What Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's cosy Thanksgiving display really means: Body language expert spots act of intimacy between former couple as she says J-Lo's ex is 'finally where he wants to be, without any pressure to perform as an A-lister'
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Body language expert Judi James has revealed what Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's cosy Thanksgiving display really means as they spotted acts of intimacy between the former couple.
The pair, who have children Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, reunited to volunteer with Midnight Mission for this year's thanksgiving as the actor reunited as part of a family unit.
Judi explained Ben's 'demeanour suggests he is where he wants to be, without any pressure to perform as an A-lister.
'His smile registers a fun, playful approach and at one point he whispers in Jennifer's ear in an act of intimacy.'
While Jennifer is still going strong with her boyfriend John Miller, who she has been on and off with since 2018, Judi noted Ben still looked more immersed with Garner in comparison to his disconnected public displays with J-Lo.
She added: 'Ben is in pure alpha mode here, standing with arms folded and head cocked, looking immersed in the event, in contrast to his rather disconnected public signals with J-Lo.
Body language expert spots act of intimacy between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner as she says J-Lo's ex is 'finally where he wants to be, without any pressure to perform as an A-lister'
Body language expert Judi James explained: 'His smile registers a fun, playful approach and at one point he whispers in Jennifer's ear in an act of intimacy'
'Ben looked so dour and irritable towards the end of his marriage to J-lo but here he looks relaxed and in charge of the event.
'Both he and his ex-wife Jennifer are smiling here and apparently happy to be photographed, with none of the rejection signals Ben had tended to display towards photographers until recently.
'Ben looks happy and comfortable fitting back into the family unit, as though the high levels of A-list fame he achieved with J-Lo were a burden that he struggled to cope with, just as he had the first time he was in a relationship with her.'
While Ben spent Thanksgiving with his family, J-Lo took to Instagram to share a solo snap with her stuffed turkey which Judi suggested is 'a performative pose for the camera'.
She added: 'While J-Lo poses alone with what looks like just a large turkey for company, tilting her head to form an amenable, performative pose for the camera and possibly social media, Ben is seen as part of a family unit, wearing matching aprons as a 'uniform' that defines shared objectives with his ex wife and looking confident and happy in a way that he hadn't done with Jennifer in public for most of their marriage.
Along with their kids, Ben and Jennifer teamed up to help feed 2,000 homeless people in downtown Los Angeles during the non-profit organization's annual Thanksgiving brunch.
As they lent a helping hand, the actors, both 52, could be seen whispering to one another and wearing matching aprons.
They both appeared in high spirits as they served their community with a smile.
An eyewitness told DailyMail.com that they spent three hours there.
Judi added: 'Ben is in pure alpha mode here, standing with arms folded and head cocked, looking immersed in the event, in contrast to his rather disconnected public signals with J-Lo'
While Ben spent Thanksgiving with his family, J-Lo took to Instagram to share a solo snap with her stuffed turkey which Judi suggested is 'a performative pose for the camera'
Along with their kids, the pair teamed up to help feed 2,000 homeless and near-homeless people in downtown Los Angeles during the non-profit organization's annual Thanksgiving brunch
For the occasion, the Alias alum wore her long brunette hair up in a high ponytail and a navy sweater.
Ben wore a brown button-down shirt and stuck close to Garner and his kids.
Back in 2020, Ben took to Instagram to give the organization a sweet shoutout as he recognized Midnight Mission's commitment to helping 'those in need with housing, training, development and recovery.'
Previously, he told People that he learned about Midnight Mission through a parent at one of his children’s schools.
'I found that I get a lot out of giving a little bit of my time to other people. I don’t know that it helps them or not, but I know it’s helpful to me,' he told the outlet.
'It’s easy to sort of throw up your hands and say there’s nothing you can do,' he said, at the time.
'But the truth is there are people who want to make their lives better, who are struggling, who need help and who you can benefit by even doing a little bit, giving a little bit of money or a little bit of time. It’s just a really powerful thing to do to be able to connect with people.'
He said his experience working with the organization 'has been really positive and rewarding.'
Judi noted Ben still looked more immersed with her in comparison to his disconnected public displays with J-Lo (pictured in May 2023 at The Mother film premiere)
Ben is currently in the middle of divorcing the singer after two years of marriage after she filed for divorce in August (pictured in July 2022 in Paris)
The sighting comes one day after DailyMail.com reported that he would be spending the holiday with Garner, their three children and her boyfriend John Miller.
'Ben and Jen are looking forward to today and Ben is anticipating a relaxing day full of food and football before he has to get back to work on the film,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
'Thanksgiving is all about being drama free when it comes to Ben, it is going to be low key, only good vibes and Jen is on board to make today as easy as possible.'
A second insider said he was adamant that nothing would get in the way of the 'meaningful holiday' which will be celebrated at Garner's house with Miller, whom she has been dating on-and-off since 2018.
The businessman had previously aired grievances about her involvement in Ben's marital struggles with Lopez, but there is now 'nothing but love and appreciation' between them all.
'Thanksgiving is such a meaningful holiday for them to spend together before the chaos of Christmas season hits,' the source said.
'Jen’s boyfriend is often included and there is never any issue whatsoever as they all have nothing but love and appreciation for each other.
'And yes, Jen Garner and the kids cook Thanksgiving dinner without any outside help.'
Ben, who spent last Thanksgiving with Lopez, will no doubt be on hand to help comfort Garner after the death of her nine-year-old golden retriever Birdie.
After volunteering together, the pair were seen driving off in the same vehicle
Affleck and Garner finalized their divorce in October 2018, three years after initially separating; seen in 2011
The actress paid tribute to her beloved pet.
'She lived a happy dog life and is now in the role she was born to play: angel girl,' she told her Instagram followers on Wednesday. 'It’s a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie.'
Last week reports surfaced that tensions were brewing between her and Lopez, despite the former adopting the role of 'marriage counsellor' during Ben's split from the singer.
Sources at the time said she has now chosen to distance herself from the On the Floor hitmaker and doesn't want to have any 'communication' with her 'unless it is do with the kids'.
'Her friends feel she shouldn’t have allowed herself to get so involved in helping JLo to fix her marriage to Ben,' the source said.
'Especially considering Jen felt pitted against JLo at times during their own marriage. Jen is too nice and truly wanted to help, so she tried.'
Earlier this year DailyMail.com was told Miller was tiring of Garner seeing it as her responsibility to help 'fix' her ex-husband’s beleaguered marriage.
'John wants nothing more than for Ben to be OK, but it isn’t his girlfriend’s responsibility to play babysitter to him,' an insider said at the time.
‘That is for Ben to figure out on his own and for his wife to handle. It isn’t Jen’s responsibility, and he has told her this.’
They added that Ben was conscious of being a ‘burden’ and was trying to avoid discussing his marital breakdown with Garner.
Garner and Affleck notably tied the knot in 2005, but their divorce was finalized in 2018 after 13 years of marriage.
Affleck reconciled with his ex Lopez in 2022, but she filed for divorce in August after two years of marriage.
Affleck, who spent last Thanksgiving with Lopez, will no doubt be on hand to help comfort Garner who announced the news that her golden retriever Birdie had died
Last month, she broke her silence on their split while talking to Interview Magazine – and described the separation as both 'sad' and 'scary.'
'It feels lonely, unfamiliar, scary. It feels sad. It feels desperate,' the singer said when asked what it was like to 'be on her own'.
'But when you sit in those feelings and go, “These things are not going to kill me,” it’s like actually, I am capable of joy and happiness all by myself.
'Being in a relationship doesn’t define me. I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself.
'I used to say I’m a happy person, but was still looking for something for somebody else to fill, and it’s just like, “No, I’m actually good.”'
