Ben Affleck's 'Dark' Mood During His Jennifer Lopez Separation Reportedly Has Friends Worried

The Fourth of July holiday for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez looked nothing like it did last year. In 2023, they were spotted looking happy at Michael Rubin’s star-studded white party in the Hamptons. This year, the estranged couple was on opposite sides of the country, celebrating the holiday apart, not together.

While Affleck nor Lopez has spoken publicly about their reported marital issues in public, fans have seen the Oscar winner getting testy with the paparazzi because the stress might be getting to him. “It’s not surprising he snapped,” an In Touch insider explained of his June 23 encounter. “He’s at his breaking point.” Affleck has always been easy to read — there is no poker face with his emotions — and that’s what has friends reportedly worried.

“People close to Ben have been concerned about him for some time because of what he’s gone through in the past couple of months,” the source noted. “He’s in a really dark place and when he gets like this, they can’t help but fear the worst.” Affleck’s sobriety has been important to him since his last rehab stay in 2018, and both Lopez and his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, have been supportive of his efforts to stay healthy. Garner originally gave J.Lo her stamp of approval when she reunited with Affleck in 2021 because of the “On the Floor” singer’s healthy lifestyle.

“This relationship has been very stabilizing for him, and that’s a huge weight off Jen’s shoulders because she doesn’t have to worry about Ben anymore,” a Hollywood Life source said of Garner. “It’s a relief to her that he’s chosen a partner that’s a totally positive influence with great family values.” With Affleck’s marriage to Lopez now hanging in the balance, it puts Garner in a tough spot again. She’s just trying to enjoy her relationship with her boyfriend, John Miller.

Another In Touch insider pointed out that so far, Affleck has “managed to stay fully sober” and he’s focusing on his three kids, Violet, 18, Finn, 15, and Samuel 12. “A lot of his second-guessing his marriage to J. Lo happened because he saw how much his divorce from Jen and the frenzy over his relationship with J. Lo affected his children,” said the first source. It’s unclear where Affleck and Lopez go next as they continue to liquidate their joint assets, but his pals are on high alert to make sure his mental health stays on track.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have struggled with drug or alcohol addiction.