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Over the past… year, let’s say, there have been a steady stream of breakup and “troubled marriage” stories about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. There were rumors about Ben and his young costar Blake Lively – rumors that persisted from production through the promotion of the film The Town. There have been rumors about Ben cheating on Jennifer with other women too, or at least getting much too flirty with other broads. What else? Oh, there were a couple of rumors about Ben drinking again too. With all of this, I’ve thought for a while now that Jen and Ben are in trouble, but are likely just sticking with the marriage for now, maybe hoping that it will get better, that they’re going through a rough phase. When the tabloids do report the stories, it’s always “poor Jen, but don’t worry, they’ll be fine.” Because for some reason, Jennifer gets treated with kid gloves in ways that other celebrity women don’t. Anyway, the National Enquirer has another marriage drama story, and this one is about Jennifer issuing an ultimatum to Ben:
Ben and Jennifer Garner’s five-year marriage is hanging by a thread as the pair lead increasingly separate lives, say the couple’s concerned friends. They have been drifting apart for months as Ben throws himself into acting and directing stints, and devoted mom Jennifer juggles mulitple projects while tending to their daughters.
Now, in a bombshell development, their estrangement has pushed Jennifer to the edge.
“Jen is ready to give Ben a shape-up or ship-out ultimatum,” divulged an insider. “She wants Ben to make her and the kids his main priority. She wants him to start by letting her and the girls join him when he travels. I think jen believes that spending quality time together can save the day.”
A source says the situation is “tragic” and “Things are not looking good between them right now, and she must be growing extremely pessimistic about her marriage. They are barely together these days, and when they do meet up, it’s more about being parents. They used to be so happy, but unless something changes drastically, it seems inevitable that the couple will split.”
As Ben promoted The Town, Jen stayed home and took the kids out. A source says: “Jen appears to have become the loneliest soccer mom in Hollywood.”
Another issue: Ben’s sobriety. Sources say there are renewed fears that he is drinking again.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition]
Eh… don’t get me wrong, I think Ben and Jen have problems, I really do. And I think their problems are more than most couples working and struggling to raise the kids, I think Ben and Jen’s problems are about infidelity and alcoholism and keeping up appearances and who is going to leave the relationship with public sympathy. But we’ll see – Gwyneth and Chris Martin seem to live completely separate lives, and I thought they were headed for a split by the end of the year too – and now I think that they’re going to stick it out. We’ll see…
Oh, and Gossip Cop slammed this story, but GC didn’t have any denials from reps or anything, so it’s just his opinion that the story is false. Just like it’s my opinion that they’re having problems.
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner
- Harry Styles & Kimberly Stewart going strong [Lainey]
- Demi Moore’s new man is gross [D-Listed]
- Fug or fab: Emma Stone [Go Fug Yourself]
- Arrest warrant issued for Jenelle Evans [Reality Tea]
- Only God Forgives review [Pajiba]
- Hugh Jackman, scooter master [Buzzfeed]
- Who does Drew Barrymore call her sister? [Evil Beet]
- Cannes couples past and present [Popsugar]
- Arrested Development supercut [CDAN]
- Lea Michele’s see through skirt [Celebslam]
- Cheating wife’s lover escapes out of window [Movin925]
- Joe Francis is crazy [Starcasm]
I have yet to be convinced that any hollywood marriages are “real”…
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BOOOOO, Kaiser!!!!! These two are solid as a rock. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
PS-A couple frown-y of pictures do not equal an impending divorce, my friend.
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I think all Hollyweird marriages are problematic and short in duration for that reason. I think Ben is the alcoholic/cheater and she has tried and tried. I think now she’s through trying. He has to bring it; or lose it. Common problem for the rich and famous; but I’m always happy to see when the women gets some backbone.
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Ben looks always unhappy.
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Actually, Chris and and Gwyneth were together all summer so why bring them up?
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He looks unhappy or very distant in every pic except the one with Blake Lively.
That says alot.
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I hate to say this but I thought this would happen. She is too good for him. It seems like his wife and family are his last priorities…
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noooooooooooooo! For pete’s sake…why do people choose to get married and start a family and mid way (even sooner) thru it they ALL call it quits! what is wrong with people! All these children that are growing up in broken homes…c’mon guys! You two “seem” like the perfect couple with a nice little family…why can’t that be enough anymore? Love makes the world go round and the love given out lately by folks is pretty knee deep.
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@ weeha –
b/c chris and gwen aren’t fooling anyone (except you?), that’s why they are brought up.
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Why is it whenever you see pics of Ben and wife he is stone faced. However, when you see Ben with almost anyone else he has a smile. I’m not saying he has to be posed but according to these celebrities they are constantly stalked by the paps. Can’t anyone find a candid shot of Ben with his family where he looks relaxed and happy. They can certainly find the ones with his costars. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe pics of Ben and Jen happy don’t sell.
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That first pic of them kissing reminds me of the pic of Jennifer Lopez and Ben kissing on a red carpet. Right before they broke up.
http://joeljamescomedy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck1.jpg
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Yeah Ben does not seem happy when he is with his wife but with any other female you see him smiling from ear to ear.
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uh-oh. red flags waving all over the place thanks to the first picture. reminds me of one with j-lo taken towards the end. they’re kissing, and his eyes are looking elsewhere. same expression, different gal. not a good sign.
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If he screws up that marriage, that would be majestically stupid. She’s adorable.
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There are PLENTY of pics of the two of them being happy.
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2008/06/23-End/ben-jen-affleck-garner-.jpg
http://insidecelebrityworld.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/3d67a_jennifer-013010-a.jpg
The truth is, those pics don’t make for a story. How boring right? Two married people who are happy together. It’s much more entertaining to believe their marriage is collapsing and their lives suck as much as our lives do.
Meh. Maybe they’ll end up divorced like so many Hollywood marriages but for now I am in stern support of these two!
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Please. ALL marriages-even great ones-have problems now and then. Throw kids into the mix, and it’s a guarantee there will be conflict. That doesn’t mean the couple doesn’t love each other or that they’re going to split.
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It MUST be because she wears ripped underwear! ;o)
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Nooo….I put my foot down on this one, Kaiser. He won’t find anyone better than Jen.
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The first pic is awful, he is not even looking at her.
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They have always seemed extremely mismatched. Also, he seems to change personas alot – remember he was Joe Average after the JLo debacle, so he got with Jennifer Garner. He’s now back to Mr. Preppy cool guy, and doesn’t match her anymore. He’s moved on.
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Why is it always Ben’s the big bad boozing meanie and she’s the angel? Um…she cheated on her first husband (her costar on ‘Felicity’ Scott Foley–who really IS a cutie) with her co-star on Alias (Michael Vartan) and then dumped Vartan for costar in ‘Daredevil’ Affleck. She literally hopped from one to the next to the next. So, she’s now a mommy and has cute dimples–doesn’t make her the victim…
I’m not a big fan of either Jen or Ben. But, for some reason I read his smiles with other people and grumpy faces with her as being unhappy with the marriage–not outside forces. Maybe she’s a massive perfectionist and nag and his laid back self is over it? And I feel comfortable saying that because I used to be a perfectionist nag in another life, and got my butt dumped for it (and can also now admit I totally deserved it).
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@original gracie, my thoughts exactly.
He never smiled with his wife but with Blake he’s all flirty. Also, when u kiss a man and his eyes are open looking above your head, they are not into you.
Just sayin.
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Scarlet Vixen – *applause*
Well said. That’s why I kind of don’t think they’ll split up until Jennifer has got her jumpoff ready.
*dodging tomatoes*
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I dont want to believe it. I love them as a couple and I hope they can work it out!
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Well he is not smiling with his wife because he hates being stalked by paps when his wife and kids. The shot with Blake is at work on set . She wears that outfit in the film . Halle Berry never smiles with her daughter because she hates the paps taking pics of Nahla
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Scarlet Vixen:
I agree and well said.
Kaiser:
Yup, she’s just waiting for a bigger star and then she’s out of there, as usual.
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Don’t believe it, not for a second.
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I knew it!!he’s having an affair with Jon Hamm…LMAO ..This story is ridiculous. He is happpy with his marriage .Jennifer just visited Ben on the set of his new movie and just gushed about him on tv .Ben doesn’t talk about his relationships no more since the the Bennifer backlash.He’s learned his lesson.He his back on track with his career.What more can he want he has everything
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But I look miserable all the time too! If people got a candid of me on a daily basis I would have the expression of someone who just had their kitten run over. If anything that just means maybe I need a shot of ‘tox between the eyes, not that I’m an unhappy lady.
).
I am so over people drawing conclusions about peoples’ personal lives based on few photos.
I dunno, I guess it’s just because I like Ben and i know he HATES getting papped. I just feel obligated to have his back on this one (like he gives an eff
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He’s just like all the men of my generation. Wants to play husband/daddy for a few years to see what it’s like, then get a divorce so he’s free to go back to drinking and banging bimbos.
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He has that “I love you as the mother of my children” look but is not into this marriage or her. Sad but pictures do not lie.
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When I see it on the cover of People magazine, I’ll believe it. Maybe.
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It’s probably true but I don’t want it to be. And in pic 1 they’re kissing but Ben’s eyes are opened which is exactly what he’d do when he used to kiss Jennifer Lopez when they were engaged. I always took that to mean he’s uncomfortable with the relationship or he really doesn’t wanna be with her.
Ben got cold feet and he never married J.Lo. I always have felt it’s a bad sign when you kiss someone with your eyes opened because you’re not in the moment with that person. I know it sounds stupid but I tell you there’s something to it when that happens and like I said it’s usually not a good thing. IMO. Anyway,hopefully this turns out to be only a rumor.
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I don’t think he would leave his daughters.
It would be hard to believe if they were NOT having problems seeing as they’re both actors but I hope they make it.
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Baby #2 was supposed to save the marriage.. but Ben feels trapped. I hope he’ll break free because he looks SO sad whereas she looks all into all-I-need-to-be-happy-are-my-kids-I-don’t-need-my-husband-anymore lala land
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Wow, if a picture says a thousand words than these pictures speak volumns. He couldn’t be more disinterested in her. The only pic he’s smiling in is the one with Blake Lively. I can’t imagine the alienation she must be feeling if half of the non emotion he is showing in these pictures exists in their everyday lives. She’s beautiful and talented and should just move on. Besides Ben is really kinda skeevy, and if he’s an alchy on top, who needs that.
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Nonononononononononononononononono…
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Sadly, that look in her eyes is telling to me. As I had mentioned in a previous post, #45
http://www.celebitchy.com/118849/jennifer_garner_in_hot_pink_drag_queen_hell_or_totally_cute/
I truly sense that the tabloids will be publishing some explosive stories — Vegas, Hookers and drinking comes to mind.
Infidelity is such a bastard and much worse when little ones are involved. I hope for their family sake they can work out their issues.
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Their marriage started with a shotgun wedding when she got pregnant barely a few months after they started dating, it’s not surprising that 5 years later he looks like he could care less about her and looks happy when he’s with Blake Lively and Rebecca Hall.
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Come on!!!! She was his rebound relationship after Jennifer Lopez! He was crazy-in-love with JLo and then both JLo and he get married, what, within 6 months of calling off their wedding?? I am surprised JLo is still married.
Ben Affleck looks unhappy, Jennifer Garner always looks like crap (and do not give me that “I am a mom” excuse. I have plenty of girlfriends who juggle multiple kids who look fantastic and they are not wearing 5 inch heels).
Each are miserable. Get a divorce and save yourselves and the kids. They would be great parents to those girls without being married.
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Pictures of the two of them kissing can really dissuade a person from wanting marriage.
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I actually thought he was disappointed in having another girl. I think the dude is very old fashioned and wants a boy to ‘continue the linage’ After baby number two was announced they looked very happy but after it turned out to be another and so soon after having their first- they havn’t looked very intuned.
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What is it Lainey calls it? Photo Assumption? I haven’t seen a decent, happy picture of the two of them EVER- and I have to agree with whoever asked why is it always “poor, poor, jen’? She looks like the most miserable woman on earth most of the time. She is constantly papped looking like shit with her kids, and I seriously think she’s trying to portray herself as some kind of mother martyr. I’m sure other celebs take their kids to school and the park, but somehow they manage to NOT be in the press everyday!
Maybe she’s miserable because she married a man with big issues and she assumed that having cute kids would change him, but uh, I think there are gazillions of philandering husbands out there that also have cute kids and a dimpled wife. She isn’t anything special anymore, and if the guy you married is a hound-dog, chances are he’s not going to change. It doesn’t help kids to grow up with a strained family life.
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i agree Ben does love his wife and kids, who says very pic have to be all smiley? there is only one pic. of Ben with Blake smiley, he is a man, not a comedian who need to constantly smile for cameras.
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who are we to judge. we need to show each partner compassion and hopefully they can work out what is best for each party involved
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They have enough money to live apart but look together…look at Brangelina etc. Who cares?
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She just seems SO MUCH better with the kids and mommy modes than he is with daddy modes with the kids…point blank. He just seems as if he would prefer the bachelor single life instead of fatherhood. He always looks really bothered like… (why the fuck should I be here, uuggh). But that’s just me. And he sure looks really happy with Blake, much happier than he looks with Jennifer and the kids.
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@ Scarlet Vixen & Kaiser:
Agree. Also, my father, who has been happily married for 36 years to my mother, refers to women (namely, me during my dating years) as monkeys swinging through a jungle…They never let go of one vine (man), until they’ve got a good grip on another one.
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@Scarlette Vixen touche!!!
P.S a picture says a thousand words.
MJ FOR HGF!
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Why are people interested in this? Rather they stay together or split up our lives aren’t going to change one bit. And this intense scrutiny on them can’t help one bit.
Can you just imagine this fight? You don’t look like you love me in that tabloid picture. You are turning your mouth away when I kiss you in this pap picture. Fans think we are getting divorced. Just how weird would that kind of fighting be? No wonder Hollywood marriages are short and tense.
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I’m with Scarlet Vixen. And just because they have two cute kids and are good parents doesn’t mean they have morals in the relationship dept. He was busy trying to grab (supposedly)JLo away from whatever husband she was married to at the time, while Garner has (supposedly) cheated right and left while dumping people to move on to something “better.” If true, neither one is a prize.
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OMG Taurus, are you starting that sh*t already?!
@Kitten: That second photo is from when they were rather newly dating, I believe. As to other photos of them together where they appear to be getting on well enough, I don’t think they hate each other. But I do think there is big trouble in little China. Their relationship was forged on infidelity and both have questionable ethics when it comes to relationships and a leopard doesn’t change its spots. Ben exudes emotional distance in the vast majority of photos with his wife – for WHATEVER reason. And she appears to be attempting to engage him.
My opinion of course. Your mileage may vary.
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They have the happiest (looking) little girl in Hollywood. Their daughter always has a smile on her face, she looks loved and down to earth. She looks like her mother takes care of her and not the nanny. She is dressed like a normal kid not like Suri. The reason there are so many pictres of her and her mother is because her mother tries to live a normal life going to the supermarket, the park, and a regular pre-K. I will be very sorry if these two break up. They may not be a happy couple but as parents they are doing a great job!
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Wow, you’re back on. For a minute there I thought my envelope pushing ways had got me banned. Phew. Anyhoodle, has anyone actually asked Ben and Jen how they’re going? Seriously, next they’ll be taking pictures of Ben when he’s asleep and say it’s evidence of him being bored with family life.
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Takes two to tango. If one partner checks out the dance is over. Bringing children into a relationship like this is extremely selfish. Jen Garner is a dumb b!itch. So is Ben for not wearing a condom. I have a friend like this. Refuses to let the guy (her now husband) go. They will both die miserable. I thinks it’s called co-dependency.
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I know pictures just capture one moment of many, but these pix all sent a chill down my spine. It’s sad to see any man treat his wife that coldly, celebrity or not, especially since he has never seemed like a cold person.
Alias was an amazing show, and Jen Garner was awesome in it. She’s talented and quite charming. Please CHECK OUT HER DAVID LETTERMAN AND ELLEN INTERVIEWS online. She is surprisingly funny, charming, and sweet. But she’s not innocent. She kept cheating on each man she was with in order to trade up to Affleck, and then she got pregnant to trap him. That kind of calculating behavior never has a romantic ending. Never.
He’s actually more intellectual and political than your average Hollywood guy, and she’s turned out to be very traditional. I think he’s bored, has checked out of the marriage, is staying while the kids are little, and it will be over as soon as the youngest child turns 4 or 5.
My guess is she’s working like hell to get pregnant again.
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Ha! Cracks me up- when you look at the home page,you can see that we all care more about Michelle Williams hair color than we do about Brad and Jen’s marriage!
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I just read about a film that’s coming out next year called Better Living Through Chemistry. It stars Jennifer Garner and Ben’s The Town co-star Jeremy Renner. Now I put it to you that if Ben was cheating on Jen, during the filming of The Town with one of the female cast members, then there would be no way he’d want Jen working with Jeremy just in case Jeremy let the cat of the bag. Here’s the synopsis for the film: “A straight-laced pharmacist’s uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.”
And no, Ben isn’t directing it.
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Being treated with kid gloves is her ‘good girl’ reward for always being cute, never speaking out of turn, producing photographic children and making everyone around her feel smarter with her smiling spaniel eyes. She must want to choke a bitch sometimes after signing up for THAT shit.
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I had some things to say about Ben wanting more attention/not getting it. But, Kelly, your comment is so much better than mine could ever be.
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He doesn’t seem to spend much time at home. Isn’t he off making another movie? When he’s with her, he doesn’t look overly happy but distracted and looking elsewhere. I am thinking things might not be so great with them.
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I agree with Kelly about good girl syndrome – although I think you mean ‘photogenic’ not ‘photographic’ – but I actually think she’s more complex and interesting than we give her credit for. Before I watched Alias recently, I couldn’t stand her. I just thought she was overrated and just got credit for being cute. But it turns out she’s a really good actress, convincing in dramatic and action roles, and a funny, engaging person in interviews. She’s more than a good girl, but she’s somehow faded into that role. So this is sad on a lot of levels.
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no no no…they are a gorgeous couple…and a beautifull and happy family. I guess this is just a horrible comment done due the fact that many couples have split in the last weeks. They seem quite happy together and their daugthers are the most beautiful in hollywood. I really hope it is just a gossip…let’s see. All the best to Jen.
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booooooooring couple…. yawn
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What a bunch of crap and crappers here. In several magazine and newspapers interviews, journalists addressed Ben and Jen’s relationship with him. He said right out that he felt lucky to have found Jen, that his family was the most important thing in his life and he was never going to mess it up. He was ready to settle down and have a family. As for Scott Foley, he said in a TV Guide interview that there was no infidelity in the marriage. Vartan said he and Jen’s relationship was more like brother and sister and they are still friends. Sheesh, you trolls should be banned. Get a life and go back to school.
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I will not believe many news of a Jen and Ben break up until I see an official announcement from the couple themselves. If you look for negative news on this couple you can usually find it.
Most of the positive news gets ignored.
There is a You Tube video of Ben on stage at the Toronto Film Festival thanking Jen for her support during the making of The Town. Ben said in front of the entire audience….I quote “I love you soooo much”. Jen had flown in for the day because Ben said he wished his wife was here at end of an interview promoting his movie in Venice. I also read the interview Ben did in EW magazine. Ben said at the end of that interview…I quote…”I’m married to this incredible woman. I’m not sure I did anything to deserve winding up here, but I’m not going to do anything to F—it up.”
I don’t think you can get a good reading of Ben when out in public. Most of the photos he is tense and glaring at the paps. I’ve seen a couple photos of Jen kissing Ben in a comforting way. Ben usually is on the receiving end of these kisses. So if it looks like Ben isn’t responding it because Jen is trying to get him to clam down about something that upset him. Go look at the pics of them at Red Sox games especially the ones when the Red Sox lost. Jen kisses Ben in a couple of those photos in the same way as this park photo.
Ben is in Oklahoma filming a movie. I believe he replaced Christan Bale as the lead. This is a great opportunity for Ben to work with an Oscar winning director. If anything Jen probably encouraged Ben to take the role.
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People seem to like this couple simply because they seem “like us” or like “normal people”. While that may be true, it still doesn’t mean they are right for each other. Obviously no one really knows what goes on behind the scenes, and it’s true that most of it is just speculation. However, that said, I don’t believe that he always looks bored in photos just because the press is around. It’s photo after photo of him looking unhappy or bored whenever he’s with her. But when he’s with other people, he often looks happy in photos, with press surrounding him. I don’t believe it’s a family / privacy thing either. This is just my personal opinion, but I always thought they jumped into marriage and a baby – just months after his relationship with JLo. To me, Jen Garner seemed like the “anti-JLo” – a way for him to quickly move to someone “sweet” and plain and try to regain some respect for both himself and his career. I’m not saying he didn’t love or care about Jen G. – just that they always seemed mismatched to me. She seems way to “Martha Stewart” for him, and to me, Jen G. is sort of a “B” movie actress. I know people get extremely offended by this for some reason – as though just becuase they look like such a “normal celeb couple”, it means that they must be perfect for each other. I’ve never bought it – not becuase of tabloids – but because I just don’t see the chemistry (aside from when they were first dating, but everyone looks that way then.)
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Funny, Gossip Cop states that because the story comes from The National Enquirer that it isn’t true, questioning it as a valid source, but wasn’t The National Enquirer the first tabloid magazine to report and have pictures of Ben and Jens “private” wedding? Just saying…
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I really hope Jennifer will get her turn. She left Scott for Michael Vartan and did not feel sorry for Scott. Thereafter she left Michael Vartan for Ben Affleck and did not feel sorry for Mike. I have zero respect for this woman. She is a cheater.
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Wakey is a superb area, tons to try and do, excellent night lifestyle and a fine town heart, anyone ought to visit.
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The pictures of them seem to tell it all. She looks like the devoted Mother and he looks kind of distant. Jennifer is such a down-to-earth woman and not a diva. I think maybe Ben wanted a diva or someone more full of celebrity. It would be too bad if this failed, but with him never being home, that is a very bad sign.
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