While the celebrity gossip world may be reeling over the news, most in the know are not surprised by the Ben Affleck-Jenner Garner divorce.
Multiple insiders confirm that the couple had been in marriage counseling for two years and living separately for 10 months.
But that isn’t making the official filing any easier for Affleck to take.
"He’s devastated. Nobody intends to go down this path," an insider tells People of Affleck.
"They both battled, and he really battled to try and save the marriage but ultimately it was the best thing for the kids and for him and Jen."
Why did Affleck and Garner split?
There has been no confirmation of infidelity and the two really do appear to be on good terms.
But some say Affleck’s drinking and gambling habits became too much for Garner to handle, while others simply point to busy schedules and different ideas on how each wants to live his or her life.
Garner comes across as far more family-oriented than her soon-to-be-ex-husband, who definitely enjoys his social life.
One report describes Affleck as Garner’s fourth child due to immature attitude and desire to act like a character on Entourage at all times.
There’s also been a report that alleges the divorce was not related to Affleck’s behavior, but rather to his intense focus on a successful career that includes his role as the new Batman.
"After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the stars said in a joint statement this week.
"We go forward with love and friendship for one another."
Considering the counseling and all the time it took for Affleck and Garner to reach their ultimate conclusion, this sort of statement may ring true for once.
"These are two people who really tried to save their marriage and worked really hard at it," the People source adds. "Ultimately they had grown apart and they did what was best for their kids."
