“Both Jen and Ben want all their kids to be happy, regardless of the issues they are facing in their marriage.”
Amid rumors that they’re headed for divorce, reports claim Ben Affleck is wary of how to navigate Jennifer Lopez’s close relationship with his eldest daughter, Violet.
Since May, there’s been much speculation about Ben and Jennifer’s marriage, with insiders claiming the pair are living separate lives as they “figure out what each of them is going through and wants.”
The couple — who rekindled their 2000s romance in 2021 — haven’t publicly commented on the rumors. However, they recently bolstered split speculation by putting their shared home on the market for $68 million.
Ben and Jennifer haven’t been seen together in a few weeks now, and they notably spent their second wedding anniversary on July 16 on opposite sides of the country — with J.Lo in the Hamptons while Ben was seen in California.
However, one person recently spotted with Jen in the Hamptons was Ben’s 18-year-old daughter, Violet, who appears very close to her stepmom.
For context, Ben shares three children with Jennifer Garner: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. Meanwhile, J.Lo shares twins Max and Emme with Marc Anthony.
On July 13, J.Lo posted a video on her Instagram story showing her, Violet, and a friend enjoying the sun while traveling in a car. The next day, the pair were also seen walking arm in arm as they headed to a restaurant in Southampton.
Their bond is seemingly a testament to how well Ben and J.Lo have blended their families. However, amid their alleged marital woes, a source claims that the kids’ close relationships with Jen have become a concern for Ben as they navigate the future.
This week, a source told Entertainment Tonight that Ben and J.Lo “are trying to make this transition as easy as possible and be gentle on their children” and “don’t want to make things more upsetting than they already have been.”
Highlighting Violet, the insider claimed that she and her stepmom have “gotten close” over the years and that “maintaining that closeness is important to everyone.”
“Ben certainly doesn’t want to cause any strain between Jen and Violet, and he is in support of them spending time together,” the source continued. “It’s a little tricky for him, but both Jen and Ben want all their kids to be happy, regardless of the issues they are facing in their marriage.”
Notably, the report also referred to the recent listing of Ben and J.Lo’s home, where all five of their children once lived under the same roof. The insider said the couple are “trying to sell their home sooner than later and want to move forward.”
“They are hoping to have clear, new, and healthy directions for themselves and for their families,” they continued. “They are trying to be strong, but it is a sad time for everyone, and it is difficult to have to deal with everything playing out publicly.”