Jennifer Garner stuck by Ben Affleck for a long time during a very rough period in the actor’s life. After aiding his recovery, the two were able to divorce, with Affleck eventually reuniting with current wife Jennifer Lopez. But a source claimed Garner couldn’t help but feel that Lopez had it way easier with Affleck than she did.
How Jennifer Garner reportedly felt about Jennifer Lopez dating a newer Ben Affleck
Garner has been a source of support for Affleck during his ongoing battle with alcoholism. Even after their marriage ended, she continued to support Affleck, taking him to rehab so that he could get the treatment he needed. Although his drinking might’ve played a part in his marital issues with Garner, he was insistent that his wife didn’t cause his alcoholism. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Affleck shouldered all of the blame for his behavior.
“The idea that I was blaming my wife for my drinking. To be clear, my behavior is my responsibility entirely,” Affleck said. “The point that I was trying to make was a sad one. Anyone who’s been through divorce makes that calculus of, How much do we try? We loved each other. We care about each other. We have respect for each other. I was trying to say, ‘Hey, look, I was drinking too much, and the less happy you become, whether it’s your job, your marriage, it’s just that as your life becomes more difficult, if you’re doing things to fill a hole that aren’t healthy, you’re going to start doing more of those things.’”
A source asserted that Garner even stuck by Affleck despite the intense fights the former couple used to have about his addiction.
“His addictions were worse than anyone knows. Jen’s explained how she had to deal with Ben during benders and blackouts and plenty of ugly arguments. Some pretty incomprehensible stuff,” the source once told Life & Style.
A couple of years after their divorce was finalized, Affleck reunited with former lover Lopez. He has seemingly developed a much happier, healthier mentality than he had years prior, with his addiction under control. But the source alleged Garner was once slightly bothered by the fact that Lopez was with an Affleck the Elektra star helped fix.
“Jen had to deal with him at his worst. She put in the hard work, gave the unconditional love Ben needed at his lowest points, and J. Lo got the recovered, better Ben. It’s painful to think about, but Jen holds no grudges,” the source claimed.
How Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez have gotten along
Garner has been pretty mum about coparenting with Affleck and Lopez. But most sources indicate there’s no bad blood between the two Jennifers. One source claimed that Garner was even pleasantly surprised by Lopez’s attitude.
“Jen realized that J. Lo isn’t as domineering as she assumed, and they both agree that the most important thing is the children’s happiness. They also are on the same page about a sober, happy and healthy Ben benefiting everybody,” the source said.
“Now that Jen and Jen have been coparenting, they’ve been getting to know each other better and have formed a very new friendship,” another source once told Us Weekly. “They really enjoy each other.”
Although they’re not the best of friends, the sources all seemed to be in agreement that Lopez and Garner think highly of each other. And that they’ve prioritized the happiness of their combined families above anything else.
In an interview with Vogue, Lopez commented on how she and Garner co-exist. And how their kids have handled such a transition.
“[Jennifer Garner is] an amazing co-parent, and they work really well together.” Lopez said. “The transition is a process that needs to be handled with so much care. They have so many feelings. They’re teens. But it’s going really well so far. What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up.”
