Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck: The Secret to Their Post-Divorce Friendship

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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck weren’t intentionally modeling post-divorce success, but they seem to have become just that.

For about a decade, these actors had been married, but they revealed their separation and intention to divorce in June 2015. Lately, they’ve appeared very comfortable together, leading many to speculate that they might be considering reconciliation.

Previously, there had been instances where expectations ran high for a comeback from this dynamic duo, Ben and Jennifer, who, when news of their separation hit, were already seen as emphasizing the value of unity by fleeing to the Bahamas with their kids ahead of time.

Which, from the outside, can still look a lot like two people in love.

Affleck and Garner, parents of Violet (19), Seraphina (16), and Samuel (13), may be former spouses, but they are exceptionally supportive and close exes who have navigated many challenges to reach this point in their post-marital relationship.

52-year-old Affleck, on more than one occasion, has expressed his gratitude for having a fantastic co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner. In a conversation with GQ magazine in January, he praised her as ‘wonderful’, ‘great’ and someone with whom he works well.

In more current times, Garner, who will be celebrating her 53rd birthday on April 17 (by the way, she has been in a relationship with John Miller since 2018), hasn’t shared too many thoughts about this particular subject.

However, she admitted that her viewpoint on what she retains with Affleck compared to what was taken away during their divorce has changed.

In 2021, she shared with The Hollywood Reporter that when her children eventually get married, they will dance – a fact she is now certain of. This was a dream she had expressed back in 2016 to Vanity Fair, where she lamented that the joy of dancing with the love of her life at her daughter’s wedding had not come to pass. She now looks forward to boogalooing and having a fantastic time, no longer fretting about it.

Later on, it became evident that Garner prioritized her family above all else, and she was willing to go to great lengths – like taking Affleck to rehab in 2018 – for the sake of their children.

In a 2016 conversation with Vanity Fair, her first interview following their split, she emphasized that the children were the most important thing. They shared the same vision for them, regardless of how she was feeling personally. If her kids showed such unconditional love towards someone, then she would naturally be friends with that person.

Affleck, meanwhile, has been singing Garner’s praises in the parenting arena from the beginning.

In 2016, the Oscar-winning star expressed her admiration for Jen to TopMob News, stating, “Jen is truly extraordinary as a mother.” Regarding their children, she emphasized, “We always strive to give our best and prioritize them above all else.

In the year 2019, he honored both Garner and his mother, Chris Anne Boldt, on Mother’s Day. He referred to them as “two remarkable women who have taught me the essence of love.

In 2020, Affleck shared with People magazine, “Once you have children with someone, the bond is eternal…Our marriage didn’t succeed, which is tough. We both feel strongly that it’s essential for kids to witness their parents showing respect and getting along, whether they remain together or not.

However, despite some speculation about why they can’t seem to rekindle their relationship, Affleck’s starring role in “Gone Girl” suggests that his past with his ex is firmly in the past.

In a December 2021 interview with Howard Stern, Affleck admitted that his marriage had broken down. He emphasized that the person he married is someone he still loves and respects, but they are no longer suited to be together. Despite facing challenges such as tension, disagreements over custody, difficult moments, and anger, their relationship was always founded on mutual respect.

In the end, he didn’t wish for the dynamics within their home prior to the divorce to serve as a blueprint for how our children perceive a marriage.

Keep in mind, when he spoke to Stern, Affleck had rekindled his relationship with ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, demonstrating that anything could happen. Nevertheless, they tied the knot in July 2022, but Lopez filed for divorce two years later.

But on the bright side, Garner-Affleck shippers had their raison d’être back. 

In the past, Garner had cheered for other famous ex-couples. As she expressed in an interview with Vanity Fair in 2016, when Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt split, she was eagerly hoping for some news that they might reunite again.

Regardless of shared events like joint graduations, school plays, holidays, or paintball games, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner may never rekindle their romantic relationship. However, the manner in which they’ve navigated this phase of life for the sake of their children has consistently earned admiration.

For more proof that all is not ever really lost, see more of the friendliest celebrity exes:

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but feel like I’m being toyed with. They keep telling us they’ll never reunite, yet here we are, witnessing birthday parties, warm hugs, and even acting out a steamy scene in a star-studded reading of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It’s as if the once golden Hollywood couple is daring us to believe that they’re truly over.

It’s quite a feat to show up on your ex’s talk show and give him a tough time, as Sarah did when she appeared on Jimmy’s stage to discuss her latest show, I Love You, America, and his wife, Molly Kimmel. “That’s not fair!” she joked. “She gets the updated, woke Jimmy. I had ‘Man Show’ Jimmy.

 

To be honest, I’ve got to admit that even now, I’m still grappling with their breakup more than they probably are. You see, when I heard about Chris Pratt tying the knot with Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2019, I wished I could officiate their wedding. In fact, I went as far as sending them a gift after the birth of their daughter Lyla in August 2020. Excited for Jack to become an older brother, sources confirmed that Anna was incredibly supportive.

Despite their messy breakup more than four years ago, the HGTV stars have managed to thrive in two areas: raising children Taylor and Brayden, and transforming dilapidated houses into dream homes for others. They continue to excel in these ventures.

In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the rocker referred to his ex-partner as his “best friends,” suggesting that they still view each other as family. Lenny described their situation as a “big happy family.” Despite their divorce and Lenny’s subsequent marriage to another partner (Jason Momoa), who Zoe wed before their 2020 separation, the bond between them remains strong. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when people work at maintaining relationships.

After their split in 2015, the parents of Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel have achieved what’s known as the conscious uncoupling trio: They take vacations together, celebrate holidays jointly, and even show public affection towards each other. During a 2016 interview with TopMob News, Ben praised his ex as an exceptional mother.

Nina and Ian ended their relationship in 2013 after three years together, but they’ve continued to maintain a strong friendship since then. The following year, Nina began dating Nikki Reed from “The Vampire Diaries,” and the two got married later that same year. As it turned out, Nina developed a close friendship with Nikki.

They ended their relationship in July 2016 after five years. In an interview on The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM the following October, the singer mentioned that she is quite close to Kinney, stating, “He’s not just my lover but also a friend for such a long time.

“We love each other,” she said. “That’s it.”

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the intriguing dynamic between Jim and Pam from The Office. Even after the show ended in 2013, their on-and-off pairing left such a captivating impression that it’s easy to understand why fans continue to ship them. In fact, when Mindy named B.J. (who I presume is Jim) as the godparent to her kids, I found myself thinking the same thing. “If I were an outsider looking in,” she said in 2019 to Good Housekeeping, “I’d think they were more than just friends. But the reality is that B.J. has become so much more like family now.

After they divorced in 2011, the ex-spouses found it effortless to co-parent their son, Bronx. The musician from Fall Out Boy has even praised his former partner for being an exceptional mother.

It sounds like you mean, “Has she moved past the ‘7 Things’ with him?” or “Isn’t it true that the Jonas Brother musician is on good terms with his former partner, as he mentioned they have a friendly relationship?

In the year 2006, the stars of Dexter initially crossed paths on set. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that their relationship turned romantic. Despite their divorce in 2011, Jennifer later stated that there was only “love and respect” left between the former couple.

For years, they have been known as the epitome of amicable exes, the parents of daughters Rumer, Tallulah and Scout continue to share a strong bond that is so close that it was an obvious choice for them to spend coronavirus lockdown together in Idaho. Who’s up for a quarantine dance party?

Four years post their 2014 divorce, Lopez continues to acknowledge and praise her ex-husband, who is the father of her twins Max and Emme. During a 2018 episode of Sunday Today, she shared, “While I was married to Marc, he significantly boosted my confidence and recognized my areas of struggle.” She continued, “He would tell me, ‘You’re an exceptional singer; never let anyone belittle your talent.’ And I held him in high regard because I consider him one of the greatest singers ever.

Regardless of the ups and downs he might be experiencing in his daily life, this actress has made it clear that she will remain a supportive figure for her former husband and Scream costar. In fact, when asked about their divorce eight years after its 2010 dissolution on Running Wild With Bear Grylls, she described it as one of the more amicable ones. Sharing custody of their daughter, Coco, they have managed to maintain a good co-parenting relationship.

Despite their off-screen relationship ending in 2007, it didn’t stop them from creating on-screen sparks in the 2011 film titled “Bad Teacher”.

After experiencing some tough times following their separation in 2013, the actors have now reached a stage where they take vacations together as part of their divorce process. In an interview with LaPalme Magazine, the Twilight alum expressed his fondness for his ex-wife’s husband, stating that he considers him a wonderful person. He reminisced about a 2017 trip to Cancun, where they were accompanied by Garth, Dave Abrams, Peter’s fiancée Lily Anne Harrison, and their daughters Luca, Lola, and Fiona. Regarding his relationship with Jennie, he explained that people come into our lives for a reason, and relationships can evolve. He added that even though they no longer live together, one can still cherish the love that exists between them.

In September 2012, there was an unexpected split between the couple, but they chose to present a united front for their children. During a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, she clarified, “Will and I have a very close friendship indeed. We’ve managed exceptionally well. I don’t believe that our 10-year marriage should be considered a failure. Relationships can be incredibly challenging.

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2025-04-17 15:18