Celebrity relationships are a complicated thing. So many people date each other, break up, date each other again, that sometimes there are almost no degrees of separation. For example, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck dated, got engaged, broke up, got back together, got married, and then divorced. That’s a long story of many years. So, there are feelings there, even if the two are now over.
Reportedly, the two have now reconnected, and are trying to be friends. Lopez in particular is reportedly eager to use Affleck’s professional advice to get ahead in her acting career.
Related: JLo Reportedly ‘Struggling’ with ‘Cash Flow’ & ‘Recent Earnings’ After Ben Affleck Divorce
“Ben isn’t neurotic at all about Jennifer continuing to rely on his counsel, and even his emotional support, when it’s needed,” an insider said, per Closer Magazine.
“He’s still advising her, and he wants her to win. In fact, it fuels his ego – in a healthy way – to know that she still takes him incredibly seriously as an advisor, even though they couldn’t make it work as a married couple,” they added. “He is also genuinely fascinated by her business moves, so he always gets something out of it when she comes to him for advice.”
Reports indicate Lopez “trusts” Affleck more than most people in her circle. “They truly are kindred spirits, even long after they stopped being man and wife,” they added.
“Jen is over the moon that things between her and Ben have settled into such a good place now that the divorce is behind them,” the insider also said. “She loves that she can call him pretty much any time and he almost always picks up and is happy to hear from her – though she’s careful not to call too much because she doesn’t want to push him away.”
Friendly exes and all that.
“She definitely takes a lot of pride in the fact that he’s someone she can go to for advice and guidance,” they continued. “She’s always quick to tell people they are better off as just friends and that she’s totally over him romantically, although it’s hard not to notice how attached she still is,” the source added.
Ironically, this comes after a report from Heat World that Lopez had a “flirty” friendship with Keith Urban when they worked together on American Idol and have been “leaning on each other” after their respective high-profile splits from Nicole Kidman and Ben Affleck.
“Keith and Jennifer actually have a huge amount in common,” a mutual friend said about the two getting closer. “They got along so well when they worked together and really developed a great friendship, so – of course – when the news broke out about Keith’s divorce, Jen reached out to offer her support. They’ve been in touch ever since.”
But things between them are not romantic, yet.
“At this point, it’s still very much in the friend zone, but it’s no secret Keith thinks that Jen is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous,” the source explained. “The problem is he doesn’t seem to have the guts to make the first move. Whenever his friends tell him he should ask her out, he comes up with excuses.”
