now both actors have moved on. Brolin famously was married to Diane Lane for a decade. Shortly after that ended he found love again, marrying Kathryn Boyd in 2016. Meanwhile the Circle of Friends star is totally in love with her current beau, documentary filmmaker Addison O’Dea. She gushed:

“But now I’m with someone who doesn’t want to get married but who is the most devoted, loving, extraordinary … everything I could have wanted in my childhood idea of a husband, he actually is.”

Aww!

We’re happy for Minnie! It sounds like she has a really good perspective on everything now! And just remember, you don’t have to marry YOUR Josh Brolins either! If something isn’t right, getting married won’t fix it! She’s living proof!

[Image via MEGA/WENN/Axelle Woussen]

The post Ouch! Minnie Driver Says Marrying Ex-Fiancé Josh Brolin Would Have Been 'The Biggest Mistake' Of Her LIFE! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

But someone close to the couple saw this possibility — and even warned Ben about it!

Photos: Jennifer Returns Home From Vacation — And Heads Right To Ben’s Office!

According to an insider spilling to DailyMail.com on Thursday, Matt Damon had some real words of caution for his old friend right when all this was getting started:

“Matt tried to warn Ben when he got back together with JLo that this could happen. Matt was there to help Ben get it together after their first split and he felt like this would happen again.”

Oof. We’ve all been there, right? When your friend jumps back in that toxic relationship because “it’s gonna be different this time”? Ben may not have heeded Matt’s warning then, but he’s looking to him now! The source says he’s particularly impressed with his pal’s 18-year marriage to Luciana Barroso — and knows the guy has some wisdom to share:

“Matt has had a successful marriage for years and Ben has always been in awe of this.”

Thankfully Matt isn’t the kind of guy to say “I told you so.” Instead, says the insider, he’s been a rock for his Good Will Hunting co-star to lean on amid the divorce drama:

“As things started falling apart, Matt told Ben that he supports whatever choice he makes but wants him to jump in and focus on his work.”

The old pals have worked on multiple movies together in the past couple years, including The Last Duel and Air. Their newest is something called RIP, a thriller just announced last week.

It may seem like a distraction, but Matt is apparently serious. Apparently it was an area Ben wasn’t paying enough attention during his marriage:

“Ben spent so much time focusing on JLo’s projects just like he did the first time around. He told Ben, ‘What has she ever done for your career?'”

Damn. Brutal honesty. But that’s what the Justice League star needs! The source points out tough love is what’s going to keep the guy from falling off the wagon, something we’ve heard more than once is a big concern in tough times like this:

“Matt is the only real guy friend Ben has. He would not let him get back on the bottle and has been on him to make sure of this.”

We’re glad to hear Ben has someone in his corner rooting for his success — and showing him how it’s done.

Do YOU think Matt is a good influence on Ben??

[Image via MEGA/WENN.]

The post Matt Damon WARNED Ben Affleck About Marrying Jennifer Lopez -- And Now He's Struggling To Keep Him Sober: REPORT appeared first on Perez Hilton.