Oooof! We already knew that one of Hollywood’s longest-running celeb bestie ships had hit some VERY choppy waters behind the scenes, but as it now turns out, that proverbial rainstorm lasted a long, long, long time… over an extremely extended falling-out!
According to insiders spilling tea on Wednesday, longtime BFFs Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini didn’t exactly have one giant explosive falling out when they did become estranged from each other. Rather, their friendship allegedly started fading after years of growing tension, changing priorities, and, yes… Ben Affleck apparently entering the picture again.
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The two ladies were once attached at the hip. Leah famously supported J.Lo through multiple relationships, red carpets, and career highs — and fans LOVED seeing their ride-or-die energy together. But sources now claim things slowly became “too much” for Jennifer over time.
A source said this about it to Page Six on Wednesday:
“Jennifer eventually hit a point where she felt like she needed more space from the friendship, and Leah’s feelings were definitely hurt by that because she really valued how close they once were.”
Whoa.
And the source added:
“Around the time they filmed and promoted the movie together, Jennifer started feeling like the friendship had become a little too intense for her. There was so much constant time together during filming and the press tour that Jennifer eventually felt overwhelmed by the dynamic and started pulling back.”
Apparently, some of the strain reportedly began around the time the ladies worked together on Second Act back in 2018. While they still publicly supported each other, insiders claim there was growing emotional distance behind closed doors.
And then came Bennifer 2.0…
Sources also allege Leah and Ben never totally vibed, which may have created even MORE awkwardness once Jennifer rekindled her romance with the Oscar winner and eventually married him, saying:
“Leah and Ben never really clicked, and that definitely created a bit of a wedge between Jennifer and Leah for a period of time. It wasn’t some huge dramatic falling out or anything like that, but over time Jennifer just took a step back from the friendship.”
Still, before anybody starts screaming “celebrity feud,” insiders insist this wasn’t some dramatic Hollywood blowup filled with screaming matches and subtweets. The friendship reportedly just… cooled off. Over the course of a loooooong while, apparently. But honestly? That almost makes it sadder!
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Interestingly, the outlet reports the pair may have quietly reconnected in the last year while BOTH women were navigating difficult personal transitions in their marriages.
Sometimes heartbreak has a way of bringing old friends back together, right? Nevertheless, the source noted:
“Jennifer still has love for Leah and there’s no huge drama or anything like that, but the friendship just isn’t what it used to be. They’re not constantly texting and hanging out anymore. Over the last few years Jennifer took a bit of a step back and their lives aren’t as intertwined as they once were.”
And there’s more:
“Leah definitely misses the closeness they had and would always be open to being super close again, but Jennifer’s just in a different place right now. They still care about each other, it’s just more of a distant friendship these days rather than that tight bond people saw before.”
Leah has publicly denied any huge drama in the past, previously suggesting friendships naturally evolve over time — especially in Hollywood, where schedules, marriages, careers, and personal growth can pull people in different directions.
Still… fans definitely noticed the distance.
Do U think these two will ever become inseparable besties again?! Or is this friendship permanently stuck in the “Hollywood history” category?? Share your takes (below)!
[Image via MEGA/WENN/Nicky Nelson]
