Jennifer Lopez’s Inner Circle Never Warmed to Ben Affleck, Despite Bennifer Reunion
(ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez’s close friends and confidants have long harbored reservations about her relationship with Ben Affleck, even when things seemed to be going well between the couple. According to insiders, Lopez’s inner circle wasn’t enthusiastic about the Bennifer reunion, and one of the most vocal critics was her longtime manager, Benny Medina.
“The two of them can’t stand each other. They don’t get along and there’s still bad blood,” a source told Page Six, referring to the tense relationship between Medina and Affleck.
Despite his deep reservations, Medina, who played a key role in Lopez’s rise to A-list status, chose to remain silent this time around. Sources suggest that Medina’s earlier disapproval, when Lopez first got engaged to Affleck years ago, led to a temporary fallout between him and the singer-actress. After the couple broke off their engagement in 2004, Lopez and Medina reconciled, and he resumed his role as her manager.
“His attitude was, ‘I’m gonna say nothing.’ [There] was no, ‘Good for you,’ but also, [he] wasn’t negative,” the source explained. Medina reportedly understood that Lopez was determined to marry Affleck, regardless of anyone else’s opinion, and saw no point in expressing his concerns.
Lopez’s best friend, Leah Remini, was less hesitant in sharing her thoughts. The two met through Lopez’s ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Remini reportedly urged Lopez to reconsider rekindling her romance with Affleck, reminding her of the reasons they had broken up in the first place. However, Remini’s advice didn’t sit well with Lopez, leading to a rift in their friendship. Remini was even excluded from the couple’s wedding, a situation Medina had anticipated.
According to sources, Remini and Lopez have since mended their friendship, with Remini offering support when Lopez felt “humiliated” by recent issues in her marriage to Affleck. “No one, except [Lopez’s] mother, likes Ben Affleck. He’s a triple-A a******,” another insider revealed, emphasizing the ongoing tension between Affleck and Lopez’s close circle.
The strain on Lopez’s relationships has only added to the challenges in her marriage, which some insiders suggest is already on shaky ground. “This was definitely not on her bingo card. She would’ve scratched someone’s eyes out if they told her [they’re] splitting up less than two years in,” the source added.
As Lopez navigates her marriage to Affleck, it’s clear that the skepticism from those closest to her remains a significant undercurrent in their relationship.
