A close one. Ben Affleck narrowly avoided an encounter with his soon-to-be ex-wife Jennifer Lopez at an event in Brentwood, California recently. The plot thickened as Affleck arrived with none other than his former spouse, Jennifer Garner, setting the stage for what could have been a very awkward run-in.
Related: J-Lo Says She’s Still ‘Grateful’ For This One Thing About Ben Amid Their Divorce
In photos obtained by Page Six, the 52-year-old actor appeared to keep things low-key, sporting a casual ensemble of jeans paired with a maroon jacket and shirt. By his side was ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52, who echoed the laid-back vibe in jeans and a cozy black sweater. Adding to the family affair, the former couple brought along their 15-year-old, Fin.
Meanwhile, J-Lo, 55, made a solo entrance. The pop icon and actress showed up in a chic gray jumpsuit cinched at the waist, complemented by nude heels. She wasn’t entirely alone, though—her 16-year-old, Emme, was part of her entourage, along with a few friends.
This near-miss comes hot on the heels of Lopez’s candid interview with comedian Nikki Glaser, where she opened up about her recent split from Affleck. “Everything that I’ve done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I f—king do when it’s just me flying on my own … what if I’m just free?” Lopez shared, hinting at her newfound independence.
The “On the Floor” singer didn’t hold back, describing her post-breakup journey as “lonely, unfamiliar, scary, sad” and even “desperate.” However, she’s quick to add a silver lining: “When you sit in those feelings and go, ‘These things are not going to kill me,’ it’s like, ‘Actually, I am capable of joy and happiness all by myself.’”
Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024, marking the end of her two-year marriage with Affleck. The couple’s whirlwind romance had captivated fans since their reunion in 2021, following their initial engagement back in the early 2000s.
While Lopez seems ready to bare her soul about the split, sources close to Affleck suggest he’s taking a different approach. An insider revealed to OK! Magazine that Affleck “didn’t get a heads up” about Lopez’s recent interview. “Ben knows that she will talk about the breakup forever,” the source added. “He would love for her not to talk about it, but he feels she will always speak out.”
Despite their differing coping mechanisms, the source emphasized that Affleck is “OK with however Jen has to deal with it,” recognizing that “People deal with loss and breakup in their own way.”