Where Was Ben Affleck While JLo Had Early Bridgerton-Themed Celebration for Her 55th Birthday?

Jennifer Lopez, known as JLo, is a multifaceted star who has captivated audiences as a singer, actress, and dancer. Her relationship with her husband, actor Ben Affleck, has been a subject of public interest for decades.

Lopez recently celebrated her 55th birthday with a Bridgerton-themed party, and Affleck was notably absent from the festivities. The event has sparked curiosity about why the actor was not present to celebrate with her.

On July 20, 2024, Lopez appeared happy and looked forward to celebrating her birthday. She posted a picture online where she was smiling. The star also showed off her cleavage in her tank top while chilling in full glam, her face radiant and her skin glowing.

Lopez’s fans complimented her, writing, “Prettiest woman on earth ❤️✨.” Another fan concurred, “The prettiest ❤️❤️❤️.” One fan wrote, “You are a beautiful woman inside and out Jen, and very special 🤍😍.” Lopez captioned this picture, “Today is gonna be a great day 🤍🙏🏼 Happy Saturday everybody ☀️.”

The Saturday of July 20, 2024, turned out to be awesome as Lopez threw a Bridgerton-themed birthday party attended by several family members and friends.

The actress’s mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, looked magnificent in a light-blue laced gown. She was spotted offloading presents from her car for her daughter’s birthday.

Visitors, including, “Sex and the City” alum Sarah Jessica Parker, dressed in ballgowns and tiaras. They had a warm welcome as they were greeted at the entrance of the party by a horse-drawn carriage.

A day after the Bridgerton-themed birthday celebrations were held, Lopez had a festive lunch in the Hamptons, which was also not attended by Affleck.

She looked stunning as she stepped into the Italian eatery Arthur & Sons in Bridgehampton, rocking a floral ensemble with her hair styled in a chic ponytail.

Her outfit featured a white floral-print Zimmermann crop top paired with matching belted shorts, perfectly showcasing the brand’s signature elegance.

To match the colorful theme, the actress wore flower-adorned wedges by Gucci. She accessorized her look with a floral raffia tote by Dior, blue-colored sunglasses by Chloé, and a gold and diamond lion head bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels.

The movie star enjoyed lunch at the Italian eatery with her friends and family. Her 16-year-old twins Max and Emme were present as well as her sister Lynda. Jennifer Lopez got emotional narrating stories from her past.

The group reportedly indulged in classic meals such as chicken parmesan, lobster benedict, meatballs with ricotta, spicy rigatoni alla vodka, and artichoke alla romano. They finished with a dessert of mini cannoli, spumoni my way, and limoncello cheesecake.

The Saturday and Sunday celebrations happened before Lopez’s birthday as she turned 55 a few days later, on July 24, 2024. She posted on Instagram thanking everyone for the birthday wishes, beautiful videos, and posts they had sent her from all over the world.

Lopez also showcased a cute picture of her mint-colored three-tiered birthday cake matching her pajamas. Even in her pajamas, she looked beautiful. She held her hair in a high bun and styled it with a cute tiara written happy birthday.

Lopez glowed and had fun on her birthday celebrations but Affleck was not with her unlike at her birthday party in 2023, which he attended.

Multiple sources confirmed that the actor was not present at the Bridgerton-themed birthday party and the lunch at the Italian eatery.

The “Marry Me” star tied the knot with Affleck at an intimate wedding in July 2022 in Las Vegas. She wrote in her newsletter, “On The JLo” that their trip down the aisle was exactly what they wanted. Lopez shared that she wore a dress from an old film for their wedding ceremony.

The event took place in a small chapel, where they exchanged rings to symbolize their lifelong commitment. The two held a larger event celebrating their union in Savannah, Georgia the following month.

Now, Affleck is reportedly spending his summertime in California. The duo also rang their second anniversary separately on July 16, 2024. Lopez was seen with her long-time manager, Benny Medina, in a vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible.

She was in the passenger seat while Medina took on the wheels. The “Hustlers” actress had a serious look on her face as they drove through the Hamptons. Later in the day, Lopez was seen on a bike ride in the affluent neighborhood.

Over that weekend, the movie star was also seen with Affleck’s 18-year-old daughter, Violet. On Saturday, July 13, 2024, they were seen spending quality time together at the East Hampton Antiques & Design Show. They were accompanied by Violet’s friend.

Violet donned a pink short-sleeved shirt paired with a pink patterned maxi skirt, while Lopez opted for a casual ensemble. Her look featured a white backless tank top and white jeans, completing her look with platform wedges.

All three of them hit a local ice cream shop later that day. The movie star also posted a heartwarming video of the trio enjoying some sunshine while riding in the car together. She added the song “Girls” by Kid Laroi to the clip.

As per a source, Lopez and Violet were seen shopping at Roller Rabbit on the same day. Although they left amid a crowd, they seemed unaffected by the commotion.

Violet Affleck, who recently advocated for the reinstatement of mask mandates after contracting a post-viral condition, wore a mask for most of the day. However, she removed it briefly while walking with her friend.

Affleck shares Violet with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. On Sunday, July 14, 2024, Violet and Lopez were seen again in Southampton, New York. They walked arm-in-arm at 75 Main restaurant, accompanied by Violet’s friend.

Meanwhile, Affleck wore a gray suit and was pictured walking into his Los Angeles office on his and Lopez’s second anniversary. The 51-year-old has continued to stay in Los Angeles, where he was even on the Fourth of July.

Aside from Violet, Ben Affleck also shares Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, with Garner. As for Lopez, she had her twins with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony. Garner has reportedly been there for Lopez as her marriage to Affleck is allegedly on the rocks.

A source claimed the pair’s marriage is “not in the best place at the moment.” According to insiders, Lopez and the actor’s marriage has been over since March 2024.

The two have also not been seen publicly with each other for a month. The actress and Affleck also officially listed their Beverly Hills mansion for $68 million.

The signs of trouble in Lopez and Affleck’s marriage kept piling up after the actor was seen without his wedding ring. Over the weekend, as Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday, Affleck left his wedding band behind while he was out in Los Angeles on July 21, 2024.

The “Gone Girl” star, dressed in a red T-shirt and gray pants, was snapped running errands as his wife hosted a birthday lunch across the country.

He was also spotted hanging out with a young lady on the evening of the same day. The actor had skipped his wife’s birthday and opted to spend the evening with Violet.

The following day, Affleck was focused on work as he showed up at his office in a navy suit. The Oscar winner carried an iced coffee in his right hand and his phone and gym bag in the other, making it difficult to see if he had his wedding ring on.

In the meantime, Lopez was spotted wearing her sparkling wedding band at an Equinox gym in the Hamptons on Monday, July 22, 2024.

“The Mother” star showcased her abs in a cream sports bra, low-slung white linen pants, and a fluffy oversized cardigan. The oversized cardigan later made it hard to see her hands, covering the ring finger.

Despite the speculations about a rift in their marriage and divorce rumors, Lopez and Affleck have continued to prioritize their kids in their blended family. The two have also not publicly confirmed or denied the rumors that they are divorced or heading for a divorce.