heat chats to curtis and tommy
Things are looking less than amicable for the world’s friendliest exes
She’s been a rock for him throughout his recovery from alcoholism. But Jennifer Garner looked royally fed up with her ex-husband Ben Affleck last week, as the former couple appeared to be engaged in a heated argument outside her LA home, just one day after celebrating Thanksgiving together with their three kids.
In candid snaps, Jen was then seen driving Ben – who looked just as exasperated as she did – to a remote hotel near Santa Barbara. And despite the pair putting on a unified front two days later – as they took their kids and Ben’s mum to church, before going on to buy a Christmas tree – insiders say the cracks in their amicable split are only getting bigger.
As heat recently reported, the former couple, who have children Violet, 14, Seraphina, ten, and seven-year-old Samuel together, hit a massive roadblock last month, after Ben was filmed drunkenly stumbling outside a Hollywood party, days after celebrating one year of sobriety.
The star has had a well-documented battle with alcohol addiction and multiple stints in rehab facilities – most recently in August 2018, when Jen, 47, drove him there herself. The pair, formerly known as Bennifer II, officially divorced a year ago, after splitting in 2015, but have remained close. Earlier this year, Ben, 47, paid tribute to his “wonderful” ex-wife, saying, “Somebody’s the mother of your kids, they’re going to be the most important, central person in your life.”
But after Ben’s recent relapse last month, which he referred to as a “slip”, insiders have said that the actors are at odds over the future, with Jen desperate for Ben to return to rehab, while he’s “resisting and promising Jen he’s got this, that he’ll work with his sober coach and go to more A A meetings”. Sadly, judging by the pictures, the former couple seem like they’re no closer to reaching an agreement. ■
‘Ben says he’ll work with his sober coach’
He acknowledged his recent “lapse in judgement” last week, publicly apologising to his “amazing wife”, after he was pictured holding hands with his co-star Alisha Wainwright. But Justin Timberlake’s still got some serious work to do to make it up to Jessica Biel. While Jess put on a brave face in public (still wearing her wedding ring), we’re told that, she’s given him an ultimatum: go to therapy or it’s over.
“This incident has pushed Jessica over the edge,” says an insider close to the couple, who share four-year-old son Silas. “She feels that only a professional can help them to communicate. They need to do anything they can to ensure they both agree on setting boundaries.”
Justin, 38, hit the headlines last month, after he was filmed holding hands with Alisha – who, at one point, had her hand on his knee – while on a drunken night out. Last week, he addressed the incident, saying in a statement, “I displayed a strong lapse in judgement, but let me be clear – nothing happened. I drank way too much that night and I regret my behaviour.
I apologise to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation.”
But according to our source, Justin’s apology only went so far. “He can see how badly he’s hurt Jessica, so he’s reluctantly agreed to therapy,” we’re told. “The main thing is that they are both on the same page and want to make the marriage work.” n