As the dust settles after Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s split, sources close to the couple are speaking to the media about what allegedly led to the end of their relationship. Were they not compatible? Was Lopez’s fame too much? Does the Oscar winner have a “dark side” to him?
After being back together for three years, Lopez filed for divorce on August 20, the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding. Neither star has publicly commented on the news, and the rumor mill is in overdrive. Here’s a breakdown of the reports.
Affleck’s ‘mood swings’ contributed to the failure of their relationship: reports
Similar stories emerged claiming Affleck’s behavior was part of the problem. An article published in Page Six on August 24 said Lopez had done everything he could to make the marriage work, but “Ben has a dark side to him that no one else can heal.”
“She truly believed this was the greatest love story she had ever experienced and that she was finally getting her chance at a fairytale,” a “Hollywood source who knows the couple” told the outlet. “She just didn’t think about who the actual man in the fairytale was.”
The insider added that the “great love that Jennifer believes in” is “not in (Ben’s) DNA.”
A few hours later, People – a normally celebrity-friendly outlet – seemed to confirm this, with a source denouncing Affleck’s “mood swings.”
“They’ve tried to work through it, but when the mood swings and major ups and downs revealed an ever-present toxicity, no one can help you – you have to help yourself,” the source said, adding: “The world was rooting for them, but who he pretended to be and who he ended up being were two different people.”
Yahoo Entertainment reached out to representatives for Affleck and Lopez for this article but did not receive a response.
Lopez and Affleck reportedly “didn’t fit well together”
An insider told Us Weekly that Lopez’s decision to leave Affleck “comes down to them being two different people.”
“She realized things weren’t going to change and they weren’t a good fit,” the source added. “Spending time apart – it became clear it wasn’t going to work.”
This is similar to what one person told Yahoo right after Lopez filed for divorce: “Ultimately, they’re just different people, but there’s been a lot of love between them over the years.”
Was Lopez’s fame too much for Affleck?
After his first breakup with Bennifer in 2004, the actor certainly knew what to expect the second time around with Lopez, right?
Anyone who has seen Lopez’s Prime Video documentary The greatest love story never told The actor seemed to struggle with how much of his personal life Lopez wanted to reveal, but sources tell People that Affleck not only had creative control over the film, but was also the “driving force” behind it.
“He was very supportive of (Lopez) during the production of the film and her album,” the source explains. “He knew what she was doing every step of the way.”
The insider continued: “He loved the film and the album, but if you watch the documentary, it seems like he was surprised by it and didn’t sign up for it. He played the role of the regular guy and at the same time was the driving force behind it.”
In the documentary, Affleck recalled telling Lopez after their reunion that he didn’t want a “social media relationship.”
“And then I realized that’s not a fair demand. It’s like marrying a ship captain and saying, ‘Well, I don’t like the water,'” he said in the documentary, adding, “We’re just two people with different approaches trying to compromise.”
(Incidentally, photos of Affleck were still visible on Lopez’s Instagram on Monday afternoon.)
Affleck “seems very happy” despite divorce
On the other hand, a source close to the actor told People that he is “doing well and very focused” since the news of their split broke.
“He thrives when he has work projects. He’s great with the kids too. He does exactly what he wants,” the insider added. “He seems very happy.”
According to the same insider, Affleck reportedly felt he was “done with his marriage” when he moved into an LA rental home a few months ago. “You could tell he was upset about it, though,” the insider said. “He knew he was letting (Lopez) down. He felt really bad about it.”
The anonymous insider also noted that Affleck and Lopez “have very different lifestyles. He knew he would never be happy with her lifestyle. And he didn’t expect that to change.”
