Publications
Signs of a romantic reunion or a pair of old pals shooting the breeze? It may well be the latter – but “never say never” an insider says after pics emerged of Ben Affleck hanging at Jennifer Lopez’s place.
The couple were one of the hottest couples of the early 2000s until it all went pear-shaped so the sighting has had fans in a frenzy.
Ben was seen being picked up and dropped off at JLo’s Los Angeles mansion several times late last week, according to photos obtained by Page Six.
Apparently you can’t simply drive to the Dinero singer’s home for security reasons, so Ben was shuttled back and forth between the Hotel Bel-Air and her luxe pad, where he reportedly spent several hours.
The Triple Frontier star was photographed as he exited a white Escalade SUV that reportedly belongs to Jennifer (51). She was later seen sitting in the same white SUV sporting some aviator sunglasses.
The news comes just two weeks after Jennifer and former baseball player Alex Rodriguez (45) called off their engagement.
“We have realised we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” the two said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Ben (48) is newly single as well, having announced his split from girlfriend Ana de Armas (33) in January.
So, is a romantic reconciliation brewing? Maybe not quite yet although nothing is impossible.
According to a well-placed source, the pair are “strictly friends”.
“But there's no such thing as ‘never‘, especially in Hollywood, so it's always possible something could be rekindled.”
"They have a lot of love for each other. They have always admired each other,” a separate insider says.
Ben and Jen, who started dating in 2002, share an infamous dating history.
Dubbed “Bennifer”, their romance captured the attention of the world and photographers covered their every move – from Ben’s cameo in her Jenny from the Block music video to the impressive pink-hued $2,5 million engagement ring he bought her.
The pair famously postponed their 2003 wedding days before they were set to walk down the aisle, then officially split by January 2004. At the time, JLo called the break-up “probably my first big heartbreak”.
Despite going their separate ways, the two have remained friendly with Ben gushing over his ex to InStyle magazine when the mom-of-two graced the cover of its May issue.
“I thought I had a good work ethic, but I was completely humbled and blown away by what she was committed to doing day in and day out,” he said.
“The seriousness in which she took her work, the quiet and dedicated way she went about accomplishing her goals and then how she would go back and redouble her efforts. She remains, to this day, the hardest-working person I've come across in this business. She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I'm so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves.”
He also marvelled over her youthful appearance. “Where are you keeping the fountain of youth? Why do you look the same as you did in 2003 and it kind of looks like I'm in my 40s at best?”
Jennifer responded with some flattery of her own – and a plug for her cosmetics range. “I don't have any [beauty] secrets except JLo Beauty – and I'm giving them all to everyone with every product. Ben is funny! He still looks pretty good too.”
Ben has been open about keeping in touch with the singer-actress through the years.
“I touch base. I respect her. I like her,” he admitted in a 2012 interview.
“We don’t have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice, but we do have the kind of relationship where there’ll be an email saying, ‘Oh, your movie looks great’.”
Insiders claim Ben’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, isn’t concerned about his recent reconnection with another famous Jennifer.
"Jen isn't bothered by Ben hanging out with JLo or anyone else. She wants what is best for Ben,” the source says.
Jennifer and Ben have three kids together – Violet (15), Seraphina (12), and Samuel (9).
"What matters most to her is Ben being a great dad," the insider continues. "They've been in a good groove when it comes to co-parenting for a while and their kids' happiness is Jen's main priority."
SOURCES: HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM, PAGESIX.COM, TMZ.COM, PEOPLE.COM, ETONLINE.COM, INSTYLE.COM
