The how, the when and the WTF.
By Penelope Norton — Written on Apr 03, 2018
Ah, Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus. Whether you were a die hard Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck fan in the past or not, those days are clearly long gone. He’s moved on, even if the rest of us might not be ready to (nobody even bought us a pony, to be fair.) Ben Affleck’s relationship with Lindsay Shookus have been tabloid fodder for a while now for a lot of reasons (other than our idle curiosity.)
When you’re a celebrity and in a relationship, that level of intense attention comes with the turf. For these two, there are a lot of things to talk about because of the mystery around how and when they really got together and whether there was really cheating involved. Plus: What she thinks of Ben Affleck's back tattoo. There’s also the matter of how past partners might be feeling about everything, and there are Jennifer Garner's kids involved, too. They’ve certainly been under the microscope, so these are 15 cringe-y details about Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus’ relationship that you might not know.
1. They are rumored to have had an affair while he was still with Jennifer Garner and when she was with her ex-husband too.
While they only went public recently, their relationship is speculated to have begun years ago. There are stories circulating that they snuck around and that it all came out in an ugly way.
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2. Sources told People magazine that Jennifer Garner confronted Lindsay about the affair and that it still didn’t end.
Sounds like an awful way to end up being a legitimate thing.
3. Whether that’s true or not, the timeline of their relationship is certainly complicated.
Whether it started in 2013 or 2017, it’s certainly happening now.
4. Despite the affair rumors, allegedly Ben, Lindsay and Jen all hung out together last Thanksgiving.
Jennifer Garner is certainly a classy lady but that seems like it could have the potential to be really awkward.
5. Lindsay’s not the only one that Ben's said to have had an affair with.
There was Nannygate. There was cheating when he was with Jennifer Lopez. That kind of history has to make trust a challenge.
6. Lindsay was rumoured to have also been having an affair with one of Ben’s friends when they were first together.
Or maybe they were “on a break.” Who knows for sure.
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7. He apparently asked her to get a makeover.
Seems like that would be an awkward conversation. After all, she’s beautiful just the way she is.
8. If it really was “new”, they seem to be moving very quickly towards getting serious.
Friends don’t let friends jump head first, and it’s been reported some in his circle were calling for them to step on the brakes.
9. She’s considered to be the “cool girl” as far as his habits go - but how long is that going to last?
We all let things go in the beginning of a new relationship, right? At a certain point reality hits and you’ve got to put your foot down. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
10. Despite his past rehab history, they’ve been spotted drinking together - maybe not the best idea. Usually the goal is to bring out the best in one another.
It’s said she was afraid of meeting his mom given Jennifer and his mom are still so close. That would be intimidating for anyone, being the new girl people that people think broke them up walking into a sit down would probably feel weird and uncomfortable.
11. He still goes to one of his ex’s favorite spots with Lindsay.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? Or is that weird?
12. Folks seem to think he would leave her to get back with Jennifer.
People really loved Ben and Jennifer together, so maybe it’s like secretly hoping your parents get back together. It might be time to admit that it’s never going to happen, but for some Jennifer and Ben fans, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
13. Some of her friends report that Lindsay worries that’s the case too.
It would be hard to come in after someone people love as much as Jennifer Garner, especially with fans rooting against you. That said, Lindsay Shookus appears to keep a low profile on social media, so maybe she doesn’t really care.
14. She’s been compared to some of his exes appearance-wise.
When you want to be someone’s one in a million, it’s no fun to hear that you look just like other people he used to date. Everyone has a type though, right? Why should Ben be any different?
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A post shared by Just Jared (@justjared) on Mar 26, 2018 at 10:43am PDT
15. While Lindsay doesn’t seem to have commented on Ben’s “garish” back tattoo, his ex has weighed in to Vanity Fair about what the tattoo seems to say about their old life together.
Jen said "You know what we would say in my hometown about that? 'Bless his heart.' Am I the ashes in this scenario? …I refuse to be the ashes.” What does the tattoo say about how he feels about his new relationship? Hard to say. But it sure is…permanent.
Whether we think it’s cringe-y or not, Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus are clearly a thing, so we’re probably to just going to have to let go of the dream of a Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner reunion for now. Whether what went down was part of a midlife crisis or not, it’s just so hard to move on sometimes.
Penelope Norton is a freelance writer and celeb gossip columnist who feels like her life is together when her fingers and toes match.