Jennifer Garner’s “Number One Concern” Is Reportedly Her Kids as Ben Affleck Returns to Rehab

In the midst of Ben Affleck‘s return to rehab for alcohol addiction earlier this week, a source close to the actor and his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, has revealed to People that Jen’s “number one concern” is the couple’s three children as Ben aims to improve his health. 

The insider added that Ben’s drinking has ultimately kept Jennifer, 46, from working to finalize the pair’s divorce, which was previously announced back in June 2015. [“She] struggles [with questions like], is Ben healthy enough to have custody? Can she rely on him to co-parent?”

Though Jen and Ben, 46, have been separated for quite some time, it was the actress who was photographed taking Ben to rehab on Wednesday, Aug. 22. In the snapshots, a visibly emotional Jennifer can be seen driving her Range Rover as Ben sat in the vehicle’s back seat. At the time, Radar Online reported they were on their way to an LA County rehab center where the father-of-three plans to get help. 

Jen arrived at his home in the Pacific Palisades around 4 p.m. that same day “with a woman believed to be her attorney” to make a dire plea for him to go to a treatment center. Apparently, she didn’t have to do much convincing, as he agreed he had a problem and would willingly accept the help. She left and returned 30 minutes later to make the drive.  

An x17 eyewitness said, “Ben was a mess; he was talking but you couldn’t understand what he was saying. Jen was just serious. She looked like she was holding back tears, but at the same time she looked upset. Seems like it’s not the first time she’s had to do this.”

“She reversed the car into the driveway and whisked Ben into the back seat,” the source continued. “He was sweaty, puffy, looking quite out of it. Jen rested her chin on her hand as she drove and just looked ahead.”

Radar explained that Ben fell off the wagon earlier this year and was caught with beer bottles outside of his house on the day he was taken to rehab. He also received treatment last winter after people spotted him drinking again at an event with his new girlfriend, Saturday Night Live writer Lindsay Shookus. It seems he and Lindsay have since split, because he has been seen partying with a 22-year-old Playboy model in recent days.

Ben and Jen announced their separation in 2015, but many fans held out hope for a reunion until they finally filed for divorce in April 2017. Though their marriage didn’t work out, they still clearly have a close relationship, and co-parent their three children together. Hopefully, for their sakes, his treatment is successful. He went many years sober after going to rehab in 2001, hopefully this time will stick.