Just when we thought we were in for another Bennifer 2.0 reunion (different Jennifer, of course), Ben Affleck has gone and shot our noughties resurgence dreams right down. After he was pictured looking exceptionally cosy with Jennifer Garner last weekend, sources close to Affleck have confirmed that no, they are not in fact getting back together. Wah!

Calling rumours of a reunion ‘ridiculous’, the source told TMZ that they’re just really good friends and great co-parents. It comes after the celebrity news outlet shared a video of Affleck and Garner at their 13-year-old son Samuel’s paintballing party in Los Angeles, with stills from the video published by Page Six that appeared to show Affleck cuddling into Garner and, in one particular shot, his hand appeared to be hovering over her crotch. 

Naturally, the paparazzi shots immediately went viral with fans convinced the pair were rekindling their romance. Sure, we see pictures of them laughing together all the time (Sad Ben not so Sad Ben when around Glad Jen), but these were admittedly very handsy, enough to make even the most cynical celebrity gossiper raise an eyebrow.

‘Theres something so earnest in Ben Affleck’s inability to move on,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘Ben Affleck teaching us that we all need to go back our exes,’ another shared. Of course, some were decidedly less excited. ‘Ben Affleck is the kind of ex that tarot readers warn you about,’ one person joked online. ‘When Ben Affleck spins the block with J Lo it’s romantic, but with Jennifer Garner it’s unsettling,’ another said.

Alas, our nostalgic hearts must rest. According to TMZ’s source, Affleck isn’t dating anyone at all right now and is focused on his work and kids. He has three children with Garner, Violet Anne, 19, Seraphina Rose, 16, and Samuel, 13, born during their ten-year marriage from 2005 to their separation in 2015 (officially divorcing in 2017).

According to a Grazia source, Affleck’s next relationship would be firmly out of the spotlight – far from his recent marriage to Jennifer Lopez, for the second time. The pair married in 2022 after a year of dating, reconnecting after more than 20 years following their first engagement from 2002-2004. They filed for divorce in 2024.

‘Ideally, he’d love to meet someone outside of the industry,’ the source explained. ‘It’s unlikely that he’ll put himself back on Raya because he doesn’t trust that he won’t get exposed so he’s going to be relying on connecting with someone through friends. He’s also made it clear that he wants someone who isn’t into partying at all. He doesn’t want to be around that so it’s just better to find a partner that’s in the same headspace. And they’ve got to be cool with Jennifer Garner and the close relationship he has with her, because that’s not going anywhere. Ben knows it’s a lot to ask, but he feels like the right person is out there and he’s not going to rush.’

As for Garner, she’s still going strong tech CEO John Miller, who serves as the chairman for CaliGroup – a technology company that owns the CaliBurger restaurant chain and several tech investments. The pair have been dating since 2018, although briefly split in 2020, and are rumoured to be getting married this year.

‘John has proven without a doubt that he’s willing to stand by her through anything,’ a source told Grazia. ‘That’s given Jen the reassurance she needed to take the next step with him and commit to marriage, to living together and blending their lives. She’s saying the wedding will be this summer, it will be very small, they don’t want anything ostentatious. Ben and the girls will be there and so will John’s kids, along with a few family members and a handful of friends.’

Miller has two children from a previous marriage to violinist Caroline Campbell, whom he divorced in 2011. Adorably, his daughter is also named Violet while his son is named Quest.

Truly, it’s a co-parenting arrangement of dreams – move over, Gwyneth!