With £1-million-worth of preparations in full swing when their wedding was called off at the 11th hour, it's not surprising speculation is running rife as to what's behind the postponement of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's nuptials. Explanations range from cold feet on Ben's part to rumours of voodoo influence on Jen.
Although the couple released a joint statement on Wednesday stating: "Due to obsessive media attention surrounding out wedding, we have decided to postpone the date," industry insiders have scoffed at this media-shy stance from the high-profile pair. "As if they would postpone the marriage because of media attention," says New York gossip columnist Paula Froelich.
It would certainly seem an odd move from a couple who in the early stages of their relationship courted exposure with dramatic romantic gestures, newspaper ads and joint progress ranging from movies to music videos.
According to friends of the Daredevil star, the main man may have got cold feet. Insiders point to this being borne out by Jen's tearful phone call to friends and family alerting them to the postponement and her grim-faced demeanor leaving the The Ivy Restaurant an hour after the announcement was made.
Others, however, have looked to more bizarre cause for the cancellation, citing J Lo's relationship with psychic Merle Gonzalez as featuring large in the decision. Jen has apparently become closer to Merle, practitioner of the South American, voodoo-associated religion Santeria in recent months. Despite her Catholic upbringing, friends say the star is "very superstitious" and has turned more and more to the woman she calls "my godmother" as stress over the nuptials has escalated.
"It's Merle who Jennifer turns to whenever she needs counsel on the important things in her life," says a neighbour.
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