Bennifer back?
It's Gossip Time!
Hello and welcome to Gossip Time, a weekly guide to the stars by Allie Jones. This week: a celebrity couple reunites (again), an actor promotes his cool girlfriend, and an actress reveals her true thoughts about Blake Lively.
After the former Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on their two-year wedding anniversary in August, sources (Benny Medina) ran to People just about every day to explain why the split was all Ben’s fault. He was moody; he didn’t want to share his heart with the world like she did; he ghosted her. The tabloids reported that the divorce was acrimonious and not at all settled. But now, it seems, there’s been a thaw: People hasn’t published a negative story about Ben in two weeks, Kick Kennedy has been dispatched (just in time for her father to land on TMZ’s homepage — I can’t even get into that), and Ben and Jen are…kissing again?
You’ve probably seen the photos by now: Ben and Jen took their kids to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch on Saturday and strolled in front of several paparazzi. They didn’t exactly look happy to be together…
But according to Page Six’s source, they were. “Ben and J.Lo are currently at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel holding hands and kissing,” the source said. “The kids are with them, but at a separate table.”
Another source told the outlet that it was Ben’s idea to meet up as “friends,” for the kids, but “once they were together, he could not keep his hands off” his soon-to-be ex-wife. Aw!
This news item, of course, gave me hope: Bennifer should obviously get back together and have a third wedding as soon as possible. But yet another source ran to People and said the divorce is still on.
“They are still moving forward with the divorce and working out financial details amicably,” the source claimed. “They all came together for a fun lunch so the kids could hang out.”
On Tuesday night, Ben and J.Lo were spotted together again at a back-to-school night for their kids. According to TMZ, at least some of their kids attend the same school (interesting!) and they were “very cordial” at the event. (Making out probably would have been inappropriate.)
“Our sources are adamant they’re not rekindling anything — they’re still getting divorced,” TMZ reported. “We’re told they’re a couple who still care for each other…they’re wrapped up in a years-long love affair.”
Aren’t we all?
One couple that is definitely together: Brad Pitt, 60, and his hot, drama-free girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 34 (or so). After making their “red carpet debut” at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month and taking a paparazzi tour of New York whilst wearing bucket hats, they have landed back in L.A. for the premiere of Wolfs, Pitt’s new comedy-thriller with George Clooney. Pitt brought de Ramon on the red carpet again, where she wore another ruched bodycon dress:
Sure, whatever. After the premiere, Pitt and de Ramon went in search of more photographers at the paparazzi-friendly restaurant Mother Wolf in Hollywood. Then a source gave Us Weekly the exclusive update about their relationship. It’s serious.
“They’re super in love,” the source (a gossipy eighth grader?) revealed to the tabloid. Things are “serious between Brad and Ines,” the source added. “He’s very committed to her and their future.”
A second exclusive source told the tabloid that Pitt and de Ramon are both “hippies at heart,” whatever that means. At least this gives people something to talk about other than the fact that Apple canceled Wolfs’ wide theatrical release.
Also still together: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, despite the former’s tough P.R. run the last few weeks. I don’t think these two will ever split up, actually. (Though can you IMAGINE their jokey Instagram statement announcing it? Heaven forfend.)
The couple went for two separate pap strolls in New York this week as Lively attempts to work her way back into the public eye (and the haircare sales business) after all the It Ends With Us drama. She’s wearing very similar Chanel bags in the photos — maybe she’s behind on a contract or something.
When we first discussed the backlash to Lively and her It Ends With Us promo strategy last month, subscriber
commented that it was interesting Lively has never been seen with Kaitlin Olson, despite the fact that their husbands (Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) own that Welsh soccer team together. Well now we know for sure: They are not friends.
At the premiere of her new ABC crime procedural High Potential this week, an Us Weekly reporter asked Olson if she and McElhenney ever go on double dates with Reynolds and Lively. This was her response:
“Everyone’s very, very busy. I’ve met Blake twice…I would love to hang out with them both more often. I love Ryan.”
Hahaha yikes.
STUFF BY HILARY DUFF: Are you there God? It’s me, Allie, delivering an important message from Hilary Duff:
Finally, I’ll leave you with some key election news out of Missouri:
Gossip Time will be keeping a close eye on this story as we head into the final days of the race.
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“…I’ve met Blake twice.” Say a lot with a little Kaitlin Olson!
I lolled multiple times, especially at the Hilary Duff update, but I think “a gossipy eighth grader?” took me out the hardest. Your commitment to journalism remains unmatched 🫡