Couples update
J.Law tries again and Naomi’s seeing double
As they strolled the streets of New York’s Upper East Side, with smiles on their faces and her beloved dog Pippi wedged firmly under her arm, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Jennifer Lawrence and her director beau Darren Aronofsky had confirmed their split a month ago.
The cosy holiday catch-up in the Big Apple left fans speculating the couple had rekindled their romance and although sources close to the stars swiftly poured cold water on the rumours, insisting they’re “just friends”,
Woman’s Day can reveal the pair are actually in the process of a trial reunion.
After Jennifer, 27, publicly blamed Darren’s increasingly suffocating behaviour and his obsession with their flop film Mother! for the break-up – which we revealed exclusively in October – the BlackSwan director, 48, has promised to change his controlling ways and agreed to relationship counselling.
“Darren had been messaging Jen nonstop ever since their split and had even been calling her parents in a desperate attempt to get her back,” reveals a source close to the actress. “Jen still loves Darren and has never made any secret of her adoration of him, but she was starting to feel smothered in their relationship, which is why she ended things.
“After meeting in New York and spending time together again, Jen’s feelings came flooding back and she saw something in him she hadn’t seen before. Darren showed a huge desire to change and make differences to their relationship, which he himself admitted was dysfunctional beforehand.
“He’s even found a therapist and had an initial consultation, which is a huge step for him. It was something Jen had been pushing for when they were together, but Darren always resisted.”
While the Oscar winner’s friends and family are said to be concerned the reconciliation will end in heartbreak for Jennifer, with some reportedly worried she’s being brainwashed by the filmmaker, the actress is adamant they can make their relationship work.
Love on hold
She has given Darren an eight-week trial period, with a list of goals for him to work towards in that time. Only afterwards, once he’s proven he’s a changed man, will Jennifer officially take him back. Until then, there won’t be any intimacy. “Jen says she’s put him on a sex ban,” reports her friend.
Although the couple spent Christmas Day apart, with
the actress in her native Kentucky and Darren in snowy Amsterdam, the director has planned a string of dates for them in the New Year, including a romantic holiday to show how much she means to him.
“He’s invited some of her closest friends to join them on the trip in a bid to get in their good books and change their negative opinions of him,” says Jennifer’s pal.
“Her family is still worried about the reunion as they fear it will end in disaster for Jen, who was deeply affected by their first break-up, but she insists she’s going in second time around with her eyes wide open. If he doesn’t fulfil the steps and goals she’s set for him, she’ll have no qualms about walking away and ending things for good.”