When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first announced their split, the song that played on repeat in my head was Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
It felt like the perfect soundtrack for a breakup that seemed final and definitive. But fast forward to their recent outing, and it’s like the vibes have done a complete 180.
The energy now feels more like Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never.”
Ben and J.Lo were spotted kissing and holding hands (it was reported so) while out with their blended family, which feels like a signal that they might be giving their relationship another shot.
It’s almost as if they’re trying to rewrite their story, moving past the drama and embracing a new chapter.
The sight of them together suggests they might be working through their issues and pushing towards a fresh start, despite the previous finality of their split, theygossip.com reports.
Or all of this could be just us reading into it way too much and a big vase of nostalgia!!
It’s fascinating to see how their dynamic has shifted from seemingly irreversible to potentially rekindling their flame.
Ben and Jen went on a family date recently/ Backgrid
This turn of events makes you wonder if their relationship might have more chapters left to write.
To dive deeper into what this all means, I reached out to Couples and Family Therapist Dr. Deb Castaldo for some professional insights.
According to Dr. Deb Castaldo, author of the upcoming book ‘The Return to Love Playbook: Secrets to Recapturing Passion, Romance, and Commitment With the Partner You Already Have’, this encounter may not mean their marriage is officially over.
“A marriage is rarely over the moment one spouse files for divorce,” Castaldo notes, drawing from her years of experience in couples therapy.
She points out that couples often separate and reunite multiple times, sometimes even reversing a divorce after realizing the depth of their bond.
The recent images of Ben and Jen holding hands could mean a variety of things, according to Castaldo. “One (possibility) is that they are not finished, and there may be ambivalence about proceeding with divorce,” she explains.
On the other hand, the couple could also be attempting to create stability for themselves and their children in the wake of the emotional rollercoaster of divorce.
Bennifer/ Backgrid
Castaldo even suggests that the pair might be in a state of confusion, testing the waters to see if rekindling their relationship feels right.
However, what stands out most to Castaldo is the clear lack of hostility in their body language.
“Their body language and affection does indicate to me that this is not a hostile relationship at this time,” she observes, adding that high-conflict divorcing couples almost never engage in such warm displays of affection.
The fact that they are spending time together and showing affection speaks volumes about the current state of their relationship.
For those wondering if this public display could be a publicity stunt, Castaldo dismisses that idea.
“These pictures do not indicate to me that this was a publicity stunt,” she asserts.
She emphasizes that their children would be deeply affected by such a facade, and it’s essential they know the truth of what is happening, as they are already living through it.
The pictures of them chatting in the car reveal that, whether they are reuniting or moving on, “there is still much more to be unpacked,” Castaldo says, stressing that nothing good could come from this being a fabricated scenario.
JLo and Ben/Backgrid
So, are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck really over? Dr. Deb Castaldo says, “Maybe not! Never say never, stranger things have happened.”
For now, the couple seems to be navigating their relationship in their own way, with the heart leading the charge as Dr.Deb said.
