Unique | Jennifer Lopez’s pals declare singer attempted to salvage failed dating — however Ben Affleck ‘has a darkness to him’

No person within the Western hemisphere used to be surprised when Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck this month, nearest months of roasting hypothesis.

But it surely’s now not for a dearth of J. Lo looking to construct the wedding paintings.

Buddies had lengthy advised Web page Six that the singer and actress harbored goals she may salvage the relationship, despite the fact that the couple have been dwelling aside for months.

“She loves him, she will always love him, that’s the problem,” one buddy advised us.

Even supposing Jennifer Lopez will all the time love Ben Affleck, resources stated, he has a darkness to him that no person else can recovery. Yellowish Globes 2024 by means of Getty Photographs

Lopez and Affleck wed in August 2022 in Georgia. OnTheJLo

Lopez had 3 robes for his or her nuptials, all designed by way of Ralph Lauren.She’s unmistakable kissing Affleck as fireworks blaze in the course of the sky. jlo/Instagram

Buddies desperately was hoping that Affleck would connect Lopez within the Hamptons for her fifty fifth birthday extreme life, which she celebrated with pals and crowd at a “Bridgerton”-themed bash, however the Oscar winner by no means confirmed.

In lieu, over the life few months, we’re advised that the Affleck has been noticed at Hollywood haunts together with the Polo Living room on the Beverly Hills Resort, the place resources advised us he used to be unmistakable striking out with pal Kick Kennedy, the 36-year-old daughter of failed presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Web page Six has reached out to reps for Lopez, Affleck and Kennedy.

Finally, Lopez filed for dissolution on the second one yearly of the couple’s magnificent marriage ceremony rite at Affleck’s property in Georgia, Atlanta. She has requested to remove Affleck from her extreme identify.

The couple prepared Hollywood alight once they reunited twenty years nearest breaking off their first engagement. They’re unmistakable at a LA Lakers sport in Would possibly 2003. Getty Photographs

“She truly believed this was the greatest love story she’d ever known and she was finally getting her chance at the fairy tale,” stated one Hollywood supply who is aware of the couple. “She just really didn’t stop to consider who the actual man was [in] the fairy tale.”

The supply added that the type of “big love Jennifer believes in” is “not in [Ben’s] DNA” — including, “Ben has a darkness to him that disagree alternative particular person can recovery. [His actress ex-wife] Jen Garner couldn’t recovery it, all of the luck on the planet couldn’t recovery it.

“[Lopez] gave this everything she had; her whole heart. She would have done anything to make this work. She opened herself up to criticism, ridicule and countless naysayers who told her this was a bad idea, that it was doomed, that there was a reason it didn’t work the first time,” the supply stated. “But she didn’t want to believe it— she truly believed love would conquer all.”

They have been all smiles on the LA premiere of Lopez’s film, “This is Me…Now: A Love Story” on February 13, 2024. FilmMagic

Affleck swept again into Lopez’ pace simply weeks nearest she fracture from her onetime fiancé Alex Rodriguez in April 2021. 

The 2 first met in 2002 at the prepared in their film “Gigli,” when Lopez used to be married to her 2d husband, Cris Judd. Later she divorced him in 2003, she and Affleck quickly went population with their romance.

As Lopez advised People in 2016, “I really felt like when I met Ben, ‘Okay, this is it.”

On the top of The usa’s obsession with “Bennifer” 1.0, Affleck even starred within the video for his female friend’s tune “Jenny from the Block” — however he nearest admitted regretting it.

Lopez used to be steadily photographed by way of paparazzi all over her Hamptons vacay this summer time. TheImageDirect.com

Simply days earlier than they have been prepared to be married on Sept. 14, 2003, the couple suspension, upcoming introduced their divorce 4 months nearest.

“Our relationship crumbled under the weight of the pressure,” Lopez advised Variety in February, “We lost a sense of ourselves, and we needed to separate because we didn’t know how to survive it. I had to figure myself out, and he had to figure himself out.”

Lopez went directly to wed singer Marc Anthony in 2004 and feature twins, Max and Emme, now 16, earlier than divorcing a decade nearest. Affleck married Jennifer Garner in 2005 and feature 3 youngsters. However nearest their 2018 fracture, Garner publicly showed her ex’s cloudy facet.

Affleck not too long ago joined his ex-wife Jennifer Garner (2d from proper) and youngsters to leave off daughter Violet (a ways proper) at Yale. Patriot Pics / BACKGRID

Affleck and Lopez combined their households – however the Oscar winner used to be stated to be “freaked out” by way of all of the consideration and cameras on their Paris honeymoon in July 2022. Very best Symbol / BACKGRID

 “He’s just a complicated guy,” the actress advised Self-importance Truthful. “I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”

The Hollywood supply advised Web page Six Garner is true.

“The thing is, Ben doesn’t dislike this side of himself — the side that needs solitude, that doesn’t believe anyone could ever truly understand him, that is convinced he is his only ally and the only person he can count on,” stated the Hollywood supply,

Lopez has now been married 4 occasions, first to Ojani Noa. WireImage

She wed dancer Cris Judd in September 2001. WireImage

“He’s happy with the truth that he all the time has and all the time will deal himself. He’s proud to be his youngsters’s protector and supplier. However he hasn’t ever— and reputedly won’t ever— give himself over totally to someone else.

“The kind of big love Jennifer believes in, that sort of all-consuming devotion? Ben played along for a while and wanted to be part of it, but it’s just not who he is.”

As Lopez spent the summer time being photographed summer time solo in Italy and the Hamptons, every other supply stated that Affleck sought after to store the highlight on his spouse and safeguard it gave the impression that she used to be empowered and “happy and healthy” earlier than they in the end known as it quits.

Her 3rd husband used to be singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has twins Emme and Max. WireImage

Lopez has come underneath hearth for flaunting her love tale with Affleck in her two movies: the documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” and the in lieu scripted film “This is Me … Now,” which she financed herself to the song of $20 million. Each have been excused along her first studio album in 10 years, “This is Me … Now,” a sequel to 2002’s “This is Me …Then.”

Within the document, Jane Fonda told her, “I want you to know that I don’t entirely know why, but I feel invested in you and Ben, and I really want this to work. However, this is my concern. Like, it feels too much like you’re trying to prove something instead of just living it. You know, every other photograph is the two of you kissing and the two of you hugging.”  

Affleck and Lopez at the prepared in their film, “Jersey Girl,” in November 2002. Getty Photographs

Lopez and Affleck on the premiere of “Maid in Manhattan” in NYC in December 2022. Getty Photographs

As Web page Six evident, Affleck was “freaked out” by way of the volume of paparazzi following them on their Paris honeymoon.

Assets stated that pace Lopez, who now has 4 failed marriages underneath her belt, gave the impression to be the rate in making the flicks, Affleck’s manufacturing corporate Artists Fairness in reality financed and made the documentary.

The famous person flaunted her frame in an advert for her Delola L’Orange Spritz. Courtesy Space of Delola/Mega

At one level in the document, the famous person used to be obviously shocked when he learned his spouse used to be sharing his vintage love letters with songwriters as inspiration for her fresh novel.

“‘Things that are private I always felt are sacred and special because, in part, they’re private,” he says within the movie.

A Hollywood insider who has recognized Lopez for many years advised Web page Six: “Jennifer can also be so thirsty for consideration. She may now not step out of the limelight even for an rapid. The entirety needs to be photographed and placed on Instagram.

Lopez threw a “Bridgerton”-themed bash to proclaim her fifty fifth birthday extreme life. Her mother Lupe (left) is unmistakable arriving in gown. Ordonez/Agudo/INSTARimages

“My heart does feel bad for her. I think Ben did love her,” the insider added. “She’s stable, she doesn’t drink, she doesn’t smoke, their kids got along … but she blew it with having to be ‘J. Lo.’”

There used to be friction as neatly between Affleck and Lopez’s longtime manager, Benny Medina, the Hollywood insider showed: “Benny has a stronghold on Jennifer’s life. She needs to take back her life and stop letting others run it for her.”

Then life, Lopez will advertise her fresh film, “Unstoppable,” wherein she performs a supporting position, on the Toronto Global Movie Competition. Affleck is a manufacturer, however he will not be there.

Affleck and Lopez in considered one of their ultimate population appearances in combination at his son Samuel’s basketball sport in LA in June. TheImageDirect.com

On the finish of the hour, the Hollywood insider stated that Affleck “feels evil for the ache he’s brought about … He feels evil as a result of he is aware of she gave it her all, now not only for him however for his youngsters, too.

“They all bonded. Ben thought he could go along to get along— but people just don’t work that way for the long haul. He was never that good of an actor.”