Real reason Ben Affleck broke his silence to praise his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez in new movie
Ben Affleck is determined to make sure his divorce from Jennifer Lopez doesn’t affect his new movie Unstoppable, or prevent his ex from getting the praise she deserves for her performance in the upcoming film.
The actor, 52, rekindled his romance with the On the Floor singer, 55, in 2021, but fans were left heartbroken when Lopez filed for divorce in August after months of speculation that their two-year marriage had crumbled.
Although the couple is still working out the terms of their divorce, they have been forced to move forward on a professional level after working with co-producer and best friend Matt Damon on Affleck’s new film.
On Sunday, Affleck broke his silence in the wake of their split to praise her “spectacular” performance because he is “adamant” about keeping things civil, insiders told DailyMail.com.
“Ben wants Unstoppable to be a big hit and for JLo to get as much praise as she deserves for it,” the source said.
Ben Affleck is determined to ensure his divorce from Jennifer Lopez doesn’t affect his new film Unstoppable, nor does he want to stop his ex from getting the praise she deserves.
Affleck, 52, praised Lopez, 55, for her “spectacular” performance as Judy Robles in Unstoppable
“Ben doesn’t want their relationship to ruin the buzz around the film and her performance. He wants it to stand alone.”
The insider continued, “He knows he will be asked about Jen during media appearances. He wants to keep it very polite.
‘He really believes she killed him. Ben is a filmmaker and an Oscar winner himself. He knows what works, and he always thought JLo would be incredible.”
A second source claimed that Affleck, whose daughter Violet, 18, remains close to Lopez, is aware that any comment he makes about his ex will undoubtedly make headlines in the coming weeks, but he has no plans to to go into this further.
“Ben clearly has a lot of loose ends with JLo, but he is proud of her performance,” they said. ‘He also knows how much weight his comments carry and if Ben says his ex-wife is good, she must be good too and people will watch the film.
“This is the first and only thing he’s said about her since their divorce, and it’s all he’ll say.”
The source added that both Affleck and his production partner know better than to use any avoidance tactics, continuing, “Make no mistake: This movie is a huge investment for Ben and Matt.
“They can’t comment on a star’s performance if he’s starring in the movie they produced.”
“Ben wants Unstoppable to be a big hit and for JLo to get as much credit as she deserves for it,” a source told DailyMail.com
The source continued, “Ben doesn’t want their relationship to ruin the buzz about the movie and her performance. He wants it to stand on its own.”
The two-time Oscar winner made the comments in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, where he was joined by Damon and reigning Best Actor Cillian Murphy, 48, who stars in Small Things Like These, another Artists Equity production.
He said “Jennifer is spectacular” in the role of Judy Robles in the sports drama, directed by William Goldenberg.
The film will hit theaters on December 6 and also stars Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle and Jharrel Jerome, who plays champion Arizona State University amateur wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg.
Affleck has chosen to remain silent following the breakup of his marriage, but Lopez provided new insight into their relationship during a recent conversation with comedian Nikki Glasser for Interview magazine.
She described her heartbreak as “sad” and “scary” in a risqué shoot with the publication.
The singer and actress, who did not name Affleck, added that she isn’t “looking for anyone” right now and suggested that her ex didn’t embrace all of her flaws.
Lopez’s divorce filing on August 20 came after months of speculation that the A-list couple was on the rocks.
She filed the complaint on the two-year anniversary of their wedding at Affleck’s estate outside Savannah, Georgia.
Affleck and his Artists Equity production partner Matt Damon, 54, know that ‘they can’t comment on a star’s performance if they’re starring in the film they produced’
Lopez stars alongside When They See Us star Jharrel Jerome who plays amateur wrestler Anthony Robles, born with one leg (pictured together at the Los Angeles premiere)
Lopez and Affleck made headlines in 2021 when they rekindled their romance, nearly 17 years after calling off their original engagement and postponing their wedding in September 2003.
In April 2021, reports surfaced that the musician and the Oscar-winning director reconnected following Lopez’s split from former MLB star Alex Rodriguez.
The couple confirmed their relationship on Instagram in July and returned to the red carpet at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, then exchanged vows at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.
Lopez is mother to 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, 56, which lasted from 2004 to 2014.
After Affleck left the $68 million mansion he shared with Lopez and moved into his own bachelor pad in Brentwood, California, friends feared he might relapse due to the strain of such public division.
DailyMail.com reported at the time that Lopez turned to the actor’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, for help as she was one of the few people who could offer advice.
The couple, who were married from 2005 to 2018, share Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12.
Lopez provided new insight into their relationship during a recent meeting with comedian Nikki Glasser for Interview magazine, describing her heartbreak as “sad” and “scary”
Affleck was reportedly upset by the news that people feared he would relapse after an extended period of sobriety.
“Ben tries to avoid the news but it upset him that people thought he was relapsing because he wasn’t,” a source told DailyMail.com last month.
‘Like any alcoholic, Ben wakes up with one goal in mind. To stay sober that day.”
They added that the The “tough” consequences of their breakup helped show him how important it is to never go again endangering his sobriety.