Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Friends Are Divided on Whether Marriage Can Be Saved

Transcript

00:00After just 22 months of marriage, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are living separate lives.

00:05Insider revealed what pushed them apart and their next steps in the latest issue of Us Weekly.

00:10Jennifer appeared at the Egyptian Theatre in L.A. on May 20 to promote her new Netflix film,

00:16Atlas, and an eyewitness told us that she wasn't her usual bubbly self at the event.

00:21They said that there weren't a lot of big smiles, even for photographers.

00:25It seemed like she was just going through the motions.

00:28The press tour for Atlas hasn't come at the most opportune time for Lopez,

00:32given her and Ben's recent rough patch.

00:34Ben has left their $60 million Beverly Hills mansion to stay at a nearby rental

00:39while they figure out their next steps.

00:41One source says that the decision to spend some time apart was mutual.

00:45They said they are taking some space to work out whether or not the relationship

00:48is right for both of them.

00:50Nothing started to come ahead a few months ago when Jennifer had started ramping up

00:54her work commitments and prepping for her tour.

00:57The source shared that she's very focused on work and overextends herself.

01:01Jennifer is set to kick off her 30-date This Is Me Now tour on June 26 in Florida.

01:06The source says that Ben doesn't agree with Jennifer's lifestyle

01:10and has felt worn down by the marriage.

01:12He's been checked out and the pair are on two completely different pages most of the time.

01:17The honeymoon phase has worn off.

01:19They add that both have demanding careers that often require them to be in different cities.

01:24The source says their scheduling highlighted the emotional and physical distance between them,

01:29and communication is an additional source of contention.

01:32The source says that over time, Jennifer and Ben found it increasingly difficult

01:35to communicate effectively, and small misunderstandings grew into significant arguments.

01:41The source says that Jennifer prefers to talk things out when conflicts arise,

01:44while Ben tends to withdraw.

01:46As for Jennifer, she's upset and really did think she and Ben would be endgame this time around.

01:52The second source says that Jennifer has been committed to working on the marriage

01:56and is pushing for them to get help.

01:58The source adds that Ben has struggled with loneliness since moving out of their home

02:03and realized how much he misses Jen.

02:06But for now, they're at an impasse.

02:08While they were apart, Ben and Jen kept in touch primarily

02:11to discuss essential matters and updates.

02:13And friends are torn about where Jennifer and Ben should go from here.

02:17A source says some believe they can work it out with time and effort,

02:21pointing to their deep bond.

02:22Others think the relationship has run its course.