Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are ringing in the New Year in the celeb favourite holiday destination of St Barts.
But the couple appears to have had a tense day in paradise on Saturday, looking strained as they shopped in the high end boutiques of St Bart’s capital Gustavia.
JLo, 54, and Ben, 51, had a heated discussion as they checked out expensive Bulgari jewelery together.
While Ben helped his wife try on a variety of high end pieces, at one stage the actor looked exasperated, throwing his hands in the air as his wife sat next to him with a tense expression.
The couple eventually kissed and made up, with Jennifer cuddling her husband for a series of selfies before the pair locked lips.
Jennifer tried on a necklace and earrings, which Ben, 51 took photos of. JLo seemed particularly taken with a stunning choker-style necklace from the Cinemagia high jewellery collection, posing in the mirror and asking Ben to take a series of snaps of her wearing it.
The singer and actress flashed her toned abs in a tiny white crop top for the shopping trip, teamed with a pink maxi skirt and a pink Chanel bag.
Just the day before, the couple looked loved-up as they indulged in some more retail therapy in Gustavia.
It comes after the couple celebrated the holiday season together with friends and family.
Earlier this month, the couple threw a holiday party at their home with pals including Margot Robbie and Michael B. Jordan in attendance, People reports.
The bash was decked out for the holidays with a massive Christmas tree greeting guests at the entryway and plenty of seasonal decor.
Video circulating on social media shows Jennifer in a sparkling green gown as she sings Jingle Bells with guests alongside musical accompaniment.
Ben wasn’t seen in the video, but guests are shown gathered beside a live band with sparkling garland jazzing up the room.
‘The kids were all there dancing and having a great time, especially the twins and Violet,’ a source said of Jennifer’s children with ex Marc Anthony, 15-year-old Emme and Max, and Ben Affleck’s daughter with ex Jennifer Garner, 18-year-old Violet.
Guests partook in singing Christmas carols, and JLo helped kick off several of the songs herself.
The couple entertained their own friends separately during their hosting duties, with a source adding the duo were in ‘such good spirits.’
Other celebrities in attendance include Ben’s brother Casey Affleck, Jennifer Lewis, Lily Rabe, and JLo’s manager Benny Medina.
Jennifer and Ben have been married for just over a year after sensationally reconciling nearly two decades following their initial split.
The couple, who first called off their engagement in 2004, reunited during the pandemic and said ‘I do’ at the The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas last summer. A more lavish ceremony at Ben’s Georgia estate followed a month later.
Jennifer shares her twins Emme and Max with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.
Prior to her rekindling with Ben, she was engaged to baseball pro Alex Rodriguez, but they ultimately split.
Ben was previously married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018. They share daughters Violet, Seraphina, 13, and son Samuel, 10.
In a candid recent interview with Variety, Jennifer confessed she and her husband still ‘both have PTSD’ from the glare of the spotlight on their first romance.
She shared that ‘we both have PTSD’ from their initial experience, but explained that in their present life as a married couple ‘we’re older now. We’re wiser.’
J-Lo added: ‘We also know what’s important, what’s really important in life, and it’s not so much what other people think. It’s about being true to who you are.’
At the moment, she is gearing up for the release of her upcoming album This Is Me… Now, a sequel to her 2002 album This Is Me… Then.
The new record will arrive alongside a companion film whose contents remain a mystery, but that will in some way revolve around her marriage to Ben.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
