Heartbroken Jennifer Garner Forced to Share Home with Ben Affleck After Cheating Scandal
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While the exact reasons behind Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s breakup remain a mystery, both citing their decision as mutual, multiple reports have claimed that Affleck allegedly cheated on Garner with their children’s nanny. Adding to the heartache, Garner reportedly had to endure unconventional living arrangements, forcing her to live in the same home where the alleged infidelity occurred.
Exclusive photographs taken by the Daily Mail in 2016 revealed the couple’s $17.5 million Pacific Palisades estate, appeared abandoned for months. In a series of before-and-after shots, the once-lush property looked unkempt, with rusty kids’ slides and bare patches in the garden.
The report questioned whether the ex-couple were still sharing the same space and why used areas like the children’s play area, garden, and swimming pool were left deserted. Although they shared the same house, Affleck had his own separate living quarters.
In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, the “13 Going On 30” actress seemingly confirmed the cheating scandal, while keeping details private. “Let me just tell you something. We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation,” Garner stated.
Christine Ouzounian, the nanny hired to look after their three kids, allegedly had a fling with Affleck and was fired immediately after the scandal surfaced. Garner further weighed in, “Bad judgment? Yes. It’s not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives. I have had to have conversations [with my children] about the meaning of scandal.”
Although Garner and Affleck didn’t immediately go their separate ways for the sake of their kids, they maintained their living arrangements in a secluded part of the house, which included a garden house, office, art studio, gym, and two bathrooms. The main house, with its five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, remained largely untouched.
A report by PEOPLE revealed that while the pair lived together, the arrangement became too stressful. A source stated, “The kids love when Ben is home and that’s why Jen let him stay at the family house. She never wanted them to be disappointed that Ben wasn’t there. But it was emotionally draining for her.”
Despite the emotional challenges, Garner and Affleck ended their decade-long marriage while remaining on cordial terms for the sake of their three children, continuing to show up for them whenever needed.
