Ben Affleck is desperately trying to erase Kick Kennedy from his life, fearing their connection will negatively impact his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. He is also worried about his association with Donald Trump, according to insiders.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the 52-year-old Oscar winner denied reports that he is dating the 36-year-old daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following his split from the 55-year-old Love Don’t Cost a Thing singer. He even questioned whether the two knew each other.
The denial came after multiple sources claimed that Ben and Kick were “dating” and had previously dated before Ben rekindled his relationship with JLo.
And now sources have told DailyMail.com that Ben has put his ties to Kick on hold over concerns it could harm his divorce proceedings and fears he could be linked to Trump after Kick’s father endorsed him.
“Ben shouldn’t have said anything,” an insider said. “He tried to erase Kick from his existence, and that just wasn’t fair to her, or to anyone who knows her.
Ben Affleck is desperately trying to ‘erase’ Kick Kennedy from his life amid fears their connection will negatively impact his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, sources claim
Insiders claim that Ben, 52, has been “hanging out” with Kick, the daughter of RFK Jr., 36, in recent weeks.
He tries to play the “I don’t know her” card, but he doesn’t realize that they’re not the only two people in the world who know they used to have something, or that they have something again.
“He fears this will have implications for his divorce and, even though there was no overlap, it wasn’t the right move to say he didn’t even know her.”
Another insider claimed that Ben “doesn’t like the interference that comes with fame, like having his name in the news all the time. And he didn’t like being mentioned at the DNC either.”
They continued: ‘And now, as for Kick, he’s concerned about his possible connection to Trump, now that her father has supported him.
Given the current political climate, Ben is putting the brakes on Kick.
“But not just because of the Trump connection. He’s also worried about what JLo would think.”
On Tuesday, Ben’s spokesperson Jen Allen told PEOPLE that he is not dating Kick.
She said, ‘There’s no truth in it. I don’t know if they even know each other.’
Ben and Kick previously had a brief fling before he rekindled his relationship with Jennifer, 55, in 2021 (pictured in Arlington, VA in June 2018)
While it’s also unclear how Ben and Kick first met, RFK Jr.’s daughter has an interest in the entertainment industry — she’s also a philanthropist and activist
On Wednesday, sources claimed that Jennifer was “very angry” with Ben over rumors that he was “hanging out” with Kick again in recent weeks.
“It really hit her hard. She’s very upset and disappointed in Ben,” they told People.
Last week, insiders revealed to DailyMail.com that Kick and Ben “enjoyed their time together,” but that the writer “keeps quiet” about their relationship because she doesn’t want to be seen as a “mistress.”
“Ben and Kick had a fling before he got back together with JLo,” the source began. “They met because Ben is from Boston and if you live in Boston, the Kennedy family is royalty.”
The insider continued, “So when he started hanging out with Kick, he really thought he was in the Kennedy family. But she was too young and not ready for anything serious.”
The source stressed that the couple’s romance never overlapped with the actor’s newfound relationship with Jennifer. They continued, “They didn’t have an affair during his marriage, but it’s interesting to Kick’s friends that once the divorce was finalized, Ben suddenly found himself hanging out with an old friend whose family he considers royalty.”
As for how Kick views the actor, the insider said, “She thinks he’s intelligent and totally her style, but she’s extremely reserved because she doesn’t want to be seen as a mistress.
Sources tell DailyMail.com that Ben is concerned about his association with Donald Trump via Kick
Kick poses for a photo with her father Robert Kennedy Jr. and stepmother Cheryl Hines in 2015
“She’s not a mistress. She’s not like JLo at all and she likes to keep her private life private.”
The source explained that Kick isn’t too worried about what Jennifer might think of Ben’s decision to reconnect. They added, “Kick is crazy about Ben and honestly doesn’t care what JLo thinks.
“When they started dating, he and JLo were separated. He made that very clear to her. JLo calling it quits as April only confirmed it.”
The source continued, “They’re both taking it day by day, but so far she’s enjoying spending time with him. They’re hanging out at the Beverly Hills Hotel because it offers a level of celebrity privacy that you can’t find anywhere else.
“The fact that people say she looks like Jen Garner is flattering to her because she thinks Jen is beautiful.”
Meanwhile, a second source confirmed that the two simply wanted to get to know each other better, stating: ‘Ben has been spending time with Kick, but nothing has happened yet.
“They’re friends and they enjoy hanging out together and it’s true that she doesn’t really know what JLo would think about her spending time with Ben. He’s a great guy and they’re getting to know each other better.”
While it’s also unclear how Ben and Kick met, RFK Jr.’s daughter has an interest in the entertainment industry.
Kick, born Kathleen Alexandra, is an actress who has had small roles in several television shows and films, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring her stepmother Cheryl Hines, 58, who married RFK Jr. in 2014.
Her most recent role was as a “lazy tourist” in 2021’s Fear and Loathing in Aspen.
She studied history and theater at Stanford University in California.
The actress is active on social media and has 17,100 followers on Instagram. However, she has not posted anything there since August 24, 2023, when she appeared with a Saker Falcon.
She has been in contact with other celebrities, such as Taylor Swift, who dated her brother Conor in 2012.
According to her IMDB page, she is an actress and writer, as well as a philanthropist and activist.
Kick’s mother is Emily Ruth Black, who was married to RFK Jr. from 1982 to 1994, when he married Mary Richardson. They divorced in 2010. She committed suicide two years later. Kick has five other siblings.
After months of rumors of a divorce, Jennifer officially called the plug on her marriage to Ben when she filed for divorce on August 20.
She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split and set April 26, 2024 as the official date of the divorce.
Ben and the The Wedding Planner actress first started dating in 2002 after bonding on the set of the film Gigli. They soon became engaged.
But in 2004, just before they were to become husband and wife, they called it quits.
They both married others – she tied the knot with Marc Anthony in 2004, while Ben tied the knot with Jennifer Garner in 2005 – but after splitting, they reunited in 2021.
The superstar couple first tied the knot in July 2022 at a Las Vegas chapel, followed by a larger and lavish ceremony at his Georgia estate the following month.
It was recently revealed that Ben and Jennifer had already ‘planned’ their divorce before Jennifer officially filed for it.