Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck reunite for son’s paintball birthday party… one year after cozy clinch

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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were spotted enjoying a family outing in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The former couple, both 53 years old, recently spent time together playing paintball. This came after they were spotted leaving her house in Brentwood, California, in his black BMW.

They then drove to Castaic where the paintball facility Combat Paintball Park is located.

It was their son Samuel’s fourteenth birthday on Friday. His sisters, Violet and Seraphina, weren’t there.

This sighting happened a year after Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were seen sharing a friendly moment while celebrating their son’s 13th birthday at the same location – they were playfully close during a paintball game.

The way Ben Affleck put his arm around Jennifer Garner suggested their relationship was closer than just a friendly one between former spouses.

To make things even more difficult, Ben Affleck had recently broken up with Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Garner was currently dating John Miller.

On Saturday, Garner was seen in a casual outfit: a white tank top, faded baggy blue jeans, blue sneakers, and a blue Linden cap. She completed the look with aviator sunglasses and carried a beige tote bag.

Affleck dressed casually for the outing in an olive green shirt, a white tee, dark jeans, and high-top sneakers. He carried a blue lunch box and a soda.

There was also a black party bus seen which may have carted Samuel and his friends to Castaic. 

The former couple got married in Turks and Caicos in June 2005. After ten years together, they announced they were separating in June 2015 and finalized their divorce in October 2018.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez began dating in early 2002 after meeting while filming the movie Gigli. The media quickly dubbed them “Bennifer” after Affleck appeared in Lopez’s “Jenny From The Block” music video, and they announced their engagement in November of that same year.

The couple blamed the media for the strain on their relationship, leading them to first postpone their wedding, originally planned for September 2003, and then officially end things in January 2004.

The couple reunited in 2021, became engaged in early 2022, and then surprised everyone by getting married in a small, private ceremony in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.

The couple celebrated their marriage again with loved ones on August 20, 2022, in Georgia.

They filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, after two years of marriage.

Exclusive video obtained by the Daily Mail in March 2025 shows the star lovingly hugging Garner.

Sam and Seraphina joined the couple for a paintball game at Combat Paintball Park near Los Angeles in Castaic. Their oldest daughter, Violet, was at Yale studying.

Affleck affectionately put his arm around Garner’s waist, showing a close connection between them.

It came just after his marriage to Lopez ended and he was a single man. 

In August 2024, the Hustlers actress filed for divorce.

Ben Affleck reportedly spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas with Jennifer Garner and their kids, and continued this tradition the following year in 2025.

It’s a support system that certainly makes sense. 

Ben Affleck has publicly discussed his struggles with alcohol and has sought treatment multiple times, first in 2001, and later in 2017 and 2018. Throughout these challenges, Jennifer Garner remained supportive.

Last week, Garner discussed the difficulties of raising her children with Affleck as co-parents.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen many couples navigate challenging transitions, and Jennifer Garner’s experience is a great example of prioritizing family. Even after a decade together, she and her ex-husband divorced in 2015, but they’ve really focused on co-parenting. She’s shared that they’ve both grown into being truly supportive ‘both parents’ for their kids, which is wonderful to see.

Jennifer recently shared on the Bustle podcast, One Nightstand, that when children are raised in two different homes, she often takes on both parental roles, while the other parent does the same.

It’s understandable why it’s challenging. When parents aren’t a complete unit – when they don’t share both perspectives – they need to make an effort to incorporate both sides into their parenting approach.

While it’s sad to see some things change, there’s also a positive side. It’s taught me to be more flexible and not worry so much about controlling everything.

Following her divorce, Jennifer Garner spoke about her relationship with Ben Affleck, describing him as the ‘love of her life’ and emphasizing that they’ll always share a deep connection, even though they are no longer together.

In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, she explained that she didn’t fall for a celebrity image, but for the man himself. She affirmed she’d make the same choice to be with him again, despite any difficulties, emphasizing their deep connection and the family they built together. She stated he remains the love of her life.

Look, even though we’re divorcing, I still need to maintain some level of connection with my ex. He understands parts of my life that no one else does, and honestly, I’m the only one who truly knows him – the real him. It’s complicated, but navigating this means acknowledging that shared history and understanding, even as we move forward separately.

Affleck has said he always hoped to stay married to his first wife, primarily for the sake of their children, and thankfully, they’ve managed to successfully co-parent despite the divorce.

In a 2020 interview on Good Morning America, he shared that he never wanted a divorce. The idea of being divorced and creating a broken home for his children deeply bothered him. He explained it was painful and disappointing because it challenged his self-perception – he didn’t see himself as someone who would go through a divorce, and that realization was incredibly difficult.

Having children with someone creates a lifelong connection, and I feel very fortunate that Jenifer is the mother of my kids.

I have a lot of respect for her, and I’m thankful for our time together. While our marriage didn’t last, we both agree that it’s crucial for our children to see us treating each other with kindness and respect, even though we’re no longer a couple.

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2026-03-03 00:51