Matt Damon reportedly cautioned Ben Affleck against rekindling his relationship with Jennifer Lopez before their 2022 wedding.
According to sources who recently sat down with The Daily Mail, Damon, 53, is allegedly concerned about his best friend Affleck’s sobriety and is trying to prevent a potential relapse.
Speculation about the state of the Atlas actress, 54, and Affleck’s marriage intensified after they went more than a month without being seen together.
Matt Damon Allegedly Cautioned Ben Affleck Against Rekindling His Romance With Jennifer Lopez
'Bennifer' divorce rumors were further fueled by photos of the Argo actor, 51, without his wedding ring and Lopez vacationing alone in Italy. Damon has purportedly advised his Good Will Hunting co-star to concentrate on his career to maintain focus on his professional aspirations amidst the alleged marital strife.
"Matt tried to warn Ben when he got back together with JLo that this could happen," an insider dished to the outlet. "Matt was there to help Ben get it together after their first split and he felt like this would happen again."
As reported by the publication, Affleck is said to value his friend Damon's perspective on his relationship, largely because the Martian star has experienced a happy and enduring marriage with Luciana Barroso for more than 18 years.
"Matt has had a successful marriage for years and Ben has always been in awe of this," the source went on. The tipster added: "As things started falling apart, Matt told Ben that he supports whatever choice he makes but wants him to jump in and focus on his work." "Ben spent so much time focusing on JLo's projects just like he did the first time around. He told Ben, "What has she ever done for your career?'"
The insider continued: "Matt is the only real guy friend Ben has. He would not let him get back on the bottle and has been on him to make sure of this."
Damon and Affleck, childhood friends who gained fame for penning the acclaimed screenplay of 1997's Good Will Hunting, also ventured into the business world by founding Artists Equity, a production company, together.
Lopez famously revealed that she and Affleck were engaged back in November 2002 after the duo met on the set of Gigli. In January 2004, they made headlines after calling off their planned wedding and splitting.
The Marry Me star and Justice League alum reunited in 2021, when Affleck sent Lopez an email. The Gone Girl actor reached out to the "On The Floor" singer, setting off a chain of events that saw the former flames reconnecting in Los Angeles and vacationing in Montana.
Their renewed closeness ignited speculation about a rekindled romance. By that July, the couple put the rumors to rest when Lopez posted a photo of them sharing a kiss on her 52nd birthday, confirming their relationship.
Their bond grew rapidly, and by September, they graced their first red carpet together since reuniting. Just two months later, Affleck proposed to Lopez for the second time, an announcement she made in her newsletter.
One year later, the couple sealed their love in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony, which Lopez described as the "best night ever." They followed this with a grander celebration in August at Affleck's estate in Georgia, marking their union with family and friends.
Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Face Marital Trouble Rumors
In May 2024, insiders confided to People Magazine that the marriage between "Bennifer" was facing challenges as they adjusted to life in the public eye. Despite not being seen together for more than a month and reports of them living apart, Affleck and Lopez later made a public appearance at an event in L.A. and were also seen strolling through West Hollywood.
One source noted that their relationship was "not in the best place at the moment." Another revealed to the outlet: "They just have very different approaches when it comes to media attention." They went on: "Ben hates all attention and it makes him very uncomfortable. Jennifer has always had a different approach."
