Photo: AOL
All the details behind the split.
By Liza Walter — Written on Apr 13, 2017
I was really rooting for these two to make it!
But it looks like Jennifer Garner has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck in what they're calling an "amicable split."
As TMZ reports, they filed pro per—without an attorney—and since their petitions and responses were filed together, it appears this was planned and dealt with in a family friendly manner.
The two have three children together which they plan to share joint legal and physical custody of.
The pair married in June of 2005 and announced their separation in June of 2015.
Rumors circulated as to the reasons why Ben Affleck, 44, and Jennifer Garner, 44, split but nothing was ever officially confirmed.
Here's why we Jen and Ben are finally divorcing, after 12 years together:
1. Ben Affleck's alleged affair with the nanny, Christine Ouzounian.
MirrorUK The nanny: Christine Ouzounian
Christine Ouzounian was hired to care for Garner and Affleck's three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Sam. Supposedly the Batman star had been separated from Garner for months before the alleged fling with the nanny occurred, but Ouzounian was fired immediately afterward.
Jennifer Garner all but confirmed the actual affair in a Vanity Fair feature in March of 2016, where she said:
"Let me just tell you something. We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation ... Bad judgment? Yes. It's not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives. I have had to have conversations [with my children] about the meaning of scandal."
2. Rumors that Ben Affleck had an affair with his Gone Girl co-star, Emily Ratajkowski.
Celebdirtylaundry Emily Ratajkowski of Gone Girl
Many reported that Ben Affleck had been cheating on Garner with his Gone Girl co-star Emily Ratajkowski.
In the 2014 movie, Affleck plays a married man who cheats on his wife with Ratajkowski's character.
So did the two turn make-believe into reality?
It's all speculation but it does look like Ben has a history of cheating.
After all, that's what is said to have broken up the engagement between him and Jennifer Lopez.
3. Ben Affleck was spotted with his live-in detox nurse.
Twitter Ben Affleck with Elizabeth Weaver
In January of 2017, Ben Affleck was spotted around LA with Elizabeth Weaver, his live-in detox nurse.
Weaver specializes in 24-hour detox care, which makes sense since Affleck suffers from alcohol addiction.
But were they romantically involved? Likely not, but the pair being spotted together points to his addiction issues reaching a point that her services were required.
Affleck looks disheveled and dazed in the photo, and addiction can cause serious strains on relationships.
Which leads us to the next point...
4. Alcohol addiction
Rumors and speculation about Ben Affleck's drinking have followed the star for years. In March, he admitted he had completed a detox program for his alcohol addiction.
Being in recovery is not only hard for the person who's addicted, but also for the close family and friends. It's possible that Ben Affleck's alcoholism, which he has been in rehab for, was just too much for Garner and the kids to handle.
No matter what, we are just happy to see that they are handling the divorce like mature adults and we only wish them and their children the best during what has to be a heartbreaking time.