Jennifer Garner and her partner John Miller are working to get to a “better place” after the actress’ attempts to help ex-husband Ben Affleck and his split from Jennifer Lopez caused a “rift” in their own relationship, sources close to the pair claim.
In the months before Lopez, 55, officially filed for divorce from the Argo actor, 52, Garner had taken on the role of “marriage counselor” for the troubled couple, with some friends fearing she had been forced to “play mediator.”
The role seems to have also irritated Miller, who understands that they have children, but apparently does not like “sharing” her.
“John doesn’t like sharing Jen and there is a rift between her and Ben,” a source exclusively told DailyMail.com.
The source added that the Cali Group CEO isn’t afraid of the former couple rekindling a romantic connection, but has simply had issues with the amount of energy Garner has put into her ex.
Jennifer Garner and her partner, John Miller, are working to overcome tension caused by the actress’ attempts to help Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s marriage, sources close to the couple say.
DailyMail.com had previously reported how Garner, 52, had been acting as a “counselor” to the couple as she desperately tried to help them sort out their issues (pictured in 2013).
“He wishes it weren’t like that because he understands they’re a family, but it affects him like it affects anyone,” the source continued.
‘John isn’t afraid to get back together, but it’s been difficult to deal with his support for Ben during his split from JLo.’
Miller now hopes to put the recent saga behind her and focus on the work she needs to do on her own relationship.
“John is looking forward to Ben and JLo breaking up so he can focus on Jen,” the source said. “The bumps that have arisen lately seem to be smoothing out.”
“Both Jen and John have that hope. It’s just going to take a little time. They both want to be in a better place, but something needs to be done.”
The source stressed that the couple “have not split up” and added that “friends feel they will be together for a long time. They are very private.”
They also noted that Miller’s patience over the past few months has only strengthened Garner’s feelings about the relationship.
“Ben and Jen’s relationship is different, and while that bothers John, Jen actually likes that it’s different because that’s what attracted her to John in the first place,” they said.
Lopez officially filed for divorce from the Gone Girl actor on Tuesday night following months of speculation and just hours before what would have marked their second wedding anniversary.
Prior to the filing, Affleck had been photographed spending a significant amount of time with Garner, who had been doing her best to ensure the couple’s marital problems did not affect her ex-husband’s sobriety.
“John has no fears about them getting back together, but it’s been difficult to deal with her supporting Ben during his split from JLo,” a source said.
Source added: ‘John doesn’t like sharing Jen and there is a rift between her and Ben’
DailyMail.com previously reported that Garner felt like a “pawn” in the battle between the estranged couple.
“Jen feels a bit like she’s been used as a pawn in JLo’s attempt to repair her marriage,” the source said. “She doesn’t think it was intentional. But when Jen realized her ex-husband’s marriage was beyond saving, her only concern was Ben’s well-being and sobriety.”
The source explained that the actress’ close friends weren’t too impressed with the way Lopez leaned on Affleck’s ex-wife despite how complicated things were for them as a trio.
“She was caught in the middle and her friends think, no matter how you look at it, that a man’s ex-wife should never have to play mediator in a divorce from his new wife,” the source said.
“Especially since his wife was such a sweetheart and was compared to Jen during their 13 years of marriage. She’s happy that Ben is happy now.”
Garner and Affleck divorced in 2018 after 13 years of marriage, but have remained close as they continue to amicably co-parent their three children (pictured in 2014).
The source continued: “He understands that they are a family, but it affects him like it affects anyone.”
Earlier this summer, DailyMail.com revealed that Garner had made a conscious decision to step away from the “circus” surrounding Affleck and Lopez because the situation had begun to dredge up “painful” memories for her.
Now, the star is primarily focused on co-parenting with Affleck, who has battled alcoholism and gambling addiction for decades, while dealing with life after his most recent marriage, but will remain friends with Lopez.
The couple first got engaged in late 2002, but broke up a year later before calling it quits for good in 2004.
In the intervening years, J-Lo has married and divorced Marc Anthony, with whom she has 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme.
The couple, affectionately known as “Bennifer,” reunited in 2021 before tying the knot in two ceremonies the following year.
Affleck later married Garner, with whom he has children: Violet, 18, Finn, 15 (formerly known as Seraphina) and Samuel, 12. They divorced in 2018.
Affleck and Lopez first sparked split rumors when they went 47 days without being seen together earlier this year.
Speculation about a possible split increased even more when they barely spent any time together during the summer.
Lopez and Affleck, 52, first got engaged in late 2002 but broke up a year later before calling it quits for good in 2004.
The couple reunited in 2021 and tied the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony the following July, before holding a lavish wedding at their Georgia estate in August 2022 (pictured).
Lopez had also walked the red carpet solo at the Met Gala in May, which was also when she canceled her world tour “to be with her family.”
It was later reported that Affleck had moved out of the $60 million home he shared with the On the Floor singer.
The actor later moved into a rented property in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, near Garner’s home.
Lopez was spotted house hunting in Beverly Hills without Affleck in May, and again this month.
Their divorce marks Lopez’s fourth failed marriage and Affleck’s second.