Close friends of Ben Affleck are said to fear that he has started “drinking again” amidst the whirlwind of speculation suggesting that he and Jennifer Lopez are headed for divorce.
It’s been repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that Argo star Affleck has moved out of the $61 million mansion he shares with his wife, while J-Lo last week canceled her planned tour of North America, citing the fact that she wanted to spend more time with her family.
Needless to say, the outlook doesn’t look overly positive where the couple’s marriage is concerned, not least as neither party has moved to quell the rumors that have dogged them over the past month.
For his part, Affleck has been candid about his struggles with alcoholism over the years, but his friends now fear he may spiral as he’s “full of demons”.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, one near friend of Affleck’s has said that the superstar actor is suffering from “acute sadness” following reports that his marriage is on the rocks. Other sources close to the 51-year-old suggested he was either “at risk” of slipping off the wagon, or is “already back on the booze”.
“I hear that he is drinking. He is full of demons – a really troubled person,” one friend told the Daily Mail. A second added: “I have seen him looking glassy eyed and it is a real worry to everyone who cares about him.”
Recent reports have detailed that the actor moved out of the lavish Beverly Hills home he and Lopez purchased together last year, and has been staying at a rental property while he films The Accountant 2. Affleck has been seen without his wedding ring on during this time, while news that the couple are putting their marital home up for sale has only further fueled rumors regarding their impending separation.
PEOPLE Magazine yesterday cited a source as having detailed how neither Affleck nor Lopez have been happy with the house, and both have reasons to sell that don’t necessarily relate to their love for one another.
“Ben never liked the house. It’s too far away from his kids,” the source, said to be close to Lopez, offered.
As for Lopez, they claimed: “the house is way too big for her.”
Affleck and Lopez tied the knot at a secret Las Vegas ceremony in 2022, going on 20 years since their first attempt at romance failed. The pair became one of the high-profile couplings of the early 2000s, only to call off their engagement and move on to find new partners.
Fans were hopeful of a fairytale ending when Affleck and Lopez reunited, but if the current speculation proves true, their union will find itself amongst the plethora of Hollywood romances that have ended in tumult.
Are you a fan of either Affleck or Lopez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
