Jennifer Garner Reveals Ben Affleck’s Beyoncé Obsession During Book Event

In a candid and lighthearted moment at a Los Angeles bookstore event, Jennifer Garner shared an intimate glimpse into her former life with ex-husband Ben Affleck, revealing his habit of playing Beyoncé’s “Halo” on repeat while working on his 2010 film “The Town.” The 53-year-old actress recounted this memory during an appearance at Diesel, A Bookstore, where she was joined by author Laura Dave and actress Rita Wilson. Garner’s anecdote painted a vivid domestic scene: a rental home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she nursed their three-month-old child while Affleck immersed himself in Beyoncé’s ballad as part of his creative process. This personal revelation resonated with Dave, who mentioned she also listens to music while writing and noted that acclaimed screenwriter Tom Stoppard shares this habit, placing Affleck “in some good company” when it comes to creative methods. The storytelling moment offered fans a warm, relatable window into the everyday life the former couple once shared, highlighting how even celebrated artists have quirky habits that their partners learn to navigate.

The timeline Garner referenced places this memory during a significant period in their family life. Based on her description, she would have been caring for their second daughter, Seraphina, born in January 2009, while Affleck was deeply engaged in his work on “The Town,” a film he wrote, directed, and starred in. This professional project represented a pivotal moment in Affleck’s career as he expanded beyond acting into filmmaking. Meanwhile, Garner was balancing the demands of early motherhood with her own acting career. The couple, who were married from 2005 to 2015, eventually became parents to three children: Violet, now 20, Seraphina, and son Samuel, 13. Their marriage lasted a decade before they announced their separation, with the divorce becoming final in 2018. This glimpse into their past family life underscores how they navigated the complex balance of high-profile careers and raising young children, with Garner taking on significant caregiving responsibilities while Affleck pursued his creative ambitions—a dynamic that many couples can relate to, even without the added pressures of fame.

What makes Garner’s recollection particularly meaningful is how it exists within the broader context of their relationship evolution over the years. According to sources close to the former couple, Garner and Affleck have successfully transformed their relationship from romantic partners to effective coparents and genuine friends. An insider revealed to Us Weekly in March 2025 that “their relationship has evolved into a strong friendship,” with Garner serving as “a grounding and trusting force in Ben’s life.” The source even claimed that the bond between the two is “the strongest that it’s ever been.” This transformation represents a significant achievement for the former couple, especially considering the public scrutiny their relationship and subsequent divorce endured. The warmth and humor with which Garner shared the Beyoncé anecdote suggests a place of healing and acceptance, where memories can be recalled with fondness rather than pain—a testament to the healthy post-marriage relationship they’ve worked to establish.

In a recent Marie Claire UK interview, Garner offered rare insights into the difficult period surrounding their divorce, acknowledging the profound challenge of their family’s dissolution. “You have to be smart about what you can and can’t handle, and I could not handle what was out there,” she explained, distinguishing between the public narratives about their split and the private reality. “But what was out there was not what was hard. The fact of it is what was hard.” With remarkable vulnerability, she identified the core of her pain: “The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard.” These reflections reveal the emotional complexity beneath celebrity breakups that often get reduced to tabloid headlines. Garner’s willingness to speak openly about these struggles humanizes her experience, offering comfort to others navigating similar life transitions by showing that even when relationships end, the grief is real and valid regardless of one’s public status or material resources.

Perhaps most inspiring is Garner’s message of hope regarding healing and reconciliation after divorce. She shared with Marie Claire UK that she and Affleck have achieved a coparenting relationship characterized by “peace and equanimity and a partnership” that she once doubted would be possible again. Addressing women who might be struggling with similar situations, she offered wisdom gained through experience: “I think it’s important for women to know, when they think, ‘Oh, I’ll never see that, I’ll never have that feeling, I’ll never be friends with this person again’ [that] time is the opportunity. Time is the opportunity to heal. Time is the opportunity to forgive, to move on and to find a new way to be friends.” This perspective reflects emotional maturity and hard-won wisdom, highlighting that healing isn’t instantaneous but unfolds gradually with patience and intentionality. Her message serves as encouragement for anyone navigating the aftermath of a relationship breakdown, suggesting that while the path may be difficult, renewed connection and mutual respect remain possible.

The evolution of Garner and Affleck’s relationship demonstrates a successful model of post-divorce family dynamics that prioritizes their children’s wellbeing while allowing both parents to maintain their individual lives and careers. Their journey from romantic partners to coparents to friends illustrates that relationships can transform rather than simply end. By sharing stories like the Beyoncé anecdote with humor and warmth, Garner demonstrates how memories can be recontextualized over time—what might have been frustrating in the moment becomes a charming story years later. This capacity to find new meaning in shared history represents an important aspect of healthy post-divorce relationships. Their story offers hope to other separated parents that with time, commitment, and emotional work, former couples can develop new ways of relating that honor their past connection while creating space for individual growth and happiness. In an era where relationship dissolution is common but healthy post-relationship dynamics aren’t always modeled publicly, Garner and Affleck’s evolution provides a template for moving forward with grace, forgiveness, and enduring mutual respect.