Ben Affleck And Ana De Armas Reportedly Break Up After Year-Long Relationship

From ELLE

Five years after the breakdown of his ten-year marriage to Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck indicated that he had moved on romantically in 2020.

This wasn't the actor's first relationship since Garner - who is also the mother of his three children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel - but it was the first time we've seen him with another actress: Ana de Armas.

However, a year later and it appears that the couple have called it quits, symbolised by a cardboard cut out of Armas left outside Affleck's home in the rubbish...

Here's what we know:

Have Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas broken up?

On January 18, reports surfaced that after a year together Affleck and de Armas have gone their separate ways.

According to People, the split is 'amicable' and 'mutual' with the couple seemingly wanted different things, with De Armas not wanting to be based in Los Angeles, where Affleck is partly due to the proximity to his three children.

'They are in different points in their lives; there is deep love and respect there,' a source added.

De Armas has been seen publicly once since the split was announced, appearing in a video call interview where she sported a very Pulp Fiction-esque choppy bob haircut.

Shortly after the reports surfaced, the Mail Online then shared photos reportedly taken outside Affleck's home showing a cut-out of De Armas in the bin and some rubbish collectors struggling to dispose of the cardboard cut-out.

Last summer, following a streak of paparazzi photos of the former couple, Affleck and De Armas appeared to troll photographers by using that very same cut out to stage it outside the Argo actor's LA home.

Is this latest move part of another method to troll photographers with Affleck predicting the incoming media attention with news of the split? Who knows, but the symbolic picture certainly feels very meta.

How Did Ben Affleck And Ana De Armas Meet?

Ana Celia de Armas Caso, a 32-year-old actress of Cuban-Spanish heritage, has risen to prominence over the past few years successfully transitioning to Hollywood following her career beginnings on Spanish language films. The actress starred as the sympathetic healthcare worker in 2019's Knives Out with Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Toni Collette (among other huge Hollywood names) and will appear in the upcoming James Bond movie, No Time To Die - which has been significantly delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

It is believed Affleck and De Armas met playing a married couple in the upcoming thriller film called Deep Water.

The plot consists of 'a well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers.' The film is expected to be released in 2021.

Were Ben Affleck And Ana De Armas 'Official'?

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas went ‘Instagram Official’ with a social media post to celebrate the Bond actor's 32^nd birthday. The star shared several snaps from her big day with her boyfriend which appears to have been marked in a romantic desert retreat if the isolated location is anything to go by.

In one picture, the actors wrap their arms around each other in the sunshine while another sees them cuddled up at sunset.

‘Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes and love! Cheers to another great year,’ she captioned the selection of photos.

On the day, it appears the Knives Out star was treated to a chocolate cake decorated with gold candles and a ‘3-2’ candle, as well as received a ‘Happy Birthday’ tiara from her boyfriend.

The actress was also gifted balloons and banners, which were placed around the living room of their desert abode.

She later shared a video of herself hitting a piñata with Affleck encouraging her, shouting 'yes' when she hit the papier mâché container with force.

Were They Been Seen Out On Many Dates?

One of the first sightings of the pair came when they were spotted on a beach in Costa Rica. The Paparazzi captured them on an intimate stroll, with De Armas in a rust coloured halter dress an Affleck placing his arm affectionately around her hip.

According to multiple sources, however, this was not the first holiday for the pair. Reportedly, the pair jetted off on a romantic getaway to Havana, Cuba, earlier in March. A source told People that they were spotted kissing in the airport, before hopping on a private jet bound for De Arnas' ancestral home.

After returning from their aforementioned trip, De Armas shared a selection of pictures from her recent holiday including snaps of her paddling on the beach and a golden hour close up.

In a comment on the photo - which was quickly screen-grabbed by the @commentsbycelebs Instagram account - Affleck seemingly confirmed his new status as an Instagram boyfriend by writing on the post: 'Photo credit pls [sic]'.

Credit where credit is due, we guess?

As mentioned, over the summer, the couple were seen out and about a lot, grabbing breakfast and drinks together, walking their dogs and with Affleck's three children.

Did Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck publicly speak about each other?

Ana De Armas spoke publicly of her relationship with Ben Affleck, but it was more to congratulate him for his acting chops, rather than his skill at romance. In an interview that she gave to coincide with Vogue Spain's April cover, she spoke about her actor beau:

'The first time we read the scenes together, it became pretty clear he was going to do something exceptional with a very complex role. His character is the engine of the story and requires him to move between tragedy and irony or between realism and the most absurd comedy.'

'Not only does he know how to do it with ease, he also manages to surprise you in every shot. His talent is infinite.'

Does Ben Affleck Have A Secret Instagram Account?

Affleck and de Armas girlfriend might post regularly on their official Instagram accounts but little did we think the Fargo actor might have a secret account.

On Thursday June 4, writer Kelsey Weekman shared a screenshot of an account that she believes is run by the Batman actor in addition to his official account, @benaffleck, which has more than 4.3 million followers.

According to the now not-so-secret page, the account – which functions under the handle ‘@positiveattitudehunting’ – is followed by two celebrities including de Armas and his ex wife Jennifer Garner. The account has a third follower but it is unclear who might run that account.

The profile picture of Affleck’s rumoured account is that of him and the James Bond actress kissing and the handle is believed to refer to his 1997 Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting. ‘

Just a dad who sometimes makes movies,’ reads the account’s bio, along with the link to the non-profit organisation Eastern Congo Initiative, which the star is a supporter of.

The find has many of his fans congratulating Weekman on her investigative skills.

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