Ben Affleck's recent ringless appearance in a photo has fueled rumors of marital trouble with Jennifer Lopez. As their rekindled romance encounters fresh challenges, including separate living arrangements and public scrutiny, the couple grapples with the shadows of past traumas.
On May 18, TMZ shared a photo of Ben Affleck inside a car without his wedding ring on his left finger while adjusting a sun visor. This ringless sighting has sparked rumors that the movie star and his wife of nearly two years, Jennifer "JLo" Lopez, might be heading for a split.
One netizen remarked, "Kinda not surprised. They both need to just learn to be happy on their own." Another stated succinctly, "Sorry but I am not surprised at all!"
The speculation about Ben's missing wedding ring added fuel to the fire, prompting another to comment, "Oh no not his wedding ring," while some assumed, "Soooo maybe it's NOT a rumor," hinting at deeper issues.
A few users pondered Affleck's motives, with one asking, "Isn't he showing that hand up on purpose tho," Amidst the speculations, someone suggested that Ben "should have stayed with Jennifer Garner," implying a preference for his previous relationship. However, the reactions weren't all doom and gloom.
One commenter expressed a sad viewpoint between JLo and Ben, saying, "I just hope and pray that she takes a lot of time out for herself and stop running into things that she doesn't need to do especially getting married soon as you come out of a relationship.
The commenter added, "I hope Ben is all right and he gets passed all of this and life goes on for him in a better way so I wish them both the very best of luck in life."
Another fan held onto hope, stating, "I certainly hope not...I really pray they stay together for the long run they really love each Other I'm sure!!!!" Finally, a voice of reason emerged amidst the frenzy, advising, "Leave these people alone! Gosh! Maybe he took it off to have cleaned or resized?"
However, the story took a twist on May 19 when another photo surfaced, showing Ben wearing his wedding ring again as he drove his car in Los Angeles.
These photos appeared shortly after Ben and JLo were seen together in public for the first time in 47 days on May 17. They were spotted in a parking lot, with JLo carrying a bouquet of flowers while Ben held some papers. The couple attended an event for Ben’s children, which was also attended by the actor's ex-wife, Jennifer.
Later that evening, Ben was spotted picking up JLo and her daughter, Emme Muñiz, outside a school. Ben leaned over the car's center console to open the door for JLo, who settled into the front seat, and Emme got into the back. With a serious expression, Ben then drove away from the school.
This sighting marked a rare public appearance for the couple, as the last time paparazzi snapped photos of Ben and JLo was on March 30, when they were seen holding hands in New York City. Fans have noted several other questionable situations involving Bennifer since then.
From May to April, JLo stayed in New York to promote her upcoming movie on Netflix called "Atlas." She was also there to prepare for and attend the Met Gala as a co-chair, without Ben.
While his wife was busy in New York, Ben was on the West Coast reportedly filming his upcoming movie, "The Accountant 2." He also attended Tom Brady's comedy roast on May 5, without JLo.
Like they did concerning the news about Ben's Brentwood solo living, social media users have weighed in on the fact that the married couple have not been seen supporting each other at momentous events.
Speaking on JLo's disposition during her big night at the Met, a Facebooker highlighted, "She looked super stressed and tired at the met gala I figured it was [...] her tour rehearsals and filming … Maybe it was this 😳 I root for them." Someone else said, "Agree! She looked awful, stressed and strained. Did not look herself at all."
Another Facebooker stated, "I thought the same. Something seemed off." Further adding to the public's concern about the couple, Ben was spotted on another solo outing last week in Los Angeles. Reportedly, he had dinner there with his friend, Sean Bailey, former president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production.
Meanwhile, JLo reportedly went house hunting with her friend, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas. They were photographed leaving a luxury residence in Beverly Hills. However, whether or not the excursion was indeed for JLo's benefit or Goldsmith-Thomas', remains unknown.
Although JLo and Ben's recent activities without each other seem to hint at a potential split on the horizon, the matter is still speculative. Neither party has confirmed nor denied the dissolution of their marriage. However, this does not take away from the fact that there have certainly been signs of tension in their relationship.
Apart from the recent updates, JLo appeared to be cryptically hinting that her marriage was on the rocks as early as March. The "Marry Me" actress liked a post on Instagram that was about relationships.
The post showed a carousel of infographics that explain different reasons why people can't forge healthy relationships with individuals who lack certain traits, like "integrity," "emotional safety," "respect," "communication skills," and decisiveness.
"You can't build a relationship with someone who is disconnected from themselves [...] Getting in a relationship is the easy part. Nurturing & fostering it is a different story. After all, love is not a feeling, it's action ❤️," penned Lenna Marsak, the author of the post.
Why JLo decided to like the carousel is unclear, but one can only guess that it might have had something to do with her own situation. After all, the musician has been known not to hold her tongue back when it comes to expressing herself and letting people know how she feels.
Although she has yet to speak on the breakup rumors, JLo has been candid about experiencing feelings of anxiety when she got back together with Ben. She once admitted to having PTSD as a result of their initial romance.
The 54-year-old confessed that she and Ben still had emotional scars from their first romance before they got married. Years before tying the knot last year, they became a Hollywood "It" couple after embarking on a romantic relationship in the early 2000s.
Their relationship was so popular that many people in public spheres referred to them by their couple's name: Bennifer. Unfortunately, JLo and Ben did not make it down the aisle despite getting engaged.
However, they rekindled their romance in 2021 and went on to marry in Las Vegas in 2022. Although the couple was back on solid ground, prior to the arrival of these new split rumors, last year, JLo confessed, "We both have PTSD."
The couple's marriage has been a point of criticism and since they tied the knot, many people expressed their predictions that the couple will not "last." Of their marriage, one social media user said, "It'll end in divorce."
Although most people had negative things to say about the longevity of Ben and JLo's marriage, others showed support for the couple. In this regard, one fan expressed, "I'm very happy for them." Another fan swooned, "Love them two!"
The emotional scars from their first romantic go-around were exacerbated by the unprecedented media coverage and public scrutiny that plagued their early romance.
Thus, naturally, given that this part of their lives was brought into the spotlight again with JLo's "This Is Me...Now" album and accompanying film, the couple couldn't help but feel nervous about having to relive those memories.
However, Jennifer Lopez and Ben refused to let their current romance be overtaken and overshadowed by what happened between them in the past. Despite the pain they experienced, she had previously declared that they were mature enough to handle the situation.
