Strange Things About Jennifer Garner And John Miller's Relationship We Can't Ignore

Jennifer Garner and John Miller were first linked in fall 2018 and have kept their relationship very much out of the spotlight since then. The "13 Going On 30" actor has shied away from sharing any major details about her romance with the businessman publicly, refraining from speaking about her love in interviews and sharing pictures or videos on social media. "They like to date out of the spotlight and often leave L.A. for weekend trips," a source told People.

But, as private as these two have been, they haven't been able to hide their romance's oddities. From reported negative feelings from Miller about Garner's continued close bond with her former husband Ben Affleck, to the couple reportedly not being on the same page about marriage, there are a fair few weird things we've noticed about their relationship. And these issues could make it quite the bumpy ride.

Though it's admirable how Jennifer Garner has stayed on great terms with her former husband Ben Affleck for the sake of their three children, including daughter Violet Affleck who's had a stunning height transformation, it's also understandable why John Miller reportedly isn't too happy about them staying so close. "Their growing bond is getting to be a bit much when Ben spends all the holidays with them like Christmas and Thanksgiving. John feels like a third wheel," a Page Six source claimed. "It used to be solely about the kids, but John feels like it could be more than just about their coparenting relationship," they added.

While it's important to maintain a cordial co-parenting relationship (which makes Garner and Affleck a celebrity couple who are total divorce goals), we can understand why Miller (who also has children from a previous relationship) may feel a little uncomfortable around the exes. A source told People in March 2025 that Garner and Affleck sometimes spend time together even with their children aren't around. They also claimed of how the "Armageddon" actor behaves with his ex-wife, "[He's] extra giddy lately ... and much more affectionate." They added of Garner, "She enjoys spending time with him."

But while Miller's reported feelings may be justified, it's imperative he doesn't let any negative emotions get in the way for the sake of the children involved. Speaking to Well + Good, co-parenting coach and therapist Aurisha Smolarski, LMFT, advised anyone dating someone with a co-parent, "You have to take into account that they will likely be in the picture as well and you have to be able to have reasonable discussions."

After two years of dating, Jennifer Garner and John Miller split in summer 2020. A source confirmed their breakup to Us Weekly, who claimed they wanted different things and his seriousness for her wasn't fully reciprocated. "They parted on very amicable terms," the source said. Us Weekly's insider then confirmed the very private couple had reconciled in May 2021. "Jen and John are back on. It started up a few weeks ago," they said. People's source also divulged on their reconciliation, sharing, "It's never been the easiest [relationship] though since they both have families. They took a long break from dating, but Jen is very happy that they are back together."

Though there are plenty of couples who once split but made it work when they got back together (including Kate Middleton and Prince William, who also have some strange red flags in their marriage), Garner and Miller are likely to find the issues they faced before are still there. That's why, though there are plenty of tips for rekindling a relationship with a past love, it's not usually a good idea if nothing has changed. "Unless an issue was one-dimensional (like someone being jobless and now they are employed), most situations don't simply disappear and people don't change without making the effort to change and being shown how to change. It is unrealistic to simply say, let's just start fresh," neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez explained to Today.

Jennifer Garner and John Miller could face serious problems down the line, as they reportedly have different opinions on where their relationship is heading. A source told Us Weekly of their breakup, "He was ready for marriage and she just couldn't commit." That came several months after Us Weekly's insider also claimed, "[He] very much wants to marry [her, but] he knows she can't be rushed." Garner appeared to confirm marriage wasn't a priority for her while speaking to People in 2021. She replied after being asked if she'd get married again, "I don't know. I'm so far from it. And I don't know that marriage would need to be a part [of a relationship]." No one should feel they're being rushed or forced into such a serious commitment, but if Miller really wants marriage and Garner doesn't, it's unlikely their relationship will go the distance. "If one partner really has set their heart on it then perhaps that really is a deal breaker," relationship expert Anna Williamson told Hitched.

Though Garner hasn't publicly shared her reasons for not wanting to walk down the aisle, it could be to do with her two previous marriages. From 2000 until 2003, she was married to Scott Foley. Garner spoke candidly to The Sun about how hard she found their split, sharing, "I found divorce a crushing experience. I thought the divorce statistics would never apply to me. I was beyond heartbroken when they did." She later married Ben Affleck, but they split in 2015 after a decade of marriage and three children. She seemed even more crushed the second time, telling Vanity Fair, "He's the love of my life. What am I going to do about that?"

In October 2018, People confirmed Jennifer Garner had started dating again following her divorce from Ben Affleck and was dating John Miller. "They are casually dating but it's not serious. He hasn't met her kids," a source said. Another source told Us Weekly that same month she had been quietly seeing Miller for six months, and they even rebuffed People's insider claims about things being super casual. "It's getting pretty serious," they stated. In November 2018, Garner and Miller stepped out together for performance of "Dear Evan Hansen," and around a year later, they were spotted out again in Santa Monica. But, despite the two dating for over a year by that point, Garner still seemed reluctant to acknowledge her partner or their relationship in public.

In fact, she actually implied she was single in January 2020. After Garner hopped on the photo collage trend that saw people post their different moods via faux LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder photos, one fan commented (via Comments By Celebs), "I would have switched the Instagram and Tinder pics..." Garner responded, "Shoot, is THAT why no one swipes?" Though, of course, the Texan's quip was a joke, her reluctance to acknowledge her relationship certainly felt odd considering they'd been together so long and she'd been so open about her romances in the past.

At the time of writing, despite dating for six years (not including the year of their breakup) Jennifer Garner and John Miller still don't live together. Us Weekly reported the businessman was informally living with the "Daredevil" star part-time, but noted, "He has an office in L.A. and splits his time between staying there and at Jennifer's home. But he's been staying with Jennifer more often [and] doesn't want to impose, so he's looking for his own place... [and] deciding whether he'll rent or buy."

Though there's no right or wrong amount of time for a couple to start cohabitating and it's important both feel ready for such a big milestone, Miller looking to purchase his own home near Garner's is a little odd considering both are adults who have been together so long. The time they've spent dating without living together also puts Garner and Miller way out of step with other couples in the U.S. A 2017 Stanford University study found 25% of U.S. couples had moved in together after four months of dating, half were cohabitating after being together for a year, and 70% had moved in after two years. But if they'll ever move in full-time remains to be seen.