BEN Affleck’s rumored new lover Kick Kennedy could end up being drawn into his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, amid reports he’s moved on at lightning speed.
The actor and director reportedly “checked out” of his relationship with the star before she filed for divorce this month, stating in court docs that they split back in April.
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Just days after her filing, it was reported Ben had already been seen out and about with another woman – the eldest daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
According to a report by Page Six, Ben and Kick were spotted on a cozy date at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, and have been seen at other Los Angeles hotspots.
He is not believed to have cheated on Jennifer, but the Daily Mail has also claimed the pair hooked up before he married the star.
Reps for the pair have not commented on the nature of their relationship and did not reply to comment calls from The U.S. Sun.
Attorney Andrew Zashin, who has dealt with high-net-worth divorces, gave his opinion on how news of their possible relationship could affect his divorce.
Zashin told The U.S. Sun, “We do not know what happened behind closed doors, but if JLo is the aggrieved party there could be a war.
“She has been married several times already and she truly may have thought this was the real deal.
“She took the name Affleck. Ben is out and about with another woman – already.”
Any woman, including Kick Kennedy, could be drawn into what could become a fiasco.”
Divorce lawyer Andrew Zashin
The insider continued: “JLo might be furious for good reason. In her mind, and perhaps to those who love her, and her fans, this might seem humiliating.
“In a legal proceeding, even in a family law matter, the parties are entitled to conduct ‘discovery.’
“That means a litigant is entitled to investigate financial and personal matters of the other side.
“This could become both uncomfortable and unpleasant for Ben.
“Worse, any woman, including Kick Kennedy, could be drawn into what could become a fiasco. Fast.
“Ben, and Kick, could have to answer awkward questions, and their depositions might be taken.
“What Ben or Kick disclose could be leaked to the media.
“Salacious and embarrassing details of their relationship and their personal lives might be revealed to the media.”
Zashin added, “I have enormous experience with matters like this case.
“Emotion is a big factor in all family matters; high net worth and publicity can exacerbate the issues and problems.”
A source told the Daily Mail the pair first connected as Ben is from Boston, explaining, “When you live in Boston, the Kennedy family is royalty.”
They added, “She is not a mistress. She is nothing like JLo and likes to keep her private life private.”
It appeared Jennifer was after a quick and simple divorce when she filed without a lawyer on Tuesday, August 20, which was her and Ben’s second wedding anniversary.
Interestingly, she filed without a lawyer and listed their separation date as April 26, according to TMZ.
The outlet also reported that the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement, which means they could both be entitled to half of what the other earned during the short marriage.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck relationship timeline
JLo and Ben were first linked together in 2002 and became engaged later that year. However, they called off the wedding just two years later. They rekindled their romance in 2021 and finally got hitched in 2022 before filing for divorce this year. Here is a timeline of their love story:
- June 2002 – Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck met on the set of Gigli and JLo divorced from her second husband Cris Judd
- November 2002 – Ben proposed to JLo with a six-carat pink diamond ring
- September 2003 – JLo and Ben called off their wedding and blamed it on ‘excessive media attention’
- January 2004 – The celebrity couple announce they are heading separate ways
- July 2021 – JLo posts an intimate photo of herself beside Ben and they begin dating again
- April 2022 – Ben proposes to JLo for a second time
- July 2022 – The celebrity couple officially celebrated their nuptials in a Las Vegas, Nevada, ceremony
- August 2022 – Ben and JLo have a second A-list wedding at their $8.9million George estate
- February 2023 – Ben and JLo go viral after she is seen appearing to scold him at the Grammy Awards as the camera swung by their table, while photos often showed him looking exhausted and miserable on outings with his wife.
- May 2024 – Divorce rumors began to swirl with sources alleging they were not compatible and Ben was sick of marriage.
- July 2024 – The pair publicly listed their new marital home for $68 million and it was reported they were living separately in new properties.
- August 2024 – JLo finally filed for divorce on their second wedding anniversary on August 20.
Ben, 52, has yet to respond to the court filing or hire an attorney, according to reports.
She has since asked a judge to let her drop the name Affleck after previously taking her husband’s last name, saying she’s traditional and felt it was romantic.
“The court will allow her to change her name back,” Zashin explained. Name changes are routine.”
But he said the costs could rise, adding, “And I mean by that more than monetary costs. The psychological impact on Ben and Jennifer could be severe.
“Moreover, they could each lose money in attorney’s fees. Worse still, their reputational capital, their A-List standing, could take an unnecessary hit.
“Even more reason why this case should resolve quickly and quietly with the help of experienced and deft family law attorneys.”
Ben and Jennifer, 55, first started dating in 2002 after growing close while shooting their movie, Gigli.
They got engaged but Ben called it quits in 2004 as he was sick of the public attention, leaving the singer utterly heartbroken.
They both dated and had children with other people until finally reconciling in 2021 and heading down the aisle with a wedding in Las Vegas a year later.
Lopez organized a second, extravagant ceremony with no expense spared in August 2022, and they said ‘I Do’ in front of friends and family in Georgia.
But it wasn’t long before there was trouble in paradise, and fans often saw Ben looking irritated, especially when it came to dealing with her level of fame.
An insider also previously told Page Six that Ben is “proud of the fact that he always has and always will take care of himself.”
“He has never – and seemingly will never – give himself over completely to another person,” they said.
“The kind of big love Jennifer believes in, that sort of all-consuming devotion? Ben played along for a while and wanted to be part of it, but it’s just not who he is.”
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