Ben Affleck’s Holiday Visits Allegedly Affecting Jennifer Garner’s Relationship

Ben Affleck’s increasing presence in Jennifer Garner’s life, especially during the holidays, is reportedly causing tension in her relationship with longtime boyfriend John Miller.

As the former couple grows closer, spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together with their children, a source claims John Miller is feeling like a “third wheel” and questioning whether Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s bond has gone beyond just co-parenting.

A source who spoke with Page Six claims that while Miller has always understood Garner and Affleck’s co-parenting dynamic, he has recently felt like a "third wheel" as the former couple spends more time together.

“John knows Ben and Jen have been leaning on each other more than ever lately and have a really close relationship,” the insider revealed.

What once seemed like a strictly co-parenting relationship has evolved, as Affleck and Garner now text, call, and communicate far more than they have in years.

“It used to be solely about the kids, but John feels like it could be more than just about their co-parenting relationship,” the source explains. “He doesn’t feel threatened in terms of Jen ever getting back with Ben, but at the same time, it’s hard not to feel jealous when it’s clear they have a strong connection and friendship.”

Miller reportedly felt particularly sidelined when Affleck spent both Christmas and Thanksgiving with Garner and their children, making it feel as though he was on the outside looking in.

“Their growing bond is getting to be a bit much when Ben spends all the holidays with them, like Christmas and Thanksgiving,” the insider said.

Garner and Affleck were married for 10 years before separating in 2015. They share three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.

The increased time together comes as Affleck is reportedly leaning on Garner amid his marital struggles with Jennifer Lopez. Sources previously told Page Six that Garner and Affleck are “closer than they’ve ever been since their divorce” and that recent events, including the L.A. wildfires, have drawn them even closer.

Last month, Garner invited Affleck to celebrate Christmas as a family with their children. The former couple also spent Thanksgiving together, starting the holiday by volunteering to help feed 2,000 homeless and near-homeless people in downtown Los Angeles before dining as a family later that evening.

“Ben and Jen’s kids are really enjoying spending the holidays and family time together,” the source noted. “It’s a really great cohesive unit.”

While Miller and Garner have been dating on and off since 2018, it remains to be seen how her close bond with Affleck will impact their relationship moving forward.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's love story was once a Hollywood fairytale, but after more than a decade together, their marriage came to an end. Despite their divorce, the two have remained dedicated co-parents and have continued to support each other through life’s challenges.

The pair first met while filming "Pearl Harbor" in 2001, but it wasn’t until they starred together in "Daredevil" (2003) that their friendship began to deepen. At the time, both were in relationships. Garner was married to actor Scott Foley, and Affleck was engaged to Jennifer Lopez. However, by mid-2004, both were single, and romance quickly blossomed between them.

Their relationship became public later that year, and it wasn’t long before Affleck popped the question. In June 2005, the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Turks and Caicos, officiated by Garner’s "Alias" co-star, Victor Garber.

Their family life appeared picture-perfect from the outside, but behind the scenes, their marriage faced its share of struggles.

In June 2015, just one day after celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, Affleck and Garner shocked fans by announcing their separation. Around the same time, rumors swirled that Affleck had been involved with their children’s nanny, Christine Ouzounian, though he denied any wrongdoing.

Sources close to Garner later suggested that their relationship had been on the rocks long before the scandal. Despite the public scrutiny, they remained amicable throughout the split, officially filing for divorce in April 2017 and finalizing it in October 2018.

Even after their divorce, Garner and Affleck maintain a strong co-parenting relationship. Garner, in particular, played a crucial role in helping Affleck through his struggles with alcoholism, even staging an intervention and personally driving him to rehab in 2018.

While their romantic relationship had ended, their commitment to their children remained a top priority.