As you’ve probably seen on all of the mom-and-baby-themed blogs by now, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck and their two daughters have been back on the Dimple Parade paparazzi stroll the past month. My thought on the subject is that Jennifer was promoting Arthur, and maybe she was trying to create some buzz for her horrendous monstrosity project, a “young” reboot of Miss Marple. Basically, whenever I see photos of Garner two days in a row, I get suspicious and think she’s hustling something. CB and I always disagree about that – CB loves Garner, and thinks that Garner just has a routine that the paps can easily follow, day after day. In reality, it’s probably a little of both theories. Anyway, as you can see from their recent pap-friendly outings, Garner and Affleck seem to be a better mood these days. There were even photos of them smiling and laughing together, a rarity. And now Us Weekly has a nice little story about how Jen and Ben are back on track:
He may be outnumbered three to one, but Ben Affleck wouldn’t change a thing about life with his girls.
“I have no testosterone left, but you know, I’m happy,” he tells Us Weekly of wife Jennifer Garner and their daughters. In fact, a source tells Us Weekly that the pair, who celebrated Garner’s 39th birthday with a barbecue at their home in LA’s Pacific Palisades April 17, are better than ever.
“All is really good,” says the insider. The only recent hiccup? Getting Violet into the right private school, says the friend. “But it was all sorted out. Tom Hanks wrote letters of recommendation!”
The couple’s work-life balance makes the grade too, adds the source: “Ben is happy doing smaller films now and being a family man. He’s the happiest he has ever been.”
[From Us Weekly, print edition]
As I said, it takes very little for my suspicions to be raised about this family. I think Ben screwed around with Blake Lively – and probably others. I also have concerns that he’s drinking again, and maybe worse. So… while I think that Ben might/probably genuinely love his wife and his daughters, he’s also got that self-destructive streak that rises up every so often and wreaks havoc. When I see unnamed sources saying stuff like “Ben is happy doing smaller films now and being a family man. He’s the happiest he has ever been” all I think is “Um, really? Or is that wishful thinking?” Still, I guess I should give Jennifer and Ben some credit – they really did seem like they went through a bad rough patch after Seraphina was born, and they managed to move past it. It probably helps that Ben buys “I’m sorry I boned her” jewelry for his wife after big transgressions!
Photos courtesy of Fame.
I’m in the CB camp on this one, Kaiser.
I like Ben & Jen and I hope they are happy and stay together. Love Ben’s quote…he’s whipped, in a good way.
hmmm, i agree Kaiser. it all seems so calculated.
in other affleck news, i saw that he decided against doing ‘the great gatsby’ because it conflicted with a film he’s directing.
does that mean he’s been castrated? What does that mean?
She is pretty, but she seems to intentionally dress as dowdy as possible.
Why do you think he cheated w/ Blake? Any evidence other than that they were in a film together?
I definitely don’t believe he screwed around with Blake Lively. For one, Jen and the children were living in Boston with him. For two, in an interview I read, he was terribly stressed out during the shoot. He said directing and acting was a lot to take on and then trying to have some time for his family, too. That guy is building his career back and second directing experience. I’m sure he was consumed with getting it right, not some bimbo.
I would love to have one night with Ben, though. LOL
Oh I believe he cheats, the guy cheated on Gwyneth, and JLo and he just is one of those guys that gives off the aura of a jerky cheating husband. That said I do believe he loves Jen. I think he probably goes through stages of really putting effort into making his marriage work along with bouts of drunken debauchery with strippers and inappropriately aged co-stars.
I have a daughter about Violets age so I love seeing Jennifer Garner out and about with her girls. It makes her seem more normal and down-to-earth. I especially love seeing that she also apparently lets Violet pick out her own clothes. My daughter does most days and it is so cute to see what she puts together.
Ben looks like a cross between my brother and Bruce Springsteen.
Hope they are happy now. However, their relationship started when both were deep in other relationships. She having cheated on her husband with her co-star, then dumping him for Affleck. He with the other Jennifer, who was probably screwing with Anthony while Affleck was screwing with Jen the bland.
Ben may not be a saint, but Jennifer’s first hubby and her ex-fiance might think her getting cheated on is karma. The kids are cute, but CB is delusional- Jennifer Garner is THE biggest kid-pimper in Hollywood, bar none. The gosselins and Dougars are bad, too, but I’m not sure reality stars are considered part of Hollywood.
I hate to drudge up fear, but I am old and wise and have found that husbands often “act out” during their wive’s pregnancy. Horrific. Often breaks up families. Especially when the bastards are dishonest.
I hope they are happy. I think Ben is a cheater/addict. That’s hard to be “happily” married to.
They have to constantly be “on” the second they walk outside. My husband and I have a great marriage, but if paps were outside my house taking pics, I’m sure they’d critique the hell out of our marriage based on smiles.
Kaiser/CB/anybody-
What is your theory behind how JG dresses? She has a good figure, tons of money and literally is the worst dressed star of her “stature”. WHY?
Re: Garner’s style. She used to be a client of Rachel Zoe, but I don’t know if she is with Zoe anymore. I think Garner sometimes gets red carpet stuff right – she can pull off certain gowns and such. But her day-to-day style is A) Fug as hell, and a major tragedy and B) Perhaps the way she wants to put herself out there- “I’m a mother, I don’t care how I look when I’m with my children” etc. The problem is that I actually think Garner DOES care how she looks, and she just honestly thinks she looks cute.
Rachel():
I think what made me believe they were cheating was the serious eye banging he was giving Blake at one of their press things for the Town.
I’m just disappointed that he pulled out of The Great Gatsby.
Oh wow, such stress they have in getting their kid into the right private school. How horrid that time period must have been for that family.
Christ…
Wow, the guy is being drawn and quartered without any proof. Like any guy he probably likes to look a little bit at some nice piece of fluff but I don’t believe he’s done any cheating.
K-Mac, I agree with you. It means he has no balls- she has emasculated him.
I don’t know about them, everything I hear about trouble is all speculation and “sources”, and they’ve been together quite a while now. Who knows.
Ben should be happy – he reinvented himself as a great director and has a whole new career opening up to him, plus a nice family. I would hope he’s grown up and appreciates it, and isn’t the same guy he once was.
@Mshuffleupagus: Just my opinion but I’ve seen a lot of men cheat on their wives.
When guys haven’t hit it yet that’s when they give off those super lustful looks. After the affair has started then they will not throw a second look towards the girl. They overcompensate in public by not looking.
To me, Ben looked like someone who was still just in lust.
that little girl is cute! but i am a sucker for kids in glasses.
Say what you will about them, but they sure know how to make the cutest kids.
@mln76 – He cheated on Gwynneth and JLo? I didn’t know that.
As far as him getting it with Blake Lively, I think that happened, just because I think Blake sleeps with EVERYONE.
I believe he loves his kids and that’s what you hear him talk about – not some deep love for his wife. And these stories just seem so PR-driven and purposeful in their intent to make everyone believe “all is well in dimple land”. I just have never seen their connection. I believe some part of him wants the ‘white picket fence’ life – and he definitely wants to stay away from the hollywood glam/bad movie episode he had for a while there. His ‘family man’ persona now helps portray that ‘grounded’ image of the writer/director/A-lister (that he actually is) and I think that’s partially why he stays (and he loves his daughters).
I’ve never understood why she clings to him so desperately.
She really thinks BEN AFLECK is a catch. For real?
Maybe since she met him pre Jello butt but he was never family man material.
He’s a future Quaid. He’ll be partying and clubbing in his own sweaty band like a coked out teen when he’s 57 trying to prove his still got it. After the divorce(s).
I wish Jennifer had better fashion sense. I think she is actually a very attractive woman, but she ruins it by dressing horribly. Her little girls always look so cute while she always looks so frumpy, like a crazy cat lady. That leather jacket and red boots looks like lesbian wear circa 1996. I bet her sorority sisters would frown upon that look.
I think they are a perfect match and doubt he has cheated on her. He seems like the type of person (after being with JLo of all people) that sticks by his woman and if he doesn’t think its working out – they break up (or vice versa) I doubt he would have any issues with this. With that said, same goes for her.
I think they are a perfect match and doubt he has cheated on her. He seems like the type of person (after being with JLo of all people) that sticks by his woman and if he doesn’t think its working out – they break up (or vice versa) I doubt he would have any issues with this. With that said, same goes for her.
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You forgot to add “and they all lived happily ever after”
How old are you?? 11??
What’s that testosterone crack supposed to mean, anyway?
I think they’re a cute couple. I love this montage a fan put together of photos of them. Definitely an affectionate couple.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOjGvsl-Pc4&feature=related
How can anyone belief this man is capable of being faithful? Irregardless of Garner, Ben Affleck is a known womanizer. It’s a side effect, along with gambling, of his even darker habits: Booze and Drugs.
He benefits from the wholesome, girl-next-door-turned-soccer-mom image his wife portrays. She has set him up with a squeaky clean public image, one that probably has more to do with her control issues than any reality they live. Women who live with addicts often have serious control issues, and believe they can save a guy. Sober him up, show him how to live a good life. Control him. The thing is, you can’t control anyone but yourself. But I’ll give Jen credit: She has done wonders for Ben’s image. She’s really “rehabilitated” his image; which is more than I can say for the actual man. From his flagrant flirting with Blake Lively, to his frequent mysterious trips to Las Vegas, I don’t trust that Ben is “rehabilitated” in any real way.
I also think they are going to have one more child. Because children are good for Jennifer’s image and her career, and I’m sure Ben wants to try for a boy. Their girls are spaced almost exactly 3 years apart, so I imagine they will start trying soon.
I kind of agree with both Kaiser and CB. I like Jen Garner she comes across as the anti-Suri-Monster. She seems to love spending time with her girls, who dress and act like GIRLS – blah blah blah.
I’m just not buying her and Ben as a couple. I rarely see them together. If she does go out of her way to get papped with the girls she never takes hubby along. I haven’t seen a pic of Ben and a child in a while.
I think she is either totally fulfilled being a mom and has no more need of Ben other than publicity and “for the sake of the kids” or she has a piece on the side and keeps Ben for publicity or “for the sake of the kids”. Those two are not a couple in anything other than name only. There is zero chemistry, none.
Kaiser, really you think she cares about how she looks? I just thought she had the “East Coast preppy comfy mom who doesn’t care what she looks like except when she is going out” vibe going on. I think she cares about how she looks physically. Nice legs there in the dress but I don’t think she cares about clothes anymore. If she were married to anyone else I would give her the “not caring/letting yourself go” speech but it doesn’t matter he is a cheater and an addict and she has some history, too. She could be in fishnets and stilettos every day and he would still cheat so she may as well be comfy.
His get up is no great shakes either. That velvet jacket reminds me of one of my guy friends when he was going through a mid life crisis.
Jennifer Garner comes across as not giving a crap about how she looks. Would it kill her for once to put on some make up, blow dry her hair, and wear something that actually fits and doesn’t look like it came from Goodwill. Motherhood doesn’t have to mean frumpy. She only has two kids, and she works sporadically. Angelina is a great example, she has six kids, often dresses casually and always looks great. Personally, I feel sorry for Ben.
I think she’s preggers again.
You don’t say??? I don’t believe that Jen was ever married before, so how could she cheat on her husband with a co-star and then dump him for Affleck??? I believe she WAS dating a co-star, and left him for Ben!!!
They’re a strange family. They look perfect at first glance, but I’m always hearing that he cheats on her (heard the Blake Lively story about 300 times; also, there were a couple of blind items that pointed their way), that’s she’s really bitchy, and that beautiful Violet is a spoiled little beast. He always look sulky to me and she looks forced happy. The “I have no testosterone left…” was a douchey thing to say imo.
Ah well it seems like Ben has weathered the “he boned Blake Lively” storm. The Paps threw everything they had him and did their best to destabilize his career and marriage but he’s come through intact. Good on you Ben. I love your work. 🙂
JG is the most calculated woman on earth and very selfish. Women like here are the ones I really do not want to have as girlfriends. She cheated on her husband with Michael Vartan. Thereafter she cheated on Michael for Ben Affleck. She really did not give a shit about feelings of her ex-es. Also, she totally got pregnant in her own sneaky ways so to marry Ben quickly. To sum it up, I think these two totally deserve each-other. I hope they stay together so they do not hurt other people.
@someone Jen’s first hubby was Scott Foley she got involved with Michael Vartan her co-star while still married to him.
She then dumped Vartan for Affleck.
oh gawd;
seriously, the testosterone comment upset people?
It’s FUNNy for god sake….
he is in a house full of women…..
same could be said by a female in a house full of men.
like me-sons and a hubbie-i’m swamped sometimes….
i know ppl dont like him, but not everythin ghe says is meant to be taken as douchey….
so quick to offend. the PC thing is over the top these days….
Jen looks yellow
Nice pix + perspective. Am in no position to knock “dimple parades,’ mind. Alyson Hannigan (still ‘Willow’ to me) does em all the time for Daily Mail. In her case I definitely sense it’s not so much for Biz but just that—like many parents—there’s utter conviction that the World will be happier for a view of their infinitely cute offspring. Hey; beats forced screenings of Home Movies 😉
A scary # of spouses cheat; it’s a fact of life. But I like the idea of a couple w/a bumpy marriage trying to make it work. PapHate is not a sufficient explanation IMO for the depressing body language in last year’s pix. The new photos tho, seem to show almost no tension: unless their lawyers are now in talks, these do convey a sense they’ve decided to stay connected.
Still find both vastly dull as actors, but always curious about the challenges of wedlock… & my Inner Sap likes to see a couple withstanding the 1/3/5-year split temptations.
my dad is in a house full of women – he’s got no one in his corner and doesn’t get to be a MAN – he loves his family….
but u know MEN –
so like ben, he cheated, and drinks and is and ass sometimes, and always stupid.
MEN.
She could have done better.
re: mln76
I thought Foley was too jealous, couldn’t handle jen’s alias success and bowed out.
I don’t think she was ever engage to vartan, they were close co-stars who dated for a good while (as an alias fan, i loved).
but than they both moved on, while the show was still on – and they were adults about it…..
no?
well i like this couple, they seem real, every couple has a rough patch, but they survived, in spite of negative press,gossip, and haters, there is not one shred of valid evident that Ben cheated, he loves his family and it shows, i love seeing Ben on film, he is handsome, Jenn is attractive too. i guess that’s why they call it gossip.
I also think she’s pregnant again.
Isn’t Jen just the epitome of white bread? I loved her on Alias, where she actually proved she had some range, but she’s like the first official fan of Martha Stewart. I think she just likes plain, almost dumpy clothes because that’s all she learned to pick out growing up in Texas or wherever. She only looks super stylish when a “professional” dresses her, and not always.
I think too much is made of the testosterone comment. Mr. Nonymous says he lives in an “all-girl world”–Baby Nonymous, Dog Nonymous, and I are all female–but it hardly reflects on his masculinity. Affleck is saying the same thing with different words.
@Someone, Google will be your friend here. Information about Garner’s marriage and dating history is hardly classified. Each of them has a past, and neither is a saint. The big thing is that in this relationship, there are children involved.
“I have no testosterone left, but you know, I’m happy.”
Yeah, right Ben, pull the other finger. 😛
The minute a guy says he’s got no testosterone left is the day he searches outside the home for his missing testosterone. Won’t be much longer before those two split.
No idea about the status of their relationship, but call me naive, but I just don’t think she’d pap out her kids. Terrible actress? Yes. Terrible mom? I don’t think so. But I *know* her fashion sense is lacking. She’s pretty but she can’t dress for crap. It’s endearing actually. And if that’s what she’s going for then, score, it’s working.
If I were being stalked by paps then I would be pimping my kid out too since, as a mom, I do take my child with me everywhere. If she isn’t working on a movie why is it a stretch to believe she would do normal things with her kids? If she never had them in public then she would be accused of having an army of nannies and not caring about them. I don’t but that she sets up these outings. Some of those pictures are taken with cameras from far away. Half the time she probably doesn’t even know the paps are there. I think it is common practice for paparazzi to pretty much stalk celebs. This really is no different.
I bet that he misses JLO, the most beautiful woman in the world, unlike Garner the most plain one!
These two have two cute kids and no chemistry AT ALL.
Jen is a 100% calculating, cold woman. I saw her on Letterman and her fake smile and “sweet voice” sent me serious red flags. She traded up in men to further her own career. The woman def has an agenda.
And Ben Affleck is smart at film-making but dumb with women. He too kept trading up/famewhoring but, since monogamy is NOT his forte, he destroyed every relationship he’s been in. It’s only a matter of time until this marriage disintegrates.
Or maybe I am just biased because I loathe both dimples (Jen) and square heads (Ben).
@loop that was Garner’s PR Foley was jealous of Garner’s relationship with Vartan (rightly so) and Vartan was heartbroken when she dumped him for Affleck but they remained friendly because they were still doing the TV show. Vartan and Garner may not have been engaged (that was Sydney and Michael LOL).
I am so glad to see them looking happier! They must have gone through a rough spot-it was obvious from their body language together. But some couples actually stick it out and make it to the other side, even in Hollywood.
I think I’m the only one that thinks the opposite – I actually think Ben is too good for Jen! Not that he’s a saint. Just that they have ZERO chemistry, weirdest couple ever – right from the beginning. I totally agree with other poster that she gives him the “squeaky clean reputation/wholesome image” that he so desired after J-Lo and which helps him maintain his reputation as a serious filmmaker (which he legitimately is) vs. a ‘hollywood joke’ (again, during JLo stuff.)
She is beautiful enough to wear sweats and a t-shirt and dorky tennis shoes and STILL look insanely pretty …and I think deep down she must know it. Otherwise she would not be leaving the house so frequently looking all shades of “I slept in this”/”and I’ve never heard of hair conditioner.”
Maybe subconsciously because JLo was the complete opposite, she likes to keep it tomboy/sloppy, like a pride thing? I do think there’s an appeal to her sloppy boy look.
LEAVE THEM ALONE! They’re both happy .If you don’t like them ignore them ,start a hobby better yet get a life !Ben doesn’t give a rats ass what anybody else thinks.
They both always look dirty, in need of a shower and shave. Their kids look like retards. They are two of the worst actors in H’wood. Yuck Yuck Yuck.