Malibu draws many from Hollywood
For celebrity spotters, Malibu was the place to be this week, as famous ex-spouses Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck both visited the storied beach community, though apparently at different times and with a very different set of famous and attractive friends.
Garner, 48, was photographed by TMZ hanging out on one of the town’s beaches with a shirtless Bradley Cooper, 45, and his 3-year-old daughter Lea. TMZ described Garner and Cooper looking “flirty.”
TMZ also reported that Garner is no longer dating businessman John Miller, who was identified as her first serious boyfriend after she finalized her divorce from Affleck in 2018. The Daily Mail reported that Garner and Miller broke up sometime before Los Angeles went into COVID-19 lockdown in March.
The TMZ photos show Cooper looking as though he had just emerged from the water. At one point, the “A Star Is Born” actor and director reclined on the beach as Garner built a sandcastle with Lea, his daughter with his ex-girlfriend, model Irina Shayk. TMZ and “Entertainment Tonight” pointed out the reasons that people shouldn’t conclude that Garner and Cooper’s beach visit was anything but platonic.
The two have been friends since they were up-and-coming young costars in TV’s “Alias” in the early 2000s. TMZ said Garner and Cooper have spent time together with their significant others in the past, while “Entertainment Tonight” cited Garner’s speech about their longtime friendship when she helped honor him at the American Cinematheque Awards in November 2018.
Affleck also regards Cooper as a good friend and thanked him for helping him with his recent efforts to get sober, “Entertainment Tonight” added.
Speaking of Affleck, the “Batman” star’s visit to Malibu was on Monday, though it’s not clear if he was at the same beach as Garner and Cooper.
Affleck, 47, was with Matt Damon, Damon’s wife, Luciana Barroso, and rising star Ana de Armas. Affleck and de Armas have been romantically linked since meeting on the set of “Deep Water,” an erotic thriller.