Affleck’s Christmas gift for Lopez reveals surprise obsession

Even though Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are reportedly ironing out the details of their divorce, the former super couple appear determined to maintain an amicable relationship and met up last weekend to exchange Christmas presents for themselves and their children. And, Affleck put some thought into his present for Lopez, Page Six reported. The gift wasn’t anything extravagant or intimate — not another multimillion-dollar piece of jewelry. Instead, it was something that would be meaningful to the mega-star entertainer and even reveals a personal obsession for her, according to Page Six.

The 52-year-old actor and director turned up at the members-only Soho House club in West Hollywood on Sunday, carrying a black bag that contained the gift — “an autographed Marlon Brando book.” That’s according sources who spoke to Page Six, including the owner of Mystery Pier Books, the famed West Hollywood book store where Affleck did some holiday shopping. “Ben gifted Jennifer with the (Marlon Brando) book because she’s a fan, plus her Super Bowl bodysuit was inspired by Marlon Brando,” a source told Page Six. The source didn’t identify the name of the “Marlon Brando book” but the legendary star of “The Godfather” and “Last Tango in Paris” published an autobiography, “Songs My Mother Taught Me” in 1994, 10 years before he died in 2004 at age 80.

Like any author, Brando autographed copies of his book, at least one of which could have ended up at Mystery Pier Books. The internationally renowned Sunset Boulevard shop is known for its celebrity clientele and for exclusively selling “first edition, first state” copies of collectible literature, including books signed by authors. Meanwhile, Lopez’s “Super Bowl bodysuit” likely refers to the sexy and studded, black-leather bodysuit she wore while performing at the Super Bowl LIV Halftime show in 2020. It sounds as if the bodysuit was inspired by Brando’s iconic outlaw biker look in his 1953 film, “The Wild One.”

Starting in 1951, Brando became the hottest and most heralded young actor in Hollywood, with starring roles “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On the Waterfront” and “The Wild One.” Subsequent generations of stars, from Al Pacino to Johnny Depp, have cited Brando as an inspiration for how to approach acting on film. It now appears that Brando was an inspiration for Lopez as well, and Affleck thought Lopez would like a book related to the two-time Oscar winner.

Signed copies of Brando’s autobiography can sell for $600 or more on eBay. Of course, several hundred dollars wouldn’t be considered extravagant in the Affleck-Lopez playbook. Affleck reportedly spent more than $7 million on two diamond engagement rings he gave to Lopez over the course of their two-decade-long love story. They first made news as a couple in 2001 and became engaged before enduring a big, splashy breakup in 2004. After the two rekindled their romance 17 years later, their love story reached its apex with their marriage in 2022. They first wed by eloping to Las Vegas in July 2022, then wed again in a lavish ceremony on the grounds of Affleck’s Georgia estate in August 2022.

But it was downhill from there, according to multiple reports. The couple separated in April 2024 and Lopez filed for divorce on the second anniversary of their Georgia reception. Nonetheless, they have reportedly vowed to stay friendly, if only for the sake of the five children they share between them.

Lopez shares 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with her third ex-husband Marc Anthony. Affleck co-parents Violet, 19, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. When Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance, their children became close. Page Six reported last week that the estranged spouses want to stay “connected” amid their divorce, though they apparently celebrated the holidays separately. On Christmas Day, Lopez posted photos of her enjoying the holidays in Aspen with Emme and with her sister Lynda Lopez.

“They have every intention of continuing to be in each other’s lives despite not being romantically involved,” a source told Page Six. “Ben and Jennifer are still connected and they do communicate when it involves their kids.” The exes also “have a mutual respect” for each other, which is “not something that goes away” overnight, the source also said.

Tribune News Service