It’s a somewhat happy birthday for Ben Affleck.
The A-list actor-director is keeping his birthday celebration “intimate” this year, amid persistent divorce rumors with his wife, Jennifer Lopez. He turned 52 years old on Thursday, Aug. 15.
A source tells ET, “Ben is planning to keep things intimate for his birthday and spend it with close friends and family.”
During this tumultuous time, blowing out birthday candles isn’t at the top of mind for Affleck. Instead, he is focusing on his kids. There are five children between Affleck and Lopez. Affleck co-parents three children with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner: Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. Meanwhile, Lopez shares 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony.
The source explains that co-parenting has been “going well” in the blended family.
“Jennifer Garner is being communicative and an understanding shoulder for Ben,” the source tells ET just two weeks after another source told ET that Affleck was feeling “hopeful” after making “his family a priority” by moving into a new estate that’s closer to his and Garner’s kids. Affleck purchased a $20.5 million equestrian estate in Los Angeles just weeks after he listed for sale the $60.8 million home he owns with Lopez.
ET’s latest source continues of Garner, “She’s there for him every step of the way and given the involvement of their kids, she’s very supportive. She also respects his private and personal life and doesn’t get too involved.”
“Co-parenting between Jen and Marc is going well,” the source adds of Lopez and Anthony. “They’ve surpassed any former bumps in the road and just want the best for one another and their kids.”
Earlier this month, a source told ET that Affleck and Lopez are “waiting to announce their official split, because they want to make sure everything is seamless when they do, especially with everyone involved.”
“They want to make sure the kids are comfortable with the transition and where they are living, etcetera,” ET’s source continued at the time. “They don’t want to make it feel like they’re pulling the rug from underneath their children. They’re making a mutual effort to ensure that this transition is as healthy and easy as possible.”
The couple have recently spent holidays, events and even their second wedding anniversary apart. Affleck was also noticeably absent from Lopez’s 55th Bridgerton-themed birthday bash in July.
For Lopez, her birthday celebration without the Gone Girl star was a “fresh start.”
“It has been a hard year with some unexpected realizations, changes, and obstacles, but Jen is trying to view her 55th birthday as a fresh start,” a source told ET at the time. “She is trying not to let her situation with Ben bring her down.”
While J.Lo wished her husband a happy birthday in an adorable Instagram tribute last year, at the time of publication this year, she has yet to acknowledge Affleck’s birthday on social media.
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