Jennifer Garner continues to play a significant role in the life of her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, often stepping in to support him through his personal struggles.
On June 29, 2005, Jennifer married Affleck, who would go on to become a constant source of turmoil in her life. Despite their split in 2015 and subsequent divorce three years later, Garner, now 52, has remained a steadfast presence, helping Affleck navigate his ongoing battles with addiction, multiple stints in rehab, and a series of failed relationships, including a highly publicized affair with the family nanny. It seems Garner is always on cleanup duty when it comes to Ben.
In 2018, before taking Affleck to rehab, Garner was photographed driving him through a Jack In The Box drive-thru, where he appeared disheveled and helpless, sitting in the backseat like a child needing care. This poignant image underscored the dysfunction in their dynamic. During Affleck's rehab stay, Garner worked tirelessly behind the scenes to save his then-upcoming basketball movie, "The Way Back." Director Gavin O'Connor recalled how Garner called him, pleading not to pull the plug on the movie because Affleck had brought a basketball to rehab, showing his commitment to the project. Garner has often been his personal first responder, providing unconditional love and support despite the public embarrassment he has caused her.
Affleck himself has admitted that his marriage to Garner contributed to his drinking. In a 2021 interview with Howard Stern, he revealed that feeling trapped in his marriage led him to drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, a temporary escape that ultimately proved futile. Affleck later rekindled his romance with Jennifer Lopez, whom he had first been engaged to in the early 2000s. They married twice in 2022, once in Vegas and then in a grand ceremony on his Georgia estate, with Lopez's three wedding gowns designed by Ralph Lauren and the event featured in Vogue. However, their marital bliss was short-lived, with Affleck soon realizing the relationship was untenable. According to Page Six, Affleck viewed the past two years with Lopez as a fever dream, acknowledging the relationship's temporary nature.
As yet another marriage crumbled, Affleck turned to a familiar source of comfort: Jennifer Garner. He was recently spotted looking distressed while spending time with her on Father's Day, rather than with Lopez. Garner's continued interventions on Affleck's behalf have reportedly caused tension in her relationship with her long-term boyfriend, John Miller. A source told the Daily Mail that while Miller understands Affleck's struggles, he doesn't believe Garner should be the one to resolve issues between Affleck and Lopez.
Despite these challenges, Garner, often regarded as a saint in Hollywood, continues to provide a safe haven for her ex-husband, likely for the sake of their three children. In a candid 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, Garner expressed that she didn't marry the movie star but the man, and she would make the same choice again. She remains the best thing that ever happened to Affleck, who, like many troubled individuals, struggles to accept the goodness in his life.
