On Saturday Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their three kids stepped out together in Atlanta to have lunch and see the movie Inside Out. They also all went to a local farmer’s market, similar to their weekend routine back in L.A. These two are of course paparazzi targets given their divorce, but it’s suspicious to me that there are enough paparazzi in Atlanta that multiple photo agencies had pictures of basically their entire day. They’re trying to present a united front despite all the trash-talk from “sources” close to Jennifer who gave Ben hell for cheating with the nanny. For what it’s worth they were both wearing their wedding rings, which sources have said they’re doing for their kids.
We heard late last week that Jennifer wasn’t returning Ben’s texts and that he was in the doghouse basically. Does this mean that she’s given in to his pleas and ‘forgiven’ him? Is she forgiving him for real or in order to get back on message? Are they just trying to reign their image in after their conscious uncoupling went so spectacularly off the rails? Does she want him back?
I have so many freaking questions, and I also wonder if this is healthy for the kids. Like do they understand that their parents are splitting, and will their parents really split? Maybe Ben and Jen don’t even know yet, although I tend to believe that Jennifer is mostly over it and just trying to “win” the PR battle in the larger sense. They do insist to People that the divorce is still moving forward. Just doing photo assumption, Ben is pointedly ignoring Jennifer and is only paying attention to the kids. Kids know when their parents are ignoring each other. They know something is wrong, and kids really don’t give a crap about whether their parents are wearing their rings either.
People has more details on this former couple’s well documented Saturday. They report that Jennifer went to a hotel Saturday night after their big day out and Ben stayed back at their rented home with the kids. As opposed to reports in both US and People that Jennifer wasn’t dealing with Ben anymore, People now claims that these two are “talking every day. They are still getting through and doing their own stuff and taking care of the kids, but it’s not easy on them.” What does that mean exactly?
People also has a follow up report claiming that while Ben’s cheating with the nanny could affect custody, it probably won’t unless Jennifer wants to make a case of it. Given all these photos of them out together, I doubt she will. People also claims that the divorce will proceed amicably as planned. A source says “they want to make sure that this is as easy as they can make it on the kids. They still do love each other and love their children.”
Meanwhile the nanny remains “a big problem,” according to the NY Daily News. Christine Ouzounian, currently holed up in the Hotel Bel Air, has had offers from Dr. Phil and Entertainment Tonight to do paid interviews. She’s reportedly holding out because she still hopes to have a “relationship” (cha-ching) with Ben. It sounds like just a matter of time before she talks officially and not through “sources”, although Ben can throw some more money at her and hope she stays quiet.
Ben and Jennifer still have thriving careers of course. Ben might star in and direct THREE batman movies for Warner Brothers, rumor has it that a deal is in the works now. Jennifer just did a guest stint on Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa show. It aired over the weekend and was taped in April at her home. I wonder which nanny was watching her kids at the time and if Ben was there, helping out.
Oh and Kevin Smith said some stuff about his buddy Ben, but it’s hard to interpret. He said “When I met him, he knew exactly who the f–k he was.” I think he’s saying that Ben is not a family man deep down, but you can judge for yourself.
The first two photos below are of Ben and Jennifer out separately on Sunday. Ben was photographed outside his rental home holding some kind of drink. Jennifer was out shopping with Violet. Maybe they can’t help but be hounded by the paparazzi at this point.
photo credit: FameFlynet and Pacific Coast News
Jesus. They look rough as hell. I’m thinking they just need to stop already. His hair is…inexplicable.
My thoughts exactly. And if they think the kids don’t feel the obvious stress and tension then they are nuts.
+1
I know someone going through a similarly messy divorce, also trying to keep up appearances “for the sake of the kids,” and it’s obvious to me that the keeping up appearances is for the parents’s sake (I’m speaking of my friends, obviously, not the Garner-Afflecks). The kids aren’t dumb.
I’m starting to wonder if that’s actually his hair.
I think he’s had plugs for years. His hair has never made sense..
It does have an artificial quality to it……… I don’t know. Mr. Wren’s hair is similarly crazy looking (sticks up at all the wrong angles) but it’s just like that. I’m torn, but let’s say I wouldn’t be surprised if it was engineered somehow.
Its his hair. I don’t know why people think its fake. He just has weird textured hair.
It’s his hair but from a different part of his body, I think. Or the back of his head, to be less snarky. I think they filled in a patch in front.
I wish all the people who rag on Garner’s day-to-day style would rag on Affleck’s droopy slobishness. He dresses like a late 20-something playing video games in his parents’ basement.
Ben’s face in the photo at the top of the post… Holy hell. He looks manic.
Yeah, he has the expression of someone who’s in an old-fashioned asylum, pumped full of Haldol to subdue him.
It is definitely not a flattering shot of him. If we’re playing photo assumption though, in the full set of pictures there are pictures of Ben and Jen looking at each other and actually smiling and talking to each other. There was one where they are looking at one of their kids and laughing.
Right! I look better than they do going to the movies and to lunch. Also, Atlanta is HOT in the summer who the hell wears sweats.
I never understand these Hollywood people in their Uggs in the summer and their strapless gowns in winter.
All this stuff is so fake and gross. Nannygate is happening he can’t Inside Out his way out of it.
They are calling the paps for sure. they aren’t just hanging out in Atlanta.
Haha I was wondering about the sweatpants too. I live a couple hours away and I can tell you it was about 100 on Saturday. I refuse to put any pants on June-August! Dresses and shorts FTW!
Yep… And I see he’s been shopping at House of Sandler.
Lol.
Don’t give AS (such appropriate initials) any ideas, though.
I love how the older girl is a miniature Jen and the middle one is a miniature Ben. Cute kids.
Honestly, these kids are lucky. In a divorce situation, things are never ideal and of course the kids will sense that something is wrong. But they are showing the kids that no matter how much they may hate each other, they both still love the kids.
I honestly admire them for that, especially Jen.
I took a parenting class (as my ex husband did) as a requirement for our divorce in Washington State.
There were three important points I took away from that class. Points one and two: the most damaging thing that divorced parents can do to kids is 1) deprive the opposite parent of time with the kids, and 2) speak negatively about the other parent.
The other takeaway, which seemed odd at the time, is that doing things as a family, even if that family is broken, has a positive value. As long as the parents can get along, outings en masse can be a good thing. It makes sense when you think about it-there are so many events in the life of a child that both parents should attend anyway; they might as well have a truce in place. Also, cooperation alleviates the difficulty of outings with small children especially-then it’s one on one as far as watching the kids!
I think the best thing for Ben and Jen is to leave them the hell alone and let them work it out. That, of course, is impossible, given the $$$ entertainment “journalists” can make by coverage of every twist and turn of their split.
A friend went through a similar class. She did everything they suggested, but her ex did not, and ended up having a very, very difficult relationship with his kids, who were old enough to see what was happening (and then he unfortunately died suddenly before things could begin to be repaired).
If they can still do some things together and not make it uncomfortable for the kids, I think it’s really good, and like you said, prepares for future events where everyone has to be together. I just feel bad they have to go through all this publicly, hopefully the kids are young enough to not be fully aware right now.
My brother and his ex-wife went to a child psychologist while they were divorcing to try to do what was best for the children, and she told them pretty much the same things, Ravensdaughter. They did holidays for years together, even after both had remarried, and I think it was great for the children.
Ravensdaughter, I wish they’d had classes like that when my parents divorced 30 years ago. My brother and I endured years of listening to our mother spew bitter venom about our dad every time he came to pick us up for a visit. She hated him with a passion and she didn’t hesitate to let us know it. She also told us repeatedly that she thought we were terrible people for seeing him. Even years later, when she was supposedly happily remarried, I couldn’t talk about my dad in front of her without hearing what a bastard he was. When I got married 12 years ago, my parents hadn’t been in the same room together in nearly 20 years, much less at a family event. Needless to say, I was a wreck! Fortunately my mother stayed on her best behaviour that day, but honestly, it took her a good 25 years to stop berating my dad in front of me. Our relationship has always been strained because of it.
I commend Jen and Ben (and Gwyneth and Chris, etc.) for putting their children first in this. It can’t be easy for Jen, but in the long run, taking that deep breath and keeping her opinion on their father to herself will make her kids love and appreciate her that much more when they’re older.
You just have to look at the way Violet is hanging off her dad to see how much the kids love them both. I doubt that either Ben or Jen really want to see one another at this point, so good for them.
I agree. I have a friend who’s parents divorced when she was at a young age and they always did holidays and birthdays together, even after the parents remarried. As an adult now, she is very close with her whole family, step parents included. There is no bitterness between any of them.
Kevin Smith fell out with Ben because of Jen, supposedly.
So? Kevin Smith is a whiny manchild.
and Mark Rufflo stop talking to Jen because of ben.. so?
Wonder what that was about? I remember Mark saying that and that Ben didn’t let her have friends. It was so random.
I read that ruffalo’s comment was out of context that showed he was kidding or something? Although I can see it being totally true.
Big shock there. He made it clear years ago that he was unhappy that his friendship with Affleck ended because Garner didn’t like him and thought he was a jerk.
I hear this a lot. What happened? My guess would be he had feelings for Jennifer maybe.
I know Smith has said something like this before but I also don’t get where working with Jen in the film Catch and Release fits into this? That movie was definitely after her marriage to Ben. I guess I don’t get why he would voluntarily work with her.
@Cindy, who wrote: “I hear this a lot. What happened? My guess would be he had feelings for Jennifer maybe.”
In an interview, sometime just as Ben and Jen got together, Kevin Smith said “Ben called me up and said ‘I just got a B— J– from Electra'” I don’t think Jen appreciated that, but Ben was low for bragging about it.
@emma
Oh my god, I hope that’s not true. If someone said that about me I would never speak to them again, let alone marry them. If this is true, Affleck, in my opinion, is an utter POS.
My take was that Ben “changed” with Jen, like he probably does with everyone he dates, except this one stuck. He covers the bad sides of his nature and puts on the front that he thinks his partner wants. He is an actor after all, and just like any role you can’t keep playing it nonstop forever. It sucks when you see a friend morph into someone they’re not because of a romantic relationship and sometimes the friendship cannot survive. Kevin Smith has his own problems and deficiencies, but I think he’s a pretty shrewd judge of character and he isn’t stupid.
Smith has some pretty significant blind spots, and is actually pretty sensitive to criticism. It also probably didn’t really help that Smith has admitted to smoking pot from the moment he gets up in the morning until he goes to bed.
I think it’s good, I guess, that they are trying to keep things civil for their kids. I would find it hard to do something like go to a movie together so soon, but if they can manage it, good for them. If they’re just trying to manage their images, I’m not sure how much it will help.
I’m just so confused by the fact they’re wearing their rings “for the kids.” I feel like that’s the least helpful thing they can do for their kids. I imagine they think this is what’s best, to keep it “normal,” but to the kids it either looks like mom and dad are putting on an act, or it’s confusing as hell. Either way, no one wins. Especially if they can tell mom and dad aren’t being genuine. I feel like that would just cause more hurt and resentment later.
I think they’re wearing their rings for the media because the kids probably don’t care. They notice for sure, but I doubt they attach much meaning to it. They’re just rings, and it’s actions and words that matter, not arbitrary jewelry.
Agree with both of you. While I think it’s great to do things together (see, our family is not destroyed completely because Mommy and Daddy won’t be married anymore and we both still love you) I think you should be honest about what’s happening to extent they can understand. Wearing the rings seems confusing. But I agree with Wren, though of course I don’t know, that the ring thing might go over the children’s heads altogether unless they point it out.
When I divorced I wore my ring until it was final…for me and for potential suitors. I felt that since I was technically still married, that I should wear the ring. I felt that to do otherwise was to hold myself out as a single person when I, in fact, was not.
Of course, contributing to my willingness to do so were the following facts: (1) I was not famous so my divorce was not widely known, (2) my marriage ended because of his infidelity and I was feeling very clear about marital boundaries and (3) it takes like, 60 days to get a final order after an uncontested filing in GA (my then-state) so it was only two more months after a 10 year + marriage…
That’s certainly a valid reason. I’m divorced, too, and taking off my ring was a painful occasion. I did it before the divorce was final, as that took about a year, but I understand your thinking. It may be that they still have a slight hope of working it out, or they feel as you did, or they are waiting until the children have had more time to get used to the idea. Good point, Embee.
He looks like a mess. Ugh.
The older girl is a mini Jen !!!
So sad , but I think this gives kids the wrong message .
I imagine Ben as Bender from Futurama. I wouldn’t be surprised if that character was based off of him. “I’m going to live my life how I want to, with backjack and hookers!” People told him, “No one is going to take you seriously as an actor if you don’t settle down and have babies. That’s the sacrifice you have to make if you want to stay famous.” So he decided, “I’m going to sacrifice my image and get married and have babies… with backjack and hookers!” I think Kevin Smith is telling us what we already know. Ben is going to be Ben. He knows what he likes.
I don’t think that’s true………Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t married with a family and he is taken seriously as an actor. I do think Ben looks like hell, and he needs to get his drinking under control, or he will only be having supervised visits with those kids….
How many Oscars has DiCaprio won?
None…but he has been nominated multiple times…
Leo is like 10x the actor that Ben is, lol. Ben may have piggybacked onto Matt’s screenwriting Oscar (Matt has heavily joked-but-he’s-serious that he wrote most of GWH) and then inexplicably won a producing Oscar for Argo, but PUH-lease. Leo >>>> Ben.
@lila I agree. I’ve enjoyed several Leo films. I usually can’t get through a movie starring Ben Affleck.
Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t have the image problem that Affleck did when he and Garner got together, so it’s not a particularly good comparison. Affleck’s career was trashed, and hooking up with a sweet, nice girl helped rehab his tarnished image.
DiCaprio doesn’t have Oscars, but he’s respected as an actor. I don’t think it’s possible to argue that he isn’t respected acting-wise.
I sort of agree. As I said above, I think Ben puts on a character that he thinks people want to see, but the real him isn’t like that. Eventually the facade crumbles and the real person shines through.
I think Ben capitulated to the whole “family man” thing because he did want a family, he wanted a “normal” life, a life that he saw his friends (like Matt Damon and Kevin Smith) had and were happy with. He may have thought it would bring him peace and fulfillment, which of course it didn’t and here we are.
My gosh, how can she expose their kids that much? Sometimes I think he’s a better parent than her…
I think she’s trying to give them a “normal” upbringing. But really, don’t live in LA, that’s not a normal place. I feel sorry seeing the photo of her piggybacking the child and all you see are photographers lined up snapping pix … zoo animals.
Aren’t these pictures from Atlanta?
.
You officially gave up your rights to judge who is a good parent forever.
Doesn’t matter which side you are on, but if you think the cheating, alocoholic, gambling addict is a better parent then….
@Itzblissy:
Wow, team Amazing Amy, hun?
I agree, Itzblizzy, she has no clue what a good parent is if she thinks Ben is a better parent than Jen. SMH
And I think the hatred some have for Jen clouds their vision and common sense. There is no other explanation for those kinds of comments.
I would have never called myself a Jen fan, (I have seen both Jen and Ben movies equally), but I am Team Jennifer now. The hell Ben has put her and the kids through is unforgivable. I just will never understand how some come down on the wronged party, especially when she’s a woman. Ben has a bad history and all this mess has been caused by him, and yet some will always find a way to blame Jennifer.
@joss red
How did you know it was JG who set this up? I believe this is Ben ‘s idea right after his meeting with WB. Where was he when the nanny gate scandal came out? He was hiding!
This was a face saving photo op for Ben! Ben is again selling hard the family man image. The public is no fool. Lainey’s article just said that today. Ben is the FOOL.
Not only do children understand when parents are not speaking to each other or are angry with each other, I’m sure they also understand on some level when their parents don’t actually want to be with them or when they’re being trotted out for people to see. These photo shoots, such as they are, are making me feel really bad for those kids.
Yes, this.
Funny that Ben was only photographed once in LA last week (grainy image of him driving his car), back in Atlanta, it’s photos galore with the innocent kids.
This!! I’m so sick of these phot ops being called good parenting. I’m sure they love their kids but this is so dysfunctional.
I agree. Small children totally can sense tension, but they don’t get that mommy and daddy don’t want to be ‘together’ anymore. Nor should they.
There’s other photos in this series showing them talking to each other and smiling.
This outing was confusing to me at first but then I realized it’s probably just a prearrange agreement where Ben gets to spend a weekend with the kids time to time, sort of like visitation. And Jen is just there to supervised, it’s why the kids went with Ben for the night while jen went to the hotel
That makes a lot of sense.
Exactly. Gives credence to the drug rumors too
Why he is not supervised overnight then?
There are two nannies with them in Atlanta so the kids aren’t only with Ben.
The H drug rumors could explain his behavior. Addiction is a mean drug … or maybe he is also bipolar which if both are combined will create chaos. He looks and acts like a troubled man.
That photo of Jennifer carrying the kid with the paps in the background is horrifying. These kids will never have a normal childhood. Sad.
I thought the same thing, and it makes me feel like a creeper and like I shouldn’t look at these pictures. It’s different when you actually see the photographers hounding them:(
This situation in Atlanta with the paparazzi is %100 Jen and Bens falt. They’ve work in Atlanta many times before and always had privacy away from the Paparazzi except on set.
In this case both parents ( manly Ben ) used the media to show how involved he is with the kids and Jen to show how normal she keeping everything for the kids.
@jess
Makes me uncomfortable too. I don’t know the LA area at all, but I wonder if there is an area where Jennifer could move too that is far away enough to dissuade the paps.
Neah, this is a bit different because photos of them are now in high demand. No doubt certain agencies have them on 24 hour surveillance.
@ Tiffany
No it not Jen was in Atlanta for a week after the ” vacation” with no photos of her ( unless she was on set) or the kids. Ben made the big PR announcement that he was going to Atlanta to take care of the kids and was then photo with them.
Now how did Jen manage to go on the DL for a week in the wake of the split and how did Ben go on the DL in the wake of the nanny scandal and show up in LA then back in Atlanta with no one knowing. Unless why are calling the paparazzi themselves.
I have been cynical regarding this whole breakup.
When I saw Jen piggybacking Seraphina-clutching her dolly – I cried.
No wonder Jen has to wear comfy shoes. Jen is constantly running away from the paps.
Ben is a mess.
I am so confused on this relationship. Why the ring fiasco? Either be done or get back together. He is a grown man, he can handle the kids alone. He looks like Crap. I don’t think he realizes the consequences of his actions. I feel sorry for those girls and his son. Men do not realize how daughters worship them and relish time with them. I know I did mine. I would run from him and let him deal with his issues and take care of mine and my kids. She needs to quit covering his ass. I think he needs her more than she needs him. I think he is very insecure and demanding himself.
I think maybe you’re reading too much into the Kevin Smith comment – there’s not enough context, and don’t we already know he didn’t like Garner?
Yeah, I don’t think the KS comment had anything to do with Ben’s romantic relationships or what’s going on now. It sounds more like he’s saying Ben’s a decent person and a good friend, but maybe KS is also worried about him…
I read his interview and it didn’t have anything to do with JG. He was saying what a cool guy–nice, considerate, hardworking BA was. That he was comfortable in his skin and all. It was referring to a specific time–Mallrats era–and why they worked so many times together.
Kids really know when there is tension especially between their parents. Even if the parents are playing nice, kids just have a freakish sixth sense about this stuff.
Watched “Gone Girl” a couple of days ago. He was perfect playing…well…himself.
Eve! Smooches. I hope you are well, long time no read.
:*
I love in Atlanta so Im pretty familiar with a lot of the places they’re being spotted at. If they didn’t want to be seen while they weathered this…then you don’t go to the places they are going. Its super easy to hide out in Atlanta. They both look rough as hell and ben looks like he has lost some weight…it’s all feeding into what they are trying to sell.
Same is true here in LA…
So…. Many….. Farmer’s Markets…..
Lol! Yeah, they can’t possibly eat all that produce. And the pies! Perhaps that’s why Ben’s not looking so well these days. It’s not drugs, it’s blueberry pie bloat.
I want blueberry pie. I want it now.
I just railed against Kelly Rutherford for parading her kids around for the paps, and here are “Mother of the Century Jen” and Ben doing the happy happy family thing for the paps, even wearing wedding rings. How sad and it has to be totally confusing for those precious kids. There is no way they are doing this for the kids–this is total image (brand) management. If this family time was really for the kids, they would go to great lengths to avoid the paps. Disgusting.
I think this is not healthy at all for the kids. It’s more like being in denial (for their sake) and being disingenuous. The kids will feel that. They need both parents around, but not necessarily together and not under these circumstances. For the first time, Jen looks like she can’t stand the sight of Ben (understandably) and that’s no good. It seems like Jen and Ben are just operating like they have for their whole marriage through – deny what is really going on and put on a brave face for the media, etc. It is so unhealthy for everyone involved and with their money and access to psychologists, they should know better. It is one thing to have an amicable divorce – which they may have someday in the future – it is another to mask the truth. Things certainly are not amicable right now.
Exactly.
I disagree. The more time they can spend with both parents together, the better it is for them, even if the parents are divorced or divorcing. As long as the parents can be civil to each other, it helps the children to cope.
That’s not completely true my cousin did this with her kids and it confused their kids and her Ex because she was too busy still playing happy family. Then when she meet someone and it got serious that all stopped and her kids didn’t know what was going on. Not to mention her ex though that there was a chance of them get back together because they were being this happy family.
I agree with Crumpet.
I think it’s good so long as they’re clear with the kids that they aren’t going to be married anymore, but are still friends and can spend time together.
That’s the issue they stopped. The point of this is to show that even if the parents are divorced they are still a family and even if they no longer love each other they still love them (the kids). You are suspose to continue the family activity once in a while even after you found someone new. Cause if you stop after you met someone new then the children will just think you value your new family more than them.
I agree with Crumpet and Itzblissy.
Agree, Crumpet. I think it helped my brother’s children to feel that their entire world had not fallen apart and they didn’t have to take sides. My sister was divorced and her husband moved to a different state and wouldn’t speak to her (even though he cheated and that’s why they got divorced) and her children both felt they had lost their family. They both say the divorce was very traumatic for them. I’ve never asked my brother’s children how they felt, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but I think the fact that they could all get along made it easier for them.
@Crumpet & Itzblissy I agree +1000
JFC maybe think about your kids for one damn second and stop making everything into a PR stunt?
Oh hey Ben
As a shallow aside, can I just note that her hideous shoes don’t even properly fit?
Lol. I thought the shoe situation had improved…somewhat….
It is starting to take on a kardashian-like aura. That is just gross. She does need to just separate completely and protect the kids from the self destruct sequence that appears to be taking place. I’m sure that will not be easy with the desperate PR push he thinks will help him (not so much) right now. I pray protection over the innocents in this drama.
I know you all will think I am crazy, but I really have a feeling, that if Jen said she would take him back, he would go back in a heartbeat…He is a talented director, but I think Jen is the one that gave him the stability he needed to get him to this great place in his career. And I do think he loves his children! He is one of those people that sets himself up to fail…and he is great at it!
I think he wants to come back. I think he realizes how much she actually worked to help him and no one else has. I think Nanny scared him actually, because that chick crazy, and I mean stalker crazy.
Agree, about the creepy, stalker Nanny!
If she was stalker crazy she would be in Atlanta and how is the nanny crazy? Fame hungry yes crazy I’m not see it.
I wonder if he realises what he’s thrown away. My sons are not much younger than him; if they behaved like him I’d be giving them a smack up the side of the head! But they don’t and never would.
I agree. He’d go scurrying back to her in a heartbeat if he could. Maybe she’ll take him back eventually. No matter what happens, dude is damaged goods.
I think the opposite it’s playing out on his terms because she’s the one that got dumped. She’s always worshipped the ground he walked on and would still do anything for him, even these detrimental photo-ops. She even once took classes so that she would be able to keep up with him intellectually. She would have forgiven this affair just like the numerous others she’s forgiven. In fact I don’t think the nanny really had anything to do with the breakup. Ben wanted out she never wanted to announce. The initial Radar/Us Weekly story spelled it out pretty clearly.
People want her to be the one that wants out but that’s not what’s going on.
Luca 76 …..I thought Jen was the one to file for divorce. I think this nanny was just another fling for Ben, but when Jen found out, well, THE NANNY, that’s a little to close to home. I think that was the straw, that broke the camel’s back…I guess, Ben didn’t read the “who I can cheat with” rules….family members and members of the household staff, are not included in the list!!!
I’m starting to think in a away Jen gets off on having Ben need her. She like cleaning up his mess because that way he will always be dependent of her and she would hold the power in the relationship.
I think if she didn’t have Ben’s mess to take care of she wouldn’t know what to do.
As far as I know they are separated and haven’t filed yet, they probably have to wait 6 months because of California divorce law. The story in U.S./Radar was that Ben wanted her to file so he wouldn’t look bad(pre-nanny of course).
I’ve said it several times he slept with the nanny consciously or not to hurt Jen and to let her know he was truly done. He wanted her to find out about it just not the whole world.
He needs her more than she needs him.
I don’t think she’ll go back because all she has to do is look at the pictures that show the happy smiles he greeted the nanny with and that will show her what he’s up to behind her back. It’s sad that those pictures will probably haunt her forever. He is a lost cause and will never change and I believe she sees that now.
Cute outfit for once, but those SHOES. Yuck.
Also, I think Kevin Smith meant “she” knew exactly who the f*ck he was. And he would be right. Jennifer knew exactly who Ben was when she met/married him. It never fails to surprise me when women swear their men have changed. They don’t change, no matter how much they insist being with you has changed them. And no matter how many babies you have with them.
Ben seriously looks like he DGOF. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he starts a relationship with the nanny at this point. There are good men out there, but JG didn’t pick one.
It must be so stressful to be surrounded by groups of strange men photographing you when you’re out with your family, a thousand fold when going through a divorce. So I feel sorry for them because they are being hunted and treated like exhibits. Ben in particular looks like it’s more than he can cope with.
At this stage I think people should just leave them alone. So I’m not going to comment any more on these people because it’s gotten to the stage where it’s just wrong and there’s so much irrational hate against Ben that it feels like an international bullying campaign against him. These people are human beings, not animals in a zoo and they shouldn’t be dehumanised as such. (Although any zoo that allowed their animals to be put under the same stress and scrutiny as this family would be closed down for cruelty)
You really think that the paps just happened to be on atlanta streets when they went out? Or outside their vacation home in Barbados? Or just happened to be at Starbucks and the farmers market those countless times during his Oscar campaign? They’ve got the paps on speed dial. it’s all about image
I firmly believe that Jennifer is a devoted mom and puts her children’s interests before her own. I find it hard to believe that she would put her kids at risk by deliberately setting out to be stalked, harassed and yelled at by hordes of aggressive men with cameras.
It’s one thing for an attention-starved (adult) d-lister to get their pr team to contact paps to follow their movements and give them publicity, but what sane parent – who is already extremely successful – would call the paps and arrange for their children to be subjected to this?? Seriously, has anyone on this site ever seen the video coverage of what transpires? Stressful, frightening and traumatic for a child.
As folks have pointed out, when things really went crazy last week, the Affleck-Garners were able to go without being photographed – and that’s when photos of them would be at a premium. But yeah, of course the paparazzi just surprised them at a mall and movie theater in Atlanta. That totally makes more sense.
A parent would do this when a massive, multi-million dollar career is on the line. This isn’t just who wins in the divorce, it’s attempting to protect the image of a man that a huge company (WB) has hundreds of millions of dollars riding on.
Bridget –
I may have misinterpreted your post so forgive me if I am off base, but I sense that you think the Garner/Afflecks tipped off the paps. These people are both multi-millionaires and do not need to work another day in order to continue to live in the lap of luxury. do you honestly believe they would deliberately subject their kids to the aggressive tactics of paparazzi photographers? sure, there are some “celebrities” (not successful ones or a-listers) who would sell their own mother to get publicity and set their kids up for “candids” with the paps, but Garner is not among them.
anyone familiar with the paps know they can be quite resourceful in tracking people down and following them 24/7. if the “hot”, lucrative story is in Yonkers, NY, then they will follow whoever there, and Atlanta is no different. not to mention, regular joes taking photos with their cell phones when they happen to spot a celeb out and about.
They chose to be treated like animals in a zoo when they started calling paparazzi or going to paparazzi friendly places in L.A. Of course now the photos of them are worth much of money, so the agency sent their workers to Atlanta. There are many Hollywood’s celebrity who have allergy to paparazzi and they don’t parade with their kids around L.A. (sometimes it’s to their disadvantage because it seems that they aren’t “doting” parents or they don’t even have joint-custody of their children according to some posters here). And other thing, it’s possible to have been living mostly in L.A. for more 7 years while the tabloids claimed that you were living in another country.
“Living mostly in LA for more7 years while the tabloids claimed you were living in another country” You talk about Johnny Depp? He never lived in France.He has/had a huge home for summer holiday in south of France .His children are in LA school since always
Yes, when Lily was toddler they spent more time in France. They came to L.A. permanently when she was five and was about to start school. But in general public perception they lived in France. Even Lainey claimed that they came back to U.S.A 2 years before they break-up.
Time for another baby!
I don’t agree that Garner “is mostly done” with Affleck. I think we’d all like to believe that, but it has been shown to be exactly the opposite for the last 5 or 6 years, but now that all he&$ is breaking loose, he’s running for cover again and maybe willing to consider that he needs his wife right now. I think Jen might be fuming and sickened, which is understandable, but my guess is that’s temporary. She wants him to “pay” and “grovel”. Otherwise, why would she go to a hotel when she is the one that rented to house in Atlanta, AND it has a guesthouse, supposedly for Ben. She went to a hotel to take a stand and make a point to Ben – that “this time”, she’s really done. To try to scare him into shaping up. It’s simply a relationship tactic. Otherwise, she would have just sent him to the guesthouse, like she supposedly has been for the last month while in ATL! I don’t think she’s “done.” I don’t think she was ever really done. Maybe Amy “Dunne” though.
Re: Kevin Smith, no, absolutely don’t think he was saying that Ben wasn’t a family man. I didn’t read that into it at all. He’s saying that Ben was always a really sweet guy, that’s who he is deep down, and I think maybe that Ben has lost that sense of who he really is in recent years. That he is deep down a down to earth, good guy. (Shielding myself for flames, but yes, that’s how I read it!:))
It’s really all so pitiful – while the nanny is a real low point, it’s now obvious their marriage was a mess for years leading up to this. If they don’t split now, it’s only going to be a matter of time before we’re back to the same place again. It’s just one big dysfunctional cycle of enablement and co-dependence.
Be careful Jojo comparing the saintly Jennifer Garner to Amy Dunne lol. I did that least week and was scolded for comparing the psychopath Amy to Miss perfect Jennifer. 🙂
@Tammy – I should have clarified. When I compare her to “Amy”, it’s not because I think her personality is like Amy, but mainly because I still believe Ben/Jen are going to end up like dysfunctional Nick and Amy in the end … together. :/
“Inside Out” is an emotional minefield of a movie to watch on a good day. That must have been really tough to sit through with the sh@t storm that is their life right now.
Good for them. Nobody knows what is really going on, it’s all speculation. But the facts are – they are keeping it peaceful for the kids.
Well it’s not speculation it’s what their PR agents are putting out there.
Do ya’ll think Jen realizes she can wear comfortable flat shoes that are not hideously ugly?! I don’t understand wearing their rings in front of the kids, I assume they know their parents are separated/divorcing. The nanny sure threw a wrench in their big PR plan and as much as I want her to just go away, her fame-ho thirsty shtick is amusing to see unfold. She would have gotten so much “further” in her quest for 15 minutes if she kept her mouth shut and didn’t call the paps, but it would be far less entertaining for me.
Does anyone think he would know how to take care of those three kids without Jen G’s or a nanny’s supervision? I think Jen G is doing the best she can for the kids under terrible circumstances and trying to preserve some semblance of normalcy for them. I feel for her.
Once again Ben is in “trouble” with the media so it’s time for a happy family photo op and we the get the dimple parade.
Yep
Yes yes yes. But Ben doesn’t want Jen back. he is doing his fatherly duty. When he doesn’t have to join the dimple parade, he is free!! trust, he needs that freedom, he was suffocating.
Jennifer Garner always looks like she needs to give her pants a good yank up.
It’s EXTREMELY easy to avoid paparazzi. All of these “candids” are meant for us to see.
I’m still not sure the nanny isn’t holed up in his Savannah house. That way Ben can “de-stress” after his photo ops with the kids, and a quick plane ride. I’m surprised if she’s in LA that we haven’t seen a pic of her, regardless of the money probably exchanging hands. Maybe the reason Garner can’t/won’t forgive him now is because this supposed affair may be the one were he actually is in love. That would be much harder to swallow then all the randoms in the past. Bens’ b-day next week will probably bring the gossip. Off topic, can photo agencies or publications post different dates on stories/pics, say they snap a pic on Friday, and say it was taken on Monday? (I’m sure I’m the only one who doesn’t know this, lol)
She’s been spotted in LA but you suspect she’s in Savannah?
She has a twin – if she is an identical twin she could be the “mirage” at Bel Air Hotel while the real nanny is with Ben.
I think there is something here. I think Ben carried on long enough with the nanny that she’s not going away without a fight and I think he passive aggressively likes the attention he gets for it and p.a. likes hurting Jen. I think he led the nanny to believe they were in love and had a future together, and I think she was his security blanket to weather the stress of the divorce, he’s a selfish child. He is waiting out the tabloid storm and then will take up with her again, that’s why he’s paying for an extended stay for her at his suite in the Bel Air. He’ll just go back to her when things blow over. He’s arrogant enough not to worry how it will affect his kids.
Do you really know where he lives now when he is in L.A. According to some “Radar” article from a few weeks he simply lives now in this hotel.
I hate all of you for drawing my attention to Jen’s penchant for ugly ass shoes. Both shoes are hideous!!!! I wish she would at least go with Angie’s nude or black flats.
I can’t with these two anymore. I try to think what course of action I would take to protect my kids through a divorce. For me, it would be to avoid him at all cost. Why? After the crap with the Nanny, I would be clawing at his smug face every time I saw him. I wonder if Jen is wearing extra ugly shoes because she knows he hates them?
I wonder how long this charade of the rings is going to go on.
ben can try to hide from jennifer garner – but he’ll never get rid of her face. that little violet couldn’t look any more like her mother. my hunch is that his relationship with his oldest daughter, who probably totally understands this entire mess, will be a disaster as well. he honestly seems like a bastard who would be spiteful to that degree.
I don’t know about that. From all appearances, little Violet adores her daddy.
I’ve posted on another string about my history (married 10 years to a compulsive gambler, alcoholic, liar, etc., with 3 kids) and shared some insight into being the co-dependent in that relationship. I’ll share more here that MAY give insight into the emotions at play. DISCLAIMER: there are assumptions made about the facts because I only know what I’ve read, BUT some of it is like seeing my life re-lived so I feel like I recognize it. I may be completely wrong! But, if so, then you will maybe have learned something about that sad pattern generally.
In the cycle of being an addict/co-dependent, there is a pattern that is developed by both parties. Addict does stuff, gets caught, apologizes. Co-Dependent reacts, forgives and things go well for a while. This pattern repeats time and time again, escalating in the process. Each play their part, but it is a sick pattern and so it doesn’t really feel good. Eventually, it reaches crisis stage because they BOTH hate the parts they play. It is a destructive, destructive, destructive pattern and is becomes a battleground because each hates/blames the other for doing their part in continuing the pattern, even though the pattern is the natural order to them. Does this make sense? It really messes with your mind.
When I finally got to the point that I was able to see (I HAD been blinded by my own co-dependency) that it was a bad place for me and the kids, I fortunately stepped out into the presence of friends who wouldn’t let me fall back into the pattern. It was HARD not to. It had become the natural pattern and felt RIGHT to me. It’s not something that is easy to understand if you are outside of it – it is NOT black and white while you are drowning in it.
It was very hard to not go back when the loving, tearful apologies started. The promises of everything my heart had ever cried out for in terms of my kids. I have no doubt they were genuine feelings on his part IN THAT MOMENT.
It took counseling and friends holding me back long enough that I would not step back into that pattern, even after everything awful that he had done, and it was really, really bad stuff.
A wise counselor I visited gave me this insight that also helped me stick it out. He told me that the pattern includes 2 people and will continue forever until one of the 2 steps out of the pattern. That was just scary, because it had been escalating so long I couldn’t imagine what it would grow to become. It still took a long time for me to be healthy as a non-co-dependent person.
I do think that these 2 have that pattern. It’s possible that Ben is looking to her to fix things as she has always done for him. She is struggling with that, it appears, and doesn’t want to. But, it’s hard to hold out when your heart/mind wants to do what you always did. The co-dependent’s reward is as twisted as the addict’s — you get to be the loved and appreciated one for a while. That’s something you don’t get while the addict is in the “addict” stuff. You kinda starve for it.
I think the only way this or any similar family can be restored is if both get back to a healthy place as individuals. Right now, they just look at each other and immediately fall back into the bad behaviors because it’s what they know.
Their situation is way tough because they are so public and have money and PR and major studios riding on them. I do hope they will find a way to step back out of the public and go dark for a while to deal with this.
I really hope they can find that healthy place, for EVERYONE concerned.
Thanks for your insight, Diane, and I’m sorry for all of your suffering.
I think you are exactly right, which is why I think these two need to stay away from each other – for the sake of the children. It is also why they need to put an end to their PR bull$h!t and get away from the spotlight – for themselves and also for the kids. Not sure if either of them can handle not being seen or talked about, though.
Thanks for the insight. Makes some sense.
@Diane – Great insight, and I agree with what you say. As I mentioned above, I also think Ben and Jen are caught in the cycle of enablement and codependency. I agree wholeheartedly about the codependent ‘s “reward.” I’ve been saying, as sick as all of this is, now Ben is in a position where he “needs” Jen again, and while I’m sure she “hates” him for what he’s (allegedly) done, his “need” makes her feel good regardless. I’m not saying it’s malicious on her part, but she is now finally in a position of power and control, she can call the shots, she can threaten to leave for good, all while he’s probably finally showing some of the dependence, reliance and attention she’s wanted all along because he’s likely apologetic, groveling and promising the world right now. I’m not blaming either one of them, but I’m very familiar with the codependent cycle myself, and it’s painful to watch.
I think sometimes we view these people as actors in a movie and discuss their lives as we would a movie plot. That’s due in very large part on them because they propagate that and put it out there in the news all the time for their careers. We also live in a “reality TV’ world which completely skews our ability to separate the two. It’s tough for all of them to deal with real problems as such, instead of as the next scene for reality TV. Ugh. I truly hope they can work through this for their individual health and the well being of their kids.
Really insightful stuff thanks so much for sharing it.
I am sorry to hear some of what you went through, it sounds like you are in a better place for yourself and kids which is awesome! I think your insight is spot on, what I believe may be the breaking point for Jen to leave and not get back in the cycle is the nanny part of the equation. They had already announced their divorce and did the post break up Bahamas trip when Jen found out about the nanny. They are very obviously concerned about their image and are heavily controlling their PR, but the nanny was not part of the initial PR spin from either side. Now that the nanny is trying to get her 15 minutes and Jen is being publicly humiliated, where as all the others over the years were just rumors I think that’ll be the breaking point for her to end the cycle. I would honestly be very surprised if they get back together at this point because of how it will affect her image.
I knew as soon as we got bikini pics of the young nanny that these kids would be paraded around for Family Time. It’s really disgusting how he/she/they use these kids for Oscar campaigns and image rehab.
One of Lainey’s posts about Ben and drugs talked about the industry he is in doesn’t really allow him to get help. I had the thought today that, maybe the year’s push-back on his movie schedule is more about allowing time for him to do just that. Clearly, the PR nightmare played into it, but if he is spiraling as it certainly appears he is, then for even the studio’s sake, it may not be an option other than for him to get help. I hope this is the case and he truly wants to recover.
That push back of a release of a movie already done, and a movie getting ready to be filmed and changing the release date is because he is now Warner Brothers’ golden boy. They need him writing the new standalone Batman movie at some point. That is paramount for WB at this point. He’s writing the movie now for the film he will be directing in this fall. He also has to go promote The Justice League and Batman v Superman beginning net year, which is worldwide promoting. Batman is their cash cow. He is being spread very thin and they are moving things around, because Batman is the most important thing to them. Moving the Accountant release date gives him one less thing to have to go out and promote the beginning of the year and to also probably not fatigue people on too much Ben before Batman. If it is to be believed that they are going to make a trilogy of three Batmans with him, he is sitting pretty.
Any new news of the supposed nanny pregnancy? That would be JUICY gossip. I do wonder if a love child will surface because Affleck is such a cheating douchebag.
Ben and Jennifer are NOT doing the right thing! Believe me, my parents had a very bad marriage and it AFFECTS CHILDREN FOR LIFE! These children should be told the truth, go to counseling and be able to see their parents develop other healthy adult relationships (if they do so). They can feel every bit of tension every second of the day. I can’t believe these two people are playing this game with their children and the media. They are starting to look ridiculous now.
Ben has to finish the script for Live by Night, which he will begin directing in around October. This is where Ben excels, “hyperfocused” on work. He won’t have to work on the marriage anymore, a marriage he wanted out of but couldn’t admit it half the time because of the kids or the guilt towards Jen. For anyone that believes he wants Jen back, no way. This is the freedom he has wanted. The strain of the divorce and kids getting used to the split will eventually calm down unless his nanny doesn’t get hushed.
Radaronline.
“However, a source claims that Affleck, 42, is burying himself in his work in order to ignore and avoid all the divorce drama exploding around him since it came out he was involved with Christine Ouzounian, the 28-year-old nanny his ex, Jennifer Garner, hired to help take care of their kids.
“Ben is dropping out of the public eye for now until his Batman promo duties start up,” says the source, who adds the star “has been dealing with problems in his marriage for almost five years so he’s still getting used to not having those chains around his neck.”
“He’s happy to accept the blame for the split, but he’s tired of dealing with everything right now and work is his way to escape,” says the source.
Sounds about right to me.
He sounded like the marriage was the one that held him back big time. It is like the years he had with Jen and kids held him back. This makes me angry. He is sounding like post JLO break up. That is ok to blame him just as long as he gets what he wants, out of the relationship. FU Ben. Did you forget when you said it was only Matt and JG who encouraged you to try directing? He is a POS! Now that he is big, you just decided you don’t need your family anymore. You are saying that JG and kids are holding you back!
My gut says this is about rehab. It’s a great cover story. I think it’s clear to WB that he needs to get his head straight if he’s going to pull through the next couple of years for them. He clearly is out of control and not dependable given what they are banking on him. I doubt it’s Ben’s idea, but maybe it’ll catch this time. I also think Jen would participate in this cover because it’s the very best thing for her kids – to have a healthier dad. My gut could be wrong, but… maybe the co-dependent thing still lingers in me somewhere and I want to hope for a happy ending for those kids. Since it isn’t my life, I will send positive thoughts their way.
@Ana- I doubt he’s saying the kids or Jennifer held him back from work but freedom. The marriage wasn’t working for him for a long time and he’s clearly not happy. Should he be? Yes, but he’s not. No one can force another person to love them or stay with them if they don’t want it. It’s too late to say he should’t have married Jen and had kids if that is what he did not want, he already has them. Maybe at the time he got married it was what he wanted but he self destructed along the way. It’s hard to tell what is in his head but he is clearly not a happy person. Maybe he will be happier as a single man.
I don’t think he means held him back. I think the marriage has been in trouble for years and he probably at different times wanted out and Jennifer never did. Plus you have children to consider. The chains he is talking about is when a marriage is so troubled for years a lot of energy and talking and fighting and counseling is put into it. Dealing with a failing marriage that you haven’t wanted for several years is over now. The decision is made. He doesn’t have to deal with Jen’s unhappiness because he’s not fulfilling her the way she deserves and he doesn’t have to deal with his unhappiness in a marriage he doesn’t want. He loves her but hasn’t been in love with her for quite a while I imagine.
My sister has been dealing in a marriage she doesn’t want to be in for five years also and is stuck because of reasons I won’t go into. But I think the same thing, she would consider it a huge emotional chain that takes a lot of energy given to the marriage and its problems and energy sucked from her. The marriage is not fulfilling to her and she’s tired of thinking about it or trying to fix it. She pushes it to the side and focuses on the children as her joy in it.
It’s not Jen’s fault he was unhappy in the marriage. But the fact is I guess a lot of people were right, he acted for years like he was stuck in this marriage. It’s painful to finally end a marriage no matter if you want out or not, because you are hurting a lot of people. I’m not even talking about his despicable action of turning to the nanny as it was crumbling. I am just talking in general. And once you go through the storm of separating, there is a relief for the one wanting it or even the one not but maybe tired of trying so hard and exhausted by it all, like Jen.
The marriage should have ended several years back. Jen wanted this marriage too much and probably why it lasted longer and why Ben increasingly looked trapped. It’s probably why his passive-aggressive behavior got worse. he was miserable and acted out, and he wanted to push her away.
What goes up must come down and I think this fall will not be as easy to remedy. May be a few years but this man is burning candles at both ends. There is drugs, sex, alcoholism and probably some undiagnosed mental issues. I worked addiction recovery many years and he is almost textbook. He has a lot of anger to women also, just my opinion. And if I couldn’t do any better than the nanny after working with all the other beautiful women, I would be depressed. I still think nanny gate a diversion.
I beg to disagree. The marriage problem should have been omitted and just talked about the Batman issues/plans. I feel like with Ben, he would talk about his marriage in a negative light for the years to come. Just what he did with his post JLO relationship and just like his Daredevil movie.
He should never ever say a bad word about his marriage. It does not look good. And whining doesn’t look good either. He would look better never to leak out excuses like this and just always say that they didn’t work out as a marriage, but that she is a wonderful person and he will always love her as the mother of his children, etc.
Yep, that’s the sense I got, that everyone involved feels that the sooner he gets to work, the better, and maybe then his other compulsions will fall by the wayside…
As I read it, though, production for Live By Night has also been postponed another year or so because the recent showing of Batman V Superman was so successful that WB wants him to focus right now on writing the next one.
No doubt they’re mostly concerned about their investments, but It’s gotta be good for him to know that the studio believes in and supports him.
@Laura, I am suspect about the additional Batman movies. I think that is probably a lot of PR by WB to boost Ben’s image for the upcoming flick. Pushing the idea about the other movies, I think, sends a message they are concerned about how badly his image has tanked over the Nanny issue, and they are in spin mode trying to recoup by making a big flashy announcement like that. Maybe there will be additional movies (beyond the first one they announced just after divorce announcement), but I think this was an attempt to try and turn the tide. They can’t afford for the current movie to tank because of Ben’s rep. I’m not sure his rep can recover even for the current movie. It may be a lot of promo without him and focus on the others. What Ben did isn’t just bad PR, it has created worldwide backlash of a lot of hate posts on the various articles.
I posted this last night on previous post. The twitter was very angry. She knew something we don’t . I deleted her name. Below is what she tweeted and if true, i how the nanny want at the rental home.
“I told you Christine Ouzounian, Ben Affleck met each other in Georgia this weekend! Ben’s PR need to stop the bullshit & tell the truth!” “What Ben Affleck is ACTUALLY perpetrating is a form of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!”
I don’t know what she meant by domestic violence.
And JG went to a hotel to stay. If true, Ben is the lowest of the low. He is a disgusting human being.
In Laineys pics he appears have busted knuckle or something red on his right knuckle. I could see him being a rage monster actually, temper and drug induced and ego flaring.
I hope he is not hurting anybody physically. I remember him acting out on Bill Maher. He looks like he can be verbally abusive. If so, that could do damage on Jen’s mind and the kids.
People need to stop dropping words like “domestic abuse” when they don’t apply. If you want to say something there are MILLIONs of words you can choose from to describe a feeling or situation.
this person is saying that bringing the Nanny to Atlanta if that happen and Jen staying in a hotel is Ben abusing his family by disrespecting them. People should not jump to conclusion looking at marks on his hand then thinking there could be a possibility that he has been physical with someone. IRRESPONSIBLE BEYOND MEASURE. These are actual people not just things we are talking about.
Didn’t say he was attacking nanny or Jen. Men hit things like walls, doors when angry, some hit people. The whole family under a lot of pressure.
To easy?
http://blindgossip.com/?p=72982
Nah, that’s about Travolta. (Clues: Phenomenal – “Phenomenon,” “Face Off.”)
Plus, Ben’s not been dealing with tons of lawsuits against him. Paying off the nanny would be more like extortion on her part, because she has no lawsuit against him at this time (and no leg to stand on if she tried to create one).
I think your right. Good going!
My first guess was Travolta too!
Travolta paid off his ex gay lover.It was reported last week he dropped his lawsuit.
Not that I wish Ben’s behaviour onto any woman but Affleck should have married jennifer Aniston – She has the right first name 😛 and theirs would have been an ideal, kid-free, booze-filled (Cabo) marriage. But then we would never have had the joy of watching the eyebrow dude and the dimple parade *sarcasm*
Garner should simply file now. This is getting ridiculous.
What Jennifer Garner saw in Ben for ten years only she can explain the guy is completely unstable.From the little I have seen since they announce their separation makes me suspicious about Jen on her motives for having three kids with this man and playing happy family I totally have lost respect for both of them moreso Jennifer.I have serious doubts on her true feelings.If the divorce were to go through I will see what she will do next if she gets with a decent man then my respect for her shall return.But if she keeps holding on to Ben she will lose me for good.
Some people have a huge need to try to fix other people.
@Jayna – Interesting, just pulled up that Radar story. To clarify what I keep saying, I don’t really necessarily believe it’s that he truly wants Jen back. But I do believe that this media storm could make him go running back thinking he made a mistake. It wouldn’t be because he truly wants to be in the marriage again, but more like seeking shelter in a storm. That’s where I think the codependency thing could easily come into play again – a pattern they seem to both have repeated for years. For everyone’s sake, mainly the kids at this point, I really don’t see why they don’t just remove the rings, file and get on with their separate lives (while co-parenting.) This would help their kids start to adjust to their “new normal.” If that’s what they really plan to do, what’s preventing it? They’re just dragging this thing out at this point.
I don’t think Ben even wants to go back for those reasons you mentioned, even though I think he probably has some of those feelings and could see it if it was a year ago or more. But Ben’s career is very solid now. He has to just get through this. But I think it’s taken so long for him to get out of this marriage that there is no going back for him and will weather the storm. It’s been probably a tortious experience for him trying to get out of this marriage and Jen trying to save this marriage for a year or more, wanting counseling, and him doing it because of his children, but finally pushing it to a point that Jen gives in and realizes the marriage is done.
I think even he knows to go back and separate again in six months would be damaging to his children. Even this nightmare nanny experience I don’t think is enough at this point to make him beg back. Scandals fall by the wayside for a newer scandal or gossip.
I agree about the rings. There’s no point in keeping them on. I’m sure he wants his off. Jen probably says they should stay on. She keeps her on. So he acquiesces. Maybe one of the older children is having a hard time, and is a sensitive child and it’s something she would notice. Only Jen knows what is best for her children. If it is something like that, I get it for a month or so, leaving them on. But if it’s just Jen deciding this is what we do, I think she’s placing too much importance on it. Gwen Stefani’s ring is already off, and I think she is hurting just as much as Jen in the divorce as far as both love their husbands very much.
I think Ben’s sticking around this summer maybe to weather the media storm for a bit, but mostly for the kids because come fall, they’ll be in school, he’ll be busy with work, and life will go on…
I don’t think that Ben/Jen will get back together after that, though I do fear that this nanny will continue to manipulating and extorting from Ben.
I also think Dr. Phil, if he were to have her on his show, would call her what she is, a Histrionic Personality, and probably focus on her attention-seeking behaviors and delusions, rather than her “relationship”, whatever it is, with Ben.
@Laura – Oh, I actually wish she would go on Dr. Phil. He would likely call her out in so many ways. I’m thinking it would go something like this:
“So this family entrusted you to care for children, and you thought it was fine to bang the daddy?”
Oh, Christin, wouldn’t that be some great comeuppance TV? Say what you will about Dr. Phil, but he always zeroes in on the real problem of personality-disordered people like this.
And no matter how anyone feels about Ben/Jen, I think we’re all unified on one thing: NO ONE likes the nanny-ho!
This divorce is so ugly and ridiculous. Ben is a philanderer and a douche, but dragging this out in the press when there are kids involved is messed up even if he’s done Jen wrong. Ben isn’t innocent in these PR games either, with his team running to People and making sexist complaints about Jen nagging.
I feel sorry for Ben mainly because he looks so tired, these days. I can’t tell whether he’s just aging or he’s really going through the wringer this year.
I’m glad to see Jennifer seems to be holding up okay. Divorce isn’t easy on anyone, and it’s good for the kids to still be able to see their parents as strong. If both parents are falling apart emotionally, that leaves the kids very scared, because they know they can’t depend on the people who they need to be able to depend on.
I think Diane got it right. He is going to a rehab for a couple of months, so this is his cover up story. Keeping the rings on is silly, but diverts attention.
“…but it’s suspicious to me that there are enough paparazzi in Atlanta that multiple photo agencies had pictures of basically their entire day.”
It does surprise people that Atlanta has become the Hollywood of the east, but it has. There’s a thriving music and television industry in Atlanta and along with that come paparazzi. Whether or not they were hounding the family or family reps called them is a valid question.
As I said above their calling the paparazzi. How did Jen manage to go on the down low for a week in the wake of the split and only was seen on set. Also how did Ben go on the down low in the wake of the nanny scandal and show up in LA then back in Atlanta with no one knowing, unless they are calling the paparazzi themselves.
+1
She is really losing all my goodwill. The first rule is to always be looking to die for soon after a split if you have to see your ex. Not because you want them back but because its good to reinvent yourself at this moment. She is still doing the plain jane walk and I have lost interest.
I wonder how this will turn out for the nanny. Money?
Does anyone know what area they are renting in? I miss Atlanta. It’s such a beautiful area. I loved living there and still go back to visit friends. The humidity and heat this time of year is horrific, though.
Anyone notice in Laineys pics today, that Ben’s right knuckle looks busted and red…..it is one of the pics where he is holding the girls hands and walking through the mall. I don’t believe Nanny is important in his life as she is telling the media. I don’t believe she’s in Georgia, she would be out being papped.
It’s not inconceivable to me that WB is paying Jen for this whole “we’re still a family” PR. it would certainly be in WB’s interest to not have one of their bankable assets look like a complete jerk in front of the whole world….and also in Jen’s continued financial interest to maintain a civil face.
And man, if I could earn a buck from a divorce (apart from any legal entitlement to a settlement), I would play happy families, too. For the sake of my financial security- and that of my kids- I’d smile and wear a meaningless wedding ring, no problemo.
I would prefer a movie deal or two if I were Jen.
Perhaps she will get both?
Just in case Batman doesn’t work out at the box office … these things happen.
How is it I. Jen’s continued financial interest to maintain a civil face?
She not poor and neither is Ben so she doesn’t need the money from WB and to parade her kids around for money is not a good look.
Well, Batman money for Ben is going to be BIG. So if she wants a piece of that and ongoing support, I suppose she’d better play along with the PR and help keep Ben on his game…
And now, this really does make me wonder how much WB has to do with it?
I absolutely agree Neah23. Even before Nannygate all the coparenting stories and pap walks with miserable Ben left a bad taste in my mouth. It sure seems as if they are more concerned with their careers and image than anything else. Seriously they are beyond rich, yet apparently its still not enough for either of them. So much for Jen relating to the midwest mini-van moms. I actually like the both of them and thought they made such a cute family but this all has been way too much.
I really can’t stand this nanny.
She instagrammed that “pap” photo of her in the doorway to her house, the first time it was shown her exiting the house to get to her car, with the designer shades, hair all blown, the long earrings, and she has captioned it, according to E Entertainment. She’s so proud of banging the boss and the fame from it, isn’t she?
“‘She’s just a girl and she’s on fire’ — Alicia Keys,” she captioned the snap.
http://www.etonline.com/news/169675_ben_affleck_ex_nanny_christine_ouzounian_breaks_silence_following_scandal/
She is the affair from hell.
LOL I know.
This is a Lifetime movie waiting to happen. The Nanny from Hell. Come to think of it, I’m sure there’s already been an obsessed nanny movie on there.
She has to keep her name in the media or she will lose the game, I guess.
Wrong caption, it should be “Girl who been fired”
It’s “rein in” not “reign in.”
I can’t believe all the people – women! – who are commenting negatively on Garner’s appearance and attire (‘plain Jane’, horrible shoes etc.) while not mentioning Affleck’s!
Look at him! Sweaty, stained, crumpled and unwashed, wearing faded sweatpants that I would be ashamed to be seen in on laundry day in my own house… yet he’s out in public with the family dressed like that. She, on the other hand, looks perfectly fine for a trip to the market on a hot Atlanta day.
Sheesh, what’s with the double standards?
Thank you!!! I’ve been thinking the same thing – mainly that the Jen criticism is unwarranted. She’s “off duty” and it’s only natural for her to prefer casual, low key attire with minimal make up, comfortable shoes, etc.
When she’s working, she’s paid to look fashionable and fully “made up” and she probably spends hours in the hair and make up chair. I think it’s understandable that she’d want a break from all that but at the same time, she does not look like a “plain Jane”. It takes a confident woman to pull that off and simply not care and an insecure one who never leaves the house without full hair and make up and a contrived, heavily accessorized outfit. Just my 2 cents..
I guess that you missed the first 13 comment when they all talked about Ben looking a hot mess.😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😆😆😆
I agree. To me, her outfits are fine even her shoes. Her style is more like the Gap style. Very casual and laid back. Nothing wrong with it. She is no plain Jane.
YES.
Well, the difference is clear to see. Ben looks like he hadn’t had a shower and clean clothes for days. And his all-matchy grey grey ensemble doesn’t look great. Garner does at least look clean and somewhat put together in a casual way and not like Ben who does the style of “these are the clothes that fell on my lap when I opened the wardrobe”.
I agree with you Kath
The celebrities are dressing down like down to earth folk and the hired help is posing for the paparazzi like a celebrity. Bizarre charade… Will it sell more movie tickets?
I’m kinda thinking Ben’s appearance is more PR- “look how dishevelled he is- this whole thing is pretty hard on the poor guy” and the same with Jen, who conspicuously looks the same as she did before this whole story hit – “hey, look- Jen’s okay!”
She can’t be dressing better than she did BEFORE this scandal – she wouldn’t be showing the “appropriate” reaction to the “destruction” of her family….but she looks no worse. Similarly, he CAN’T be dressing all flashy now, communicates “no remorse”. He basically HAS to look like crap.
I don’t find your point unreasonable. Celebrities put a lot of effort into looks.
I think Jennifer only as far as their marriage has some blame to see her husband so miserable and keep suggesting to work on the marriage. A man who is partially out the door already will find a way out eventually. You can’t force someone to stay with you. Jennifer is a natural beauty however with all her nannies she really does not make any effort at all unless it’s a red carpet event. I just think she didn’t hold his interest at all and she has always seemed far more into him just watch his interviews. He looks less than thrilled anytime Jen was mentioned. He loves his kids for sure the nanny thing was stupid she isn’t even all that but he was looking for a way out. New update he refers to having the chains taken off about Jen LOL. Ben is a free spirit no one will be able to tame that man anyone being with him will have to intrigue him and let him be. Time to take the rings off I kind of think Jen is making them do it for the nanny to see that she still has some control on him and also I believe Jen will be using those kids as control also once he finally splits and is truly moved out. I get the feeling she is controlling to a certain extent.
I agree. I also think this is a message to the nanny (and whatever other side-pieces are out there) that they are still a family.
Anyone else suspecting that the nanny’s fave song is Lady Gaga’s “Papparazzi” and that she might be taking that song a little too seriously? “I’m your greatest fan I”ll follow you until you love me…” (nanny grabs her phone & speed dials the paps)
Affleck is back in LA. So that was a photo op for sure because if he is really a family man he would have stayed in ATL and take care of the kids. He is also looking fine and not the sour face we saw in ATL on Saturday. His birthday is this week so he needed to get the family obligation out of the way to either party or hook up with the nanny.
It was so obvious he needed the PR campaign because of bad press. No one likes that nanny and if Ben really hates her he could make this end but no, he has not.
Great points, Ana.
He stopped in Atlanta for a photo op to repair his image and help his career. So obvious … In Atlanta he looked like a slob to get people to feel sorry for him but in LA he is all cleaned up and looks like he is ready to party. He was also photographed outside the Atlanta rental smoking and drinking and looking sad and I believe all the Atlanta photos were planned by Ben and his team to make him look sympathetic. He is so transparent.
Jen has always been too classy for this asshole.
I agree with you Ana and FWiW, he needs to fixed his PR image. He was attack by netizens and haters even in his instagram account and Facebook page, Twitter and other social media sites. The recent Atlanta pics is for PR purposes only. The delayed of his two other films The Accountant and Live by Night speaks volume. WB would not risk movie flops.
In one of the closeup photos outside the home, his eyes look watery. Maybe it was the smoke, though. Play the role, Ben!
Another site also claims two new nannies were hired, and they had a photo of both (young) women walking together.
The photo was apparently taken over the weekend (the younger daughter has on the same outfit). Of course, the nannies aren’t featured in the family outing photos.
Well at least they aren’t Scientologists. They do have that going for them.
Fwiw, I think the nanny is preggo.
With this nanny you never know. She is like a ticking time bomb.
I don’t think she is even in love with Ben as she claims … she only loves his privileged lifestyle and his money.
I don’t see any reason for him to put up with her unless she is pregnant or has visual evidence, and I’m leaning towards the former.
They just need to help their kids get use to their new routine. Going over daddy’s house spending time with him when he’s not shooting a movie, banging whores, boozing it up, then go home to mommy. Instead of this front they’re putting on.
I think that their wearing their wedding rings could be confusing to the children.
My confusion is why anyone would think that the public wants to see yet another version of Batman – played by Ben, no less – for 3 more movies? How are we supposed to reconcile the current incarnation of Batfleck with whatever he comes up with for his own movies? Ugh!
Giselle isn’t going to be happy with this new photo of nanny on private plane with Tom’s
Superbowl rings on:
http://pagesix.com/2015/08/11/ex-affleck-nanny-took-private-jet-to-vegas-with-ben-and-tom-brady/
Wow. And where did this photo come from? It sure wasn’t from Ben or Tom. She’s putting the pressure on Ben to pay her off big time by releasing yet another photo. Tick-tock, tick-tock. You don’t have much time left, Ben. It’s not long before the interview deal is inked. She has to strike before the public gets bored. Better pay up, Ben.
I wonder how much she got for this photo. Such a hardworking girl. LOL
And not the smartest move by Tom to let her put on those rings! :/
@Jojo. I bet Giselle doesn’t like it Mr. Family Man letting Ben’s nanny mistress/ Jen’s employee play with his Superbowl rings on a trip going to Sin City, knowing Ben is bringing his young nanny there on the down low, sure tarnishes his image a bit.
right on jen don’t let the shrew win or hurt your family in any more ways she is a meaningless
nobody
I don’t know….tons of questions but as mom of 3, this is a good move. Ben will probably never be happy b/c what he is looking for is not how life works. I cannot believe this Ben Affleck is actually putting ANYONE before himself