Jennifer Garner Opens Up About Ben Affleck Split: ‘He’s The Love Of My Life’
Jennifer Garner has stayed largely silent for several months about her split from husband Ben Affleck despite media speculation regarding their relationship and what caused it to dissolve. But in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Garner opened up quite a bit about her marriage and what happened after the hammer fell.
Jennifer Garner made it clear that her relationship with Affleck was very real in spite of their high-profile Hollywood careers, saying she didn’t marry him because of his status, but rather for who he was. She also got very personal and admitted that he is still the love of her life.
“I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him. And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You can’t have these three babies and so much of what we had. He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that?” Garner said.
After talking to the magazine about how complicated her marriage was — saying that when Affleck’s attention was elsewhere, she definitely felt it — she added for clarification’s sake that Ben’s relationship with their nanny, Christine Ouzounian, occurred after their split. However, she says, that didn’t make it any less difficult to get through, or to explain to their children.
“We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. It’s not great for your kids for a nanny to disappear from their lives. I have had to have conversations about the meaning of ‘scandal’,” Garner said.
The couple have continued to work together as far as parenting goes and have been spotted out with one another on family outings, prompting rumors that there might be a reconciliation. From the sounds of the interview, though, it doesn’t seem like the duo will be getting back together. Still, Jennifer says she understands that fans want to see them work things out, as she was once in their shoes rooting for Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.
These days, Garner says, she’s moved on from the immediate post-split feelings of becoming unmoored, when she tried everything from going to church and writing poetry to taking a dance class just to feel the physicality she used to have while working on Alias. For one, she has more time to focus on herself rather than her marriage, and while that’s a new feeling, she says she’s okay. Part of that, she says, is ignoring the news stories.
“I turned on CNN one day, and there we were. I just won’t do it anymore. I took a silent oath with myself last Summer to really stay offline. I am totally clueless about all of it. Ben says, ‘Oh, you just don’t care,’ and I say, ‘No, it’s the opposite.'”
Jennifer Garner spent some time with Ben and her family over the weekend for her son’s birthday before hitting the red carpet for the Oscars, where she stunned in a black gown with delicate beading.
Jennifer Garner, you’re simply elegant. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/vU18k3BoCP
— People Magazine (@people) February 29, 2016
Ben Affleck joins Jennifer Garner for their son’s birthday party. https://t.co/ZeZcoeVzaG pic.twitter.com/2lcmFaHbup
— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) February 28, 2016
As far as hard feelings, it’s clear that Jennifer Garner doesn’t want there to be any.
“People have pain — they do regrettable things, they feel shame, and shame equals pain. No one needs to hate him for me. I don’t hate him. Certainly we don’t have to beat the guy up. Don’t worry — my eyes were wide open during the marriage. I’m taking good care of myself,” Jennifer said.
Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
