Ben Affleck is ready to start dating again! This time, though, the single A-lister has some conditions.
"Ben is looking for someone who's either in recovery or at least someone who understands the Alcoholics Anonymous program," a source exclusively tells Life & Style. "He's learned the hard way that if he wants a relationship to last and be healthy, he needs to surround himself with like-minded people, and that includes his future partner."
Ben's estranged wife, Jennifer Lopez, famously caught a lot of flack for coming out with a cocktail brand while married to a self-professed alcoholic who's struggled to stay sober in the past. "Ben's next girlfriend doesn't need to be a super active member of AA," says the source. "But he wants someone who will support the boundaries that he's set."
Jennifer, 55, filed for divorce from Ben, 52, in August after two years of marriage. In the months leading up to the filing, reports were swirling that the couple were heading toward a split.
Days after the "Jenny From the Block" singer's filing, a source exclusively told Life & Style that she had been "holding out hope" with Ben before officially filing the divorce papers.
"This has been a long time coming. Jen and Ben have been separated since March when the marriage began to really fall apart and Ben asked for space," the insider said in a story published on August 21. Jennifer listed the pair's separation date as April 26.
The source later added, "Ben had no intention of working on things and the more time they spent apart the more clear it became to him that this marriage was a mistake."
Meanwhile, a second source revealed that things were so bad between the two that their only form of communication was through lawyers.
"Jennifer thinks Ben's being an insensitive brat and wants him to man up, quit the brutal mind games and treat her with more respect," source No. 2 exclusively told Life & Style. "She's not going to take being treated so poorly anymore. J. Lo's ready to fight - this means war."
One week later, a third insider claimed that Jennifer and Ben's split was "a long time coming" and revealed that they had been separated "since April when he asked for space and moved out."
"When the marriage began to fall apart, J. Lo held out hope they could fix it, even canceling her summer tour in May, but Ben had no intention of working on things. The more time they spent apart, the more clear it became to him the marriage was a mistake," insider No. 3 explained. "Jen was concerned with saving face when the divorce speculation started. She made sure to step out smiling and be photographed with Ben when she could to try to stop the rumors."
The Gigli costars have mostly remained tight-lipped about their divorce, but a fourth insider told Life & Style in October that Jennifer is "finally ready to move on."
"She decided to do some introspection - she says four divorces will do that. Get ready for an all new J. Lo - she wants to start a new chapter," the fourth insider noted.
Although the Air actor and "On the Floor" singer are not on good terms, the same can't be said for their family members.
On November 3, Jennifer's sister, Lynda Lopez, shared selfies with Ben's eldest child, Violet Affleck, while visiting her at Yale University.
"New Haven with my favorite Yalie!" Lydia captioned the Instagram post.