How Jennifer Garner plans to fulfill Ben Affleck’s Thanksgiving request after Jennifer Lopez divorce
Jennifer Garner was on hand to help her ex-husband Ben Affleck cope with his failed marriage – and now the actress is once again stepping in to ensure his Thanksgiving is ‘drama-free’ after a very public divorce.
The newly single actor, 52, who split from Jennifer Lopez, 55, in August, is taking a break from filming his new movie with Matt Damon to spend the day with Garner, their three children and her boyfriend John Miller .
Garner will make sure the vacation is as “easy as possible” so her ex can focus on their children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12.
“Ben and Jen are looking forward to today and Ben expects a relaxing day of food and football before getting back to work on the film,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
“Thanksgiving is all about freedom from drama when it comes to Ben. It will be low-key, just good vibes and Jen plans to make today as easy as possible.”
A second insider said he was adamant that nothing would get in the way of the “meaningful holiday,” which will be celebrated at Garner’s home with Miller, whom she has been dating on and off since 2018.
Jennifer Garner steps in to ensure ex-husband Ben Affleck has a ‘drama-free’ Thanksgiving with their three children after very public split from Jennifer Lopez
Newly single Affleck, 52, is determined to focus his attention on his children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 (pictured), whom he shares with Garner, also 52
The businessman had previously expressed grievances about her involvement in Affleck’s marital problems with Lopez, but there is now “nothing but love and appreciation” between them all.
“Thanksgiving is such a meaningful holiday for them to spend together before the chaos of the Christmas season hits,” the source said.
‘Jen’s boyfriend is often involved and there is never a problem as they all have nothing but love and appreciation for each other.
“And yes, Jen Garner and the kids are cooking Thanksgiving dinner with no outside help.”
Affleck, who spent last Thanksgiving with Lopez, will no doubt be on hand to comfort Garner who announced the heartbreaking news that her nine-year-old golden retriever Birdie had passed away.
The actress paid tribute to her beloved pet, which she bought shortly after her 2015 divorce from Affleck.
“She lived a happy dog’s life and is now playing the role she was born to play: angel girl,” she told her Instagram followers on Wednesday. “It is a gift to love and be loved by a creature like Birdie the Doggie.”
Garner’s plans for Thanksgiving come a week after DailyMail.com reported that tensions were brewing between her and Lopez, despite the former taking on the role of “marriage counselor” during Affleck’s divorce from the singer.
An insider exclusively told DailyMail.com that the actor doesn’t want anything to get in the way of the “meaningful holiday that will be celebrated at Garner’s home (pictured together in 2018).
“Jen’s boyfriend John Miller often gets involved and there’s never a problem because they all have nothing but love and appreciation for each other,” the insider continued (photo Miller)
Sources said at the time that she has now chosen to distance herself from the On the Floor hitmaker and does not want to have any “communication” with her “unless it has to do with the kids.”
“Her friends think she shouldn’t have let herself get so involved in helping JLo fix her marriage to Ben,” the source said.
Especially considering how Jen felt towards JLo at times during their own wedding. Jen is too nice and really wanted to help, so she tried.”
Earlier this year, DailyMail.com was told that Miller was fed up with Garner seeing it as her responsibility to help ‘fix’ her ex-husband’s beleaguered marriage.
“Especially considering how Jen felt towards JLo at times during their own wedding. Jen is too nice and really wanted to help, so she tried.”
“John wants nothing more than for Ben to do well, but it’s not his girlfriend’s responsibility to play babysitter for him,” an insider said at the time.
‘Ben has to find that out for himself and let his wife find out. It’s not Jen’s responsibility, and he told her this.”
They added that Affleck was aware of being a “burden” and tried to avoid talking about his marital breakdown with Garner.
Garner and Affleck notably married in 2005, but their divorce was finalized in 2018 after 13 years of marriage.
Affleck reconciled with his ex Lopez in 2022, but she filed for divorce in August after two years of marriage.
Last month, she broke her silence about their split during a conversation with Interview magazine – and described the divorce as “sad” and “scary.”
‘It feels lonely, unknown, scary. It feels sad. It feels desperate,” the hitmaker said when asked what it was like to “be alone.”
“But if you sit in those feelings and say, ‘These things aren’t going to kill me,’ it’s like I’m capable of joy and happiness on my own.
‘Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t look for happiness in other people. I must have happiness within myself.
“I used to say I’m a happy person, but I was still looking for something to fill someone else, and it’s like, ‘No, I’m actually good.'”