Jennifer Garner felt like a 'pawn' in Ben Affleck and JLo's marriage as she was forced to play mediator
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's divorce drama unfolds, new reports state Jennifer Garner reportedly felt like a "pawn" caught in the crossfire of their tumultuous marriage, as per sources.
Friends close to the actor's ex-wife believe she was unnecessarily "put in the middle" of their struggles in recent months.
Jennifer Garner was 'put in the middle' amid Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's marital struggles
JLo filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on Tuesday, August 20, on the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding ceremony, ending months of speculation about the status of their relationship.
In the days leading to the divorce filing, the actor was seen spending considerable time with his ex-wife, Garner, who reportedly had previously stepped into the role of "marriage counselor" for the troubled couple.
According to an exclusive Daily Mail report, one of Garner's friends said, "Jen feels slightly used as a pawn in JLo's bid to repair her marriage," though she doesn’t believe it was intentional.
When Garner realized that her ex-husband's marriage to JLo was beyond repair, her primary concern shifted to Ben's well-being and sobriety.
An insider dished that the close friends of the '13 Going On 30' actress were dismayed by how Lopez relied on her, despite the complex dynamics involved.
"She was put in the middle," the source told Daily Mail, adding, "Her friends think - no matter how you look at it - a man's ex-wife should never have to play mediator in a divorce from his new wife. Especially when said wife was a big love who Jen was compared to throughout their 13-year marriage. She is happy that Ben is now happy."
Earlier this summer, Garner chose to step back from the "circus" surrounding Affleck and Lopez, as it brought up "painful" memories for her.
Now, she is focused on co-parenting with Affleck and supporting him as he navigates life after his latest divorce while maintaining a friendly relationship with JLo.
The source added, "In the end, Jen Garner always has Ben's back and although she does consider JLo a friend now, no one sees this blossoming further. They will likely not be hanging out and going on bike rides together in the Hamptons."
Jennifer Garner's BF John Miller didn't want her to 'play babysitter'
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who share children Violet, 18, Finn (formerly Seraphina), 15, and Samuel, 12, tied the knot in 2005, before announcing they were divorcing in 2015. The pair officially filed for divorce in April 2017 and it was finalized in 2018.
Since then, the actress has been linked to John Miller, the CEO of CaliBurger. The 46-year-old businessman was apparently frustrated with Garner's involvement in trying to "fix" Affleck's and JLo's marriage.
"John wants nothing more than for Ben to be okay," told an insider to DailyMail in June. They added, "But it isn’t his girlfriend’s responsibility to play babysitter to him. That’s for Ben to figure out on his own and for his wife to handle. It isn’t Jen’s responsibility, and he has told her this."
Recent reports state that Garner and Miller are on a "break" as the Affleck-Lopez marriage drama has put a strain on their relationship.
A source told Life & Style, "Jen’s had so much going on with Ben, it just took a toll," the insider explains. "And she and John ended up going their separate ways. It wasn’t her choice." It's been nearly four months since the couple have been photographed together.
