Ben Affleck ‘felt blessed’ after spending a cozy Thanksgiving holiday with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, and their three children amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
The Oscar winner, 52 – who was spotted looking friendly with Garner as they volunteered for Midnight Mission on Thanksgiving – also indulged in a tasty meal at the actress’s home with their kids Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12.
While helping out the non-profit organization on Thursday to feed 2,000 homeless people in downtown Los Angeles, Affleck was seen getting close to Jennifer and also whispering to each other during the busy day.
A source told Page Six that Ben ‘felt blessed’ to spend Thanksgiving with his ex-wife and children, adding that he ‘can just be himself’ around Garner.
The former couple were married from 2005 until their split was announced in 2015. Three years later, their divorce was officially finalized in 2018.
‘Even though Ben and Jen have been split for a while now, he feels a certain level of comfort with her,’ the insider continued.
Ben Affleck, 52, ‘felt blessed’ after spending a cozy Thanksgiving holiday with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, 52, and their three children amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez
‘Ben has a strong relationship with Jen that will never dissipate because they have a lot of history together and she’s the mother of his kids.’
The source further informed the outlet that Affleck and Garner have spent other Thanksgiving holidays together since their separation.
‘They’ll always be close because they share children together and maintain a friendly co-parenting relationship.’
One day earlier on Thursday, Ben appeared in high spirits as he volunteered for Midnight Mission with Garner, as well as their children.
The pair donned matching aprons that had ‘I [heart] the Midnight Mission’ as they served special meals to those in need on the holiday.
During the outing, the two stars were seen standing close to each other and at one point, Affleck was seen whispering into Jennifer’s ear with a small smile on his face.
Body language expert, Judi James, informed DailyMail.com that Ben’s ‘demeanor suggests he is where he wants to be, without any pressure to perform as an A-lister.’
‘His smile registers a fun, playful approach and at one point he whispers in Jennifer’s ear in an act of intimacy.’
A source told Page Six that Ben ‘felt blessed’ to spend Thanksgiving with his ex-wife and children, adding that he ‘can just be himself’ around Garner; seen in 2023 in Texas
The former couple were married from 2005 until their split was announced in 2015. Three years later, their divorce was officially finalized in 2018; seen in 2013 in Hollywood
James added, ‘Ben is in pure alpha mode here, standing with arms folded and head cocked, looking immersed in the event, in contrast to his rather disconnected public signals with J-Lo.’
In 2022, Affleck married Jennifer Lopez – whom he previously dated in the early 2000s before their first split.
However, earlier this year in August, the On The Floor songstress filed for divorce from the Oscar winner on their second wedding anniversary.
‘Ben looked so dour and irritable towards the end of his marriage to J-Lo but here he looks relaxed and in charge of the event,’ the body language expert continued.
‘Both he and his ex-wife Jennifer are smiling here and apparently happy to be photographed, with none of the rejection signals Ben had tended to display towards photographers until recently.’
‘Ben looks happy and comfortable fitting back into the family unit, as though the high levels of A-list fame he achieved with J-Lo were a burden that he struggled to cope with, just as he had the first time he was in a relationship with her.’
Later on Thursday, the Good Will Hunting actor was seen heading to his ex-wife’s home in Brentwood to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.
He kept it casual wearing a cream-colored button up as well as a pair of denim jeans and comfy sneakers that were secured with laces.
‘Ben looked so dour and irritable towards the end of his marriage to J-Lo but here he looks relaxed and in charge of the event,’ the body language expert continued; seen in 2023 in L.A.
While strolling along a street in a quiet neighborhood, the Hollywood star easily carried an iced drink in his hand.
As Affleck spent the holiday with Garner and their kids, Lopez also had the chance to enjoy Thanksgiving.
She glammed up in a patterned sweater while posing with a turkey that had just been taken out of the oven.
In the caption of the snap uploaded to Instagram, the On The Floor songstress penned, ‘I hope everybody had a beautiful and Happy Thanksgiving. I am so incredibly grateful for all of you.’
Following the end of her marriage to Affleck, a source recently explained to DailyMail.com that Lopez wants to take time for herself before getting into another relationship. ‘Jen like most people, would love to have love in her life again.’
‘But the one person she has to give the time to right now is herself. If something presents itself, then obviously life and love find a way, but she isn’t looking to get into any new relationships.’
‘She is focused on her work and wants 2025 to be the year she gets back to being herself,’ the source said.
‘She isn’t actively looking to date right now and is still processing losing Ben again.’
She glammed up in a patterned sweater while posing with a turkey that had just been taken out of the oven
Following the end of her marriage to Affleck, a source recently explained to DailyMail.com that Lopez wants to take time for herself before getting into another relationship
Garner also seemingly made a swipe at her failed marriage to Affleck during an episode of the Lipstick On The Rim podcast earlier this month; seen in West Hollywood earlier this month
According to the insider, Lopez ‘likes being in a relationship almost immediately after one ends, but right now she is trying something new and seeing if that works out for her better.’
Last month in October, Lopez broke her silence on their split while talking to Interview Magazine – and described the separation as both ‘sad’ and ‘scary.’
Sources recently informed DailyMail.com that Garner ‘no longer wishes’ to be in contact with Lopez following the end of her marriage to Affleck.
Insiders previously told DailyMail.com that she had felt like a ‘pawn’ after acting as Ben and Jennifer’s ‘marriage counselor’ amid the breakdown of the former couple’s two-year marriage.
The 13 Going On 30 actress is currently in a relationship with John Miller – whom she had been dating on and off since 2018.
Garner also seemingly made a swipe at her failed marriage to Affleck during an episode of the Lipstick On The Rim podcast earlier this month.
When questioned what her ‘favorite quote or mantra’ was, the actress shared advice from her own mother, Pat Garner, and expressed, ‘Never expect a man – don’t marry a man thinking you can change him.’
