Inside Ben Affleck and Kick Kennedy's budding romance: From first hook-up to fears of being labeled a 'mistress' amid Jennifer Lopez divorce

Ben Affleck previously enjoyed a brief fling with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s daughter, Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy before he rekindled his relationship with his now-estranged wife, Jennifer Lopez, sources have revealed.

The news comes after it was reported that Ben and Kick, 36, have been spotted hanging out together in recent weeks amid his split from the Love Don't Cost a Thing singer.

The Oscar winner's relationship status was finally confirmed last week after Jennifer, 55, officially filed for divorce - revealing that the pair separated in April this year.

Now insiders have revealed to DailyMail.com that Kick and Ben, 52, are 'enjoying spending time' together but the writer is remaining 'tight-lipped' about their connection because she doesn't want to be seen as a 'mistress'.

'Ben and Kick had a fling before he got back together with JLo,' the source began. 'They met because Ben is from Boston and when you live in Boston, the Kennedy family is royalty.'

Ben Affleck has been 'spending time' with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s daughter, Kathleen 'Kick,' amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez 

The Oscar winner's estranged wife, Jennifer Lopez, officially filed for divorce last week - confirming that the pair separated in April this year

The insider continued: 'So when he started hanging out with Kick, he legit thought that he had landed into the Kennedy family. But she was too young and not ready for anything serious.'

The source stressed that the pair's romance did not ever overlap with the actor's rekindled relationship with Jennifer as they continued: 'They didn’t have any affair during his marriage, but it is interesting to Kick’s friends that as soon as this divorce happened all of a sudden Ben is hanging out with an old hookup whose family he sees as royalty.'

As for how Kick views the actor, the insider stated: 'She thinks that he is intelligent and very much her style but is being incredibly tight-lipped because she does not want to be seen as a mistress. 

'She is not a mistress. She is nothing like JLo and likes to keep her private life private.'

The source explained that Kick isn't wasting much time worrying about how Jennifer might feel about Ben's decision to reconnect as they added: 'Kick is fond of Ben, and she does not care what JLo thinks honestly. 

'When they started hanging out, he and JLo were separated. He made this very clear with her. JLo listing their separation as April only confirmed this.'

The source continued: 'They are both taking it day by day but so far, she is enjoying spending time with him. They hang out at Beverly Hills Hotel because it offers a level of privacy to celebs that nowhere else does. 

'The fact that people say she looks like Jen Garner is flattering to her as she thinks Jen is beautiful.' 

Ben and Kick previously enjoyed a brief fling with Kick sometime before he rekindled his relationship with Jennifer in 2021 (Pictured in Arlington, VA in June 2018)

Sources say that Kick is remaining 'tight-lipped' about their recent connection because she doesn't want to be seen as a 'mistress' amid the actor's divorce

Meanwhile, a second source confirmed that the pair are simply getting to know each other better as they stated: 'Ben has been spending time with Kick but there is nothing there yet. 

'They are friends and enjoy hanging with each other and it is true that she really doesn’t have any thoughts about what JLo would think of her spending time with Ben. He’s a great guy and they are getting to know each other.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Ben Affleck and Kick Kennedy for comment. 

Although it is also not clear how Ben and Kick initially met, the daughter of RFK Jr. has an interest for the entertainment industry. 

Kick, born born Kathleen Alexandra, is an actress who has enjoyed small parts in several TV shows and movies, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring her stepmother Cheryl Hines, 58. 

Her most recent role was as a 'lazy tourist' in 2021's Fear and Loathing in Aspen.

She is a graduate from Stanford University in California where she studied both history and theater. 

The actress has a social media presence, boasting 17.1 k followers on Instagram,  but hasn't posted anything there since August 24, 2023, in which she appeared with a Saker falcon.

She has mingled with other celebrities such as Taylor Swift, who notably dated her brother Conor in 2012. 

According to her IMDB page, she is an actress and writer, as well as a philanthropist and activist. 

Although it is also not clear how Ben and Kick initially met, the daughter of RFK Jr. has an interest for the entertainment industry - she is also a philanthropist and activist

Kick has also enjoyed small parts in several TV shows and movies, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring her stepmother Cheryl Hines, 58  (Pictured in New York City in September 2015)

Her stepmother - who tied the knot with RFK Jr. in 2014 - is actress Cheryl Hines, who is also known for starring in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Kick's mother is Emily Ruth Black, who was married to RFK Jr. from 1982 through 1994.

He later tied the knot with Mary Richardson in 1994 until their divorce in 2010. Two years later, Mary passed away by suicide. Kick has five other siblings. 

After months of split rumors, Jennifer officially pulled the plug on her marriage to Ben when she filed for divorce on Aug 20. 

She cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split, and listed April 26, 2024 as the separation date.

Ben and The Wedding Planner actress first started dating in 2002 after bonding on set of the film Gigli, and they quickly got engaged.

But they called it quits in 2004, just before they were set to become husband and wife. 

They both went on to wed other people - she exchanged vows with Marc Anthony in 2004, while Ben walked down the aisle with Jennifer Garner in 2005 - but after splitting from their respective partners, they eventually got back together in 2021. 

The superstar couple first tied the knot at a chapel in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a larger and lavish ceremony the next month at his Georgia estate on August 20.

It was recently revealed that Ben and Jennifer had 'planned' their divorce before she officially filed. 

The insider told Us Weekly that the estranged couple had previously 'gone through all the details' of their split.

'They had already agreed to these terms before she filed,' the insider continued to the outlet.

The Hustlers actress, 'finally pulled the trigger because that was their agreement that she would file, and she was the one who ultimately made the decision.'

A financial issue in regards to their separation is the pair's lavish $60 million Beverly Hills mansion that was purchased last year.

The source told DailyMail.com: 'They are both taking it day by day but so far, she is enjoying spending time with him'

Ben and Jennifer first got engaged at the end of 2002 but broke it off a year later before calling quits on their relationship for good in 2004

The couple rekindled in 2021 and married in a Las Vegas ceremony the following July, before throwing a lavish wedding at his Georgia estate in August 2022 (pictured)

Following renovations in the spacious property, the home was listed on the market in July for $68 million.

The source explained: 'There's really nothing else to divide. One person doesn't want more than the other. They both came in with significant assets of their own.' 

Indeed, Jennifer has denied spousal support and also requested that Ben not ask for support. 

The hitmaker has a net worth of $400 million, while the actor has a net worth of $150 million.

While divorce rumors began a few months earlier in May when the pair had not been seen together for over a month, issues reportedly arose during their 2022 honeymoon in Italy. 

A source recently told Page Six, 'When they weren't in front of the cameras. They would barely speak to each other during what was supposed to be the happiest time of their life.'

'He sold her on him being a changed man, and that lasted a very short time,' the insider said.

It was also claimed that Ben, 'started craving more privacy, and he could no longer take Jennifer's level of celebrity. He doesn't want [the entourage] and all the drama that comes with that in his home.'

Next month on September 6, Jennifer is slated to make an appearance at the premiere of their movie, Unstoppable - but her ex will not be in attendance.

The pair were last pictured together on March 30. They then spent the summer apart; Jennifer largely on the east coast while Ben remains at home in Los Angeles.