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Ben Affleck was initially worried about how Jennifer Lopez romance would affect his kids

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 12/15/21

Ben Affleck is happily in love again with Jennifer Lopez, attending the Los Angeles premiere of The Tender Bar together Sunday (Dec. 12), but rekindling Bennifer wasn't a foregone conclusion.

Affleck joined The Howard Stern Show on Tuesday (Dec. 14), where Stern asked the two-time Oscar winner if he had any reservations about getting back together with Lopez because of the frenzy that would assuredly ensue.

"It crossed my mind for sure," he responded (h/t The Hollywood Reporter). "My responsibility to my children is the highest responsibility. I don’t want to do anything that is painful or destructive to them if I can help it."

Affleck shares daughters Violet, 16, and Seraphina, 12, as well as son Samuel, 9, with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, whom he was married to from 2005-15. (Their divorce wasn't finalized until 2018.)

The 49-year-old actor, director and writer also opened up about his split from Garner with Stern:

Prior to his relationship with Garner, Affleck and Lopez were engaged from 2002-04. J.Lo confirmed their romance was back on with the below photos around her 52nd birthday this July, but the writing had been on the wall since at least April.