Just a month after Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced they were divorcing, the rumors started to fly.
It began with a report in Us Weekly that Ben Affleck has been dating 28-year-old Christine Ouzounian, who was originally hired by Affleck and Garner to nanny their three children. According to Us, Garner fired Ouzounian after discovering the relationship, but they've reportedly continued to see each other, with Ouzounian being photographed at Affleck's L.A. rental on July 17. Multiple sources also confirmed the relationship to People. "Christine is in love with him," said a friend of Ouzounian's.
Affleck's camp, however, completely denied the allegations. "The story is complete garbage and full of lies," a rep for Affleck told People. "It's shameful. We are considering legal options." A source close to Affleck also told People that the two had "a work relationship and a friendship. There has never been a romantic or sexual relationship."
So perhaps the big question isn't did he or didn't he—but do we really have a right to know in the first place? Sure, Affleck and Garner are celebrities who have chosen to live their lives in the public eye, which can give the illusion to fans that we know them on some personal level. But the truth is, we don't—at all—so we certainly can't expect to gain insight into the most personal, inner workings of their marriage and its failure. And even if we were to find out what really happened between Ben, Jen, and the nanny, it's still a lose-lose situation. Affairs are deeply emotional, traumatizing, and private events for couples that face them; rumors of affairs are just as hurtful and damaging to everyone involved. So maybe, this one is better off left alone.
