A body language expert has claimed that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez appear to be ‘unhappy’ and no longer have a ‘look of love’ in their eyes – amid speculation that the couple is headed for a second separation.
The Good Will Hunting actor, 51, has been at the center of headlines with his 54-year-old wife, Jennifer, with the two being engulfed in divorce rumors.
The once loved-up couple – who previously dated from 2002 to 2004 – have been pictured at multiple locations in Los Angeles in recent days amid reports about the fate of their A-list union.
And according to body language expert Judi James, the couple is going to end up at the same way they did two decades ago – split up.
Judi has told DailyMail.com that the duo is speaking in ‘body language riddles’ as recent snaps of the celebrities pictured together prove that Jen is remaining ‘frosty’ while Ben is attempting to avoid displaying any PDA with his wife.
A body language expert has revealed that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez appear to be ‘unhappy’ and no longer have a ‘look of love’ in their eyes
In the past month, Ben and Jennifer have been spotted numerous times together – leaving fans confused about the status of their romance.
Judi told DailyMail.com: ‘With all the rumors reaching something of a crescendo, Ben and Jennifer are now talking in body language riddles.
‘Their most recent appearances together have thrown up a lack of the kind of intimacy, passion or loving signals that would reassure the fans yet they are performing some polite, social rituals that might define a friendship or family bond.’
Just two days ago, the two-time Oscar winner – father to daughters Violet, 18, and Seraphina, 15, and son Samuel, 12, who he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52 – was seen sharing an awkward kiss with Jennifer while reuniting at his son’s basketball game.
The pair greeted each other outside but opted not to kiss on the lips, instead proceeding to do an air kiss, with Ben seemingly patting his wife on the back, before they headed into the event together.
Explaining this greeting, Judi confessed that it appeared as though Ben was meeting with an acquaintance and not his wife.
She added: ‘Their greeting ritual is a perfect example. We all have different degrees of greeting ritual that vary according to the relationship with the other person.
‘If we are forced for any reason into performing a formal greeting on a partner or loved one in public when we would normally mouth-kiss we tend to compensate by adding an intimate and knowing squeeze or eye-gaze.
The Good Will Hunting actor, 51, has been at the center of headlines with his 54-year-old wife, Jennifer, 54, as the two have been engulfed in divorce rumors
The once-loved up couple – who previously dated from 2002 to 2004 – have been pictured at multiple locations in Los Angeles in recent days amid speculation about their fate
‘When Ben and Jennifer link up here it’s Jen extending one arm in an announcement gesture, signaling a cheek kiss is on the cards. They then perform an air-kiss that Ben might easily perform on his mother or even a mild acquaintance.
‘His raised and rounded cheeks suggest he is happy to greet his wife but rather than any compensatory signals the kiss is super-speedy rather than lingering as he turns his head quickly and pats her back to break before walking off flapping one hand at the press.’
And that wasn’t the only outing that raised eyebrows. Last week, they were seen departing from his daughter Violet’s graduation ceremony in Los Angeles.
The couple clasped hands as they left the celebrations alongside JLo’s twin children, 16-year-old Max and Emme.
Ben and Jennifer strode through a parking lot with their children and family, but did not flash smiles.
And while they appeared to be sending a message by holding hands, Judi claimed that Jennifer’s face was telling of the status of their love affair.
The body language expert told DailyMail.com: ‘There is one happier sign at the other graduation event when the couple hold hands in a traditionally intimate gesture of affection and togetherness. But before fans let out a sigh of relief there are the couple’s facial expressions to factor in.’
And according to body language expert Judi James, the couple is going to end up at the same way they did two decades ago – split up
She explained that a duo who was in love would look longingly at each other. However, you could see in their eyes that the love had been lost, according to Judi.
The expert added: ‘A couple in love will do “the look of love” when they gaze at each other. It involves a dramatic softening of the muscles of the face and a warm eye-smile.
‘But here it looks as though Ben and Jennifer’s face remain switched onto “frosty,” despite their eye contact. Ben has also been seen at two of these events clutching a can or a cup in his free hand which would naturally inhibit any spontaneous PDAs with Jen.’
The couple also reunited at another graduation event for Violet, at which they donned dapper outfits.
The stony-faced A-listers were spotted attending another celebration for Ben’s graduate daughter.
As they arrived at the party, the couple sported the contrasting image of marital bliss as they looked to be melancholy amid mounting reports that their marriage was on the rocks.
The Let’s Get Loud hitmaker sported a floral gown and pair of oversize sunglasses as she kept her head down as she walked beside her spouse.
Meanwhile, the Daredevil star donned a suit as he carried a large wicker basket, presumably with gifts for Violet as it was overflowing with pink tissue paper.
Judi James has told DailyMail.com that the pair (seen in January 2024) are speaking in ‘body language riddles’
Jennifer – mother to twins Emme and Maximilian, 16, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, 55 – is ‘still living separately’ from Ben (seen together in 2002)
Both of them kept their left hands and ring fingers covered up after Ben was spotted without his wedding band at various points throughout the past month.
At this outing, Judi admitted that Ben and Jennifer looked to be ‘unhappy’ as she suggested that the actor was holding the basket to avoid locking hands with his wife.
‘For his daughter’s graduation there are similar signals of being together but not keen to perform one simple shared smile or affectionate touch that might quash any rumors. They both look unhappy here, Ben with his head up as he carries a basket and Jennifer with head dipped in a cut-off gesture and with a glum facial expression.
‘Ben’s expression looks almost stricken here with puckered brows and a down-turned mouth, as though he’s feeling some pain. The basket prohibits any hand-holding but Jennifer is also creating boundaries by having her bag hanging between them and by pushing her hand into her skirt pocket,’ Judi told DailyMail.com.
Last month, at Ben and Jennifer first public outing in seven weeks since rumors of divorce swirled, arrived separately to a performance and didn’t display any signs of PDA.
An eyewitness told DailyMail.com that ‘Ben did not look happy to see JLo as she arrived at a show for one of his kids.’
The body language expert said that their stances and gestures had prompted many questions about their romance to be raised.
An insider close to Jennifer previously told the outlet that their marriage ‘is not in the best place at the moment’ (the couple seen in 2023)
She told DailyMail.com: ‘It is possible that the couple are reacting to all the press attention which Ben in particular is known to get frustrated by but Jennifer has always tended to be a fan of the romantic pose and the PDA.
‘While the fans wish nothing but happiness for Ben and Jennifer, these body language signals are probably only adding to any sense of confusion.’
Jennifer – mother to twins Emme and Maximilian, 16, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, 55 – is ‘still living separately’ from Ben, according to a source who told People that the actress is ‘very focused on work.’
Ben has been working hard as he has been filming upcoming thriller The Accountant 2.
An insider close to Jennifer previously told the outlet that their marriage was ‘not in the best place at the moment.’
A separate source noted that the rift between the husband and wife had been ‘difficult day-to-day’ amid basic philosophical differences.
‘She likes to open her heart to her fans and to the world,’ the source said. ‘He is more introspective and private.’
Ben and Jennifer are less than two years removed from their August 20, 2022 wedding at Ben’s estate outside of Savannah, Georgia, which came more than a month after they exchanged vows in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.