Jennifer Garner felt like a ‘PAWN’ in JLo’s bid to repair marriage to Ben

Jennifer Garner has been left feeling like she was used as a ‘pawn’ during the breakdown of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck‘s marriage, according to sources who claim her friends believe she was unnecessarily ‘put in the middle’ in recent months.

The superstar singer, 55, officially filed for divorce from the Gone Girl actor, 52, on Tuesday night following months of speculation – and just hours before what would have been the couple’s second wedding anniversary.

Prior to the filing, Affleck had been pictured spending a significant amount time with ex-wife Garner – who previously adopted the role of ‘marriage counsellor’ to the struggling couple.

But those close to Garner, 52, feel she was forced to ‘play mediator’ to help the pair work through their issues in a way that would not impact Affleck’s sobriety.

‘Jen feels slightly used as a pawn in JLo’s bid to repair her marriage,’ a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘She doesn’t believe it was intentional.’

‘But when Jen realized her ex-husband’s marriage was past the point of salvation, her only concern was Ben’s well-being and sobriety.’

The source explained that the actress’ close friends were extremely unimpressed with the way Lopez leaned on Affleck’s ex-wife despite how complicated matters were for the trio.

‘She was put in the middle and her friends think – no matter how you look at it – a man’s ex-wife should never have to play mediator in a divorce from his new wife,’ the insider said. 

‘Especially when said wife was a big love who Jen was compared to throughout their 13-year marriage. She is happy that Ben is now happy.’

Earlier this summer, DailyMail.com revealed that Garner had made a conscious decision to step back from the ‘circus’ surrounding Affleck and Lopez because the situation had unearthed ‘painful’ memories for the actress.

Now the star is primarily focused on co-parenting with Affleck – who has battled alcoholism and a gambling addiction for decades – as he navigates life after his most recent marriage, but will remain friendly with Lopez.

The source explained: ‘In the end Jen Garner always has Ben’s back and although she does consider JLo a friend now, no one sees this blossoming further. 

‘They will likely not be hanging out and going on bike rides together in the Hamptons.’

Affleck and Garner – who are parents to Violet, 18, Finn, 15 (formerly known as Seraphina), and Samuel, 12 – were previously married from 2005 until their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Garner has since moved on with rumored fiancé, businessman John Miller, 46, who was reportedly left frustrated by how involved Garner was in trying to ‘fix’ Affleck’s marriage. 

‘John wants nothing more than for Ben to be okay, but it isn’t his girlfriend’s responsibility to play babysitter to him,’ an insider told DailyMail.com in June. ‘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.’

As all parties move forward, it has been revealed that Lopez’s own friends have suggested the star needs to ‘look inside herself’ after ending her fourth marriage as they are growing tired of her chaotic life.

A separate insider said: ‘After four failed marriages, her friends feel that she should take a look inside and focus on herself instead of what others want her to be and finally figure out who she is and what she wants from her future.’

Lopez filed for divorce without an attorney – on the second anniversary of her stunning Georgia wedding ceremony. She listed the date of separation as April 26 this year.

But the source told DailyMail.com that the star isn’t the only one capable of playing mind games.

Explaining Affleck’s take-the-high-road approach, the insider continued: ‘JLo said she was tired of being humiliated by Ben and she waited until the two year anniversary because she wanted to sting.

‘But it did not sting him. He’s been done for a long time and deep down she knows this. He let her have this so that she wouldn’t look like the villain.’

The couple first got engaged at the end of 2002 but broke it off a year later before calling quits on their relationship for good in 2004.

In the intervening years, J-Lo married and divorced Marc Anthony, with whom she has 16-year-old twins Max and Emme.

The couple, affectionately known as ‘Bennifer,’ reunited in 2021 before going on to tie the knot with two wedding ceremonies the following year.

The couple first sparked separation rumors when they went 47 days without being seen together. 

Split speculation continued after says spent without one another over the summer.

Lopez had also walked the red carpet alone at the Met Gala in May — which was also when she called off her world tour ‘to be with her family.’ 

Affleck was then reported to have moved out of the $60 million home he shared with the On the Floor singer. 

The actor later moved into a rental property in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood near Garner’s home. 

Lopez was seen house hunting in Beverly Hills without Affleck in May, and again this month.

Their divorce marks Lopez’s fourth failed marriage and Affleck’s second.