Actor-filmmaker Ben Affleck and actress Jennifer Garner reportedly split up after 10 years of marriage because of singer-actress Jennifer Lopez.

The duo announced their divorce on Tuesday - just a day after their tenth wedding anniversary, and according to friends, one of the reasons for the break-up was the 42-year-old's continued friendship with his former fiancee Lopez, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Everyone is talking about J-Lo and Ben and saying it's inevitable they will get together again at some point. We call them the Richard Burton and Liz Taylor of Hollywood,” The Sun newspaper quoted one of their friends as saying.

“They were pretty flirty at the Oscars and have stayed in touch over email. Jennifer Garner never liked it,” the friend added.

Another reason for the collapse of the couple's marriage was said to be that Affleck, who quit drinking after a spell in rehab in 2001, started drinking again to get into character for his role in “Gone Girl”, and missed Garner's birthday in April and America's Mother's Day in May, despite having three children - Violet (9), Seraphina (6), and Samuel (3) - together.

The friend explained: "This has been on the cards for some time -- it's a miracle Jen hung on so long."

"She has really tried but recently Ben has been back to his old self. He was drinking again while filming 'Gone Girl' and has been gambling loads too."

(Source: IANS)