The ex-husband playing unlikely matchmaker
Hollywood divorces rarely end with one party cheerleading for the other's next relationship — but Ben Affleck, it seems, is not your average ex. Nearly a year on from his split with Jennifer Lopez, and with their divorce finalised in January 2025, insiders claim the actor is not just moving on himself — he is actively hoping his former wife does too, and he may already have a candidate in mind.
Why Affleck signed over his half of their £20m mansion
Sources speaking to Closer magazine say Affleck's decision to hand Lopez his stake in their shared Hollywood mansion — reportedly worth around $25 million — was about more than just property settlement. 'It's no secret that Ben is trying to wash his hands of Jen,' an insider revealed. 'There's a reason he gave her his half of their house. In his view, the faster she can find happiness with someone else, the better.' It is a clean-break strategy that appears to be very much intentional.
Brett Goldstein gets the Affleck seal of approval
The man reportedly catching both Lopez's eye and Affleck's cautious approval is Brett Goldstein — the British actor best known as Roy Kent in Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso — who starred alongside Lopez in her new Netflix romantic comedy Office Romance. Rumours of off-screen chemistry have been swirling during the film's press tour, and Lopez herself has done little to dampen speculation. Speaking about her co-star, she said: 'We had great chemistry to begin with. It just grew as we did the film together. I expected more of a rough guy, but you get this kind, gentle but also very smart person that is so charming.' As for Affleck, sources say he has done his homework. 'He has some friends who know Brett, and they've had nothing but good things to say. He wouldn't be encouraging this if he thought Brett wasn't a good choice.'
Behind the scenes, Lopez is still hurting
Despite the upbeat press appearances and rom-com energy, those close to Lopez paint a more complicated picture of where she is emotionally. The Bennifer love story — which reignited in 2021 nearly two decades after their first engagement — clearly left its mark, and sources say she has not fully closed the chapter.
'She goes from saying she's over Ben and is better off without him to crying over a memory of something they did together. It could be the smallest thing, and it will make her get teary-eyed.'
Still, the people around her are optimistic that a new romance could be exactly what she needs. 'Most people in her life agree that falling for someone new — as long as that new man treats her well — could be the best thing for her,' the insider added. With Office Romance landing on Netflix and a charming British co-star by her side, Lopez may find that life is rather good at imitating art.
