Ben Affleck, alongside his former partners Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner, is redefining the concept of a modern family.

Whether it’s indulging in shopping adventures with their kids, appearing together on the red carpet, or attending school events, Affleck often finds himself in the company of his exes. This is despite having officially ended his marriage with Lopez in early 2025.

While this unusual family setup appears to work for Affleck, who is now 53 and shares three children with Garner, it has left some fans curious about Garner’s relationship with Lopez, who is 56.

Insiders have revealed to the Daily Mail that Garner and Lopez maintain a ‘cordial’ relationship, focusing more on ensuring their children enjoy close friendships rather than creating a bond between themselves.

“They aren’t best friends, and they’re certainly not planning any girls’ trips together,” an insider shared exclusively with the Daily Mail regarding the actresses’ dynamic.

‘But they respect each other and respect that their kids are friends and want the best for everyone involved.’

Jennifer Lopez, 56, reunited with ex-husband Ben Affleck on December 12 at a school performance for their respective children, Emme and Fin (Pictured: Lopez at the school performance)

Affleck’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner (right) also attended the end-of-year performance with their son Samuel, 13 (center)

Fans caught a glimpse of Garner and Lopez’s ‘amicable’ dynamic on December 12, when they were photographed attending a school performance of Urinetown: The Musical that featured their respective children Fin Affleck, 16, and Emme Muniz, 17.

Affleck, who was also in attendance, did not appear to interact publicly with Lopez, as they navigated the same event from noticeably separate corners.

Lopez, dressed in a tailored blazer, arrived at the school event accompanied by her longtime manager Benny Medina and her mother, Guadalupe Rodríguez.

Affleck, meanwhile, was pictured with Garner and their son Samuel, 13. The former couple also share a 20-year-old daughter, Violet, who is a student at Yale University.

A second source exclusively told the Daily Mail that Lopez and Garner ‘didn’t interact at all’ at the school play.

While the source said Garner ‘was very social with other parents at the show,’ they politely added that Lopez was ‘a little more reserved’ and gave Emme – whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony – ‘a lot of love’ after the performance.

Multiple sources have detailed Garner and Lopez’s ‘cordial’ relationship to the Daily Mail, saying the actresses ‘aren’t best friends’ but they ‘respect that their kids are friends’

It was a stark difference from last December’s end-of-year performance at the school, where Affleck and Lopez were seen mingling with each other just months after their split. 

At the time, Affleck reportedly gave Emme a sweet embrace and a kiss on the head, as Lopez ‘looked on adoringly,’ according to an eyewitness.

The recent change in their behavior may be attributed to Garner’s previously reported decision to distance herself from Lopez and keep any interactions focused solely on the children.

‘They are cordial, but besides their kids, their small talk isn’t going to be about Ben or what they are working on,’ the first insider said. ‘They are both okay with how their relationship stands. They don’t dislike each other, but they also don’t have to be around each other at all times.

‘They never know what to do or not to do when they’re in situations together because they know that the second they interact they would be the focus, and they want the focus to be on the kids.

‘There is no feud, but their connection is from who they once were married to, not from any kind of friendship, so it is what it is.’

Although the pair have made limited public remarks about each other, Lopez did gush over Garner’s parenting skills in a November 2022 interview with Vogue.

‘[She’s] an amazing co-parent, and [Garner and Affleck] work really well together,’ she told the outlet.

Lopez said of their blended family at the time, that ‘the transition is a process that needs to be handled with so much care. They have so many feelings. They’re teens. But it’s going really well so far.

‘What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him – someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up.’

Lopez told Vogue in November 2022 that Garner (pictured on December 5, 2025) is an ‘amazing co-parent’ with Affleck

Garner (pictured center in May 2024) shares three children with Affleck: Violet (right), 20, Fin, 16, and Samuel (left) 13

Lopez, who has a close relationship with Affleck’s children, is pictured hugging Violet during the former couple’s Paris honeymoon in July 2022

Pictured: Lopez and Violet in August 2022. Affleck previously said Lopez has a ‘great ongoing relationship’ with his children, despite their divorce

The recent family outing was just the latest in a string of friendly reunions for Affleck and Lopez, who tied the knot in 2022 – two decades after calling off their first engagement.

Lopez then filed for divorce from Affleck in August 2024, on the second anniversary of their wedding ceremony.

Just last week, the exes were spotted shopping for the holidays with Affleck’s son Samuel at a Los Angeles shopping center.

Affleck and Lopez reportedly stopped by high-end clothing shops Sezane and DÔEN at the Brentwood Country Mart, before heading over to the Farmshop market so all three of them could grab a bite together.

Back in October, Affleck also showed up to support Lopez at the New York City premiere of her musical drama film Kiss of the Spider Woman. 

They posed together on the red carpet, and Affleck had a front row seat beside her at the premiere.

While discussing his role as an executive producer of the film, he also praised her performance and talked about their continued support for each other in spite of their divorce.

Affleck showed up to support Lopez at the New York premiere of her film Kiss of the Spider Woman in October 2025 (the pair pictured on the red carpet)

Affleck gushed over Lopez’s performance in the movie, calling her ‘incredible’ and ‘spectacular’

Speaking to E! News, Affleck called Lopez ‘amazing’ and ‘spectacular’ as he showered her performance with praise.

‘Jennifer is incredible in this movie,’ he said at the screening. 

‘She pulls it off with grace and aplomb, and she’s wonderful. I love her performance in the movie. She’s amazing, spectacular, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’

In April, he also gushed about his ex-wife and how much his kids adore her, and vice versa.

‘For the record, Jennifer Lopez is spectacular,’ he told Entertainment Tonight at the time. 

‘Great to my kids, great ongoing relationship with them. I love her kids. They’re wonderful,’ he added. 

‘She’s [an] enormously important, tremendous person of a lot of integrity who I adore and am grateful to.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Garner and Lopez for comment.