Ben Affleck has been seen wearing his wedding ring despite report that he’s preparing to announce a divorce from Jennifer Lopez.

Speaking to In Touch, sources claim it’s a strategic move on the actor’s part to avoid things from getting too messy.

“Ben never expected J. Lo to embrace his decision to leave. He knew it would be tough for her, but the more time that’s gone on the more fearful he’s gotten about how she’s going to react once it’s officially done,” a source explained.

“The way she’s insisted on them wearing their rings and doing all this damage control, to her huge fit over him moving his stuff out, has got him really anxious,” they continued.

Why Ben Won’t Take Off His Wedding Ring

Ben and Jen haven’t confirmed their reports, despite months of speculation. It was recently revealed they put their $68 million mega mansion on the market, fueling the rumors. The source suggested that Lopez is the one preventing them from making their split public.

“[J.Lo is] not going away quietly,” they said, adding she’s been “acting increasingly edgy the longer this drags out and making it very clear she still expects him to play the game just like she’s doing.”

They added that Lopez still wants to act married for the cameras. “Until this divorce is final, she wants him to wear the ring and still act like a married man,” the insider went on. “Ben’s getting as much time away from her as he can because he just doesn’t want to deal with another fight. He’s walking on eggshells and never knows when she’s going to blow up.”

Ben Is Allegedly Telling J.Lo What She Wants To Hear

While Jen may be the one who expects Ben to keep his ring on, the source says he’s not doing it because there’s hope of reconciliation, but rather to simply keep the peace.

“It’s like she’s doing all she can to get his attention. She’d rather argue than be ignored,” they continued. “Ben’s trying to humor her by putting the ring on and saying the most respectful things he can to people about her, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s actually pretty freaked out by how hard it seems to be for her to let go.”

Ben and Jen first got engaged in November 2002, capturing the media’s attention as one of Hollywood’s hottest couples. Their relationship, however, faced intense public scrutiny and media pressure, leading them to call off their wedding just days before the planned date in September 2003. They officially broke up in January 2004.

Both moved on to other relationships, with Lopez marrying Marc Anthony in June 2004 and having twins, Max and Emme, in 2008. Affleck married Jennifer Garner in June 2005, and they had three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.

In a surprising turn of events, Affleck and Lopez rekindled their romance in 2021, nearly two decades after their initial engagement. They got married in a private ceremony in July 2022, blending their families, though reports keep suggesting things may be officially over.