As I’m writing this, People Magazine still has not said anything about Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied’s “separation.” The split was reported in Us Weekly, which is not known for breaking news about Natalie Portman, and yet… there’s been no pushback from Natalie’s team either way. If the split story was false, Portman’s people would have run to People Mag with a soft denial, which is sort of what happened when the affair story broke in June. “Sources close to Natalie Portman” confirmed that Benjamin had an affair and that they were working through it. The last story on People about Portman is from last Friday, where she flew to Sydney and was photographed without her wedding ring. So… I think the separation is real. I can’t believe Us Weekly broke the story. In any case, the Daily Mail also has an exclusive about what’s going on between Natalie and Benjamin.
A source close to Portman, 42, has now shared some insight into the status of their relationship – shutting down rumors that they have ‘separated’ and insisting that the actress still ‘doesn’t know’ if she will walk away from her marriage, despite feeling ‘powerless’ as a result of the infidelity.
‘[Natalie] hates that [Benjamin’s] infidelity has made her feel powerless,’ the insider told DailyMail.com. ‘She doesn’t know if she can regain her power by staying with him or leaving him. It is really a struggle to have to continue to deal with it.’
But, the source insisted that ‘deep down’, Portman and Millepied are still ‘really in love’ and are trying to work out what went wrong in their marriage.
‘They are really taking it day by day because deep down they are really in love, and they are trying to figure out what has caused the distance between them,’ the source continued. ‘She wants to stay with him, and he really wants to be with her. They both know that breaking up and staying together forever are still on the table and only time will tell what direction they will actually take.’
When the affair story broke in June, I felt that Portman was doing damage control for her own image and for her marriage. Nowadays, I kind of think she was trying to give herself some space and time to figure out how the hell she felt about Ben’s actions and what she should do next. Like, I kind of thought her ego was bruised more than anything else at first – how could he cheat on ME, I’m Natalie Portman, one of the most beautiful women in the world – but now I believe that she’s really been going through it and his affair threw her whole life into chaos. I still say she should dump his ass, but that’s my solution for everything. Throw the whole man away and rise like a phoenix from the ashes of your terrible marriage.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
170952, Natalie Portman, Benjamin Millepied attends Benjamin Millepied And L.A. Dance Project Annual Gala. Los Angeles, California – Saturday October 7, 2017. Photograph: © PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Photoshot): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000,Image: 507689416, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: PacificCoastNews / Avalon 
Natalie Portman, Benjamin Millepied at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Los Angeles, California – Sunday February 24, 2019. Photograph: © Joe Sutter/PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com,Image: 535458534, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Sutter/PacificCoastNews / Avalon 
Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman arrive on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020.,Image: 563458145, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS РFee Payable Upon Reproduction РFor queries contact Avalon.red Рsales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Valerie Durant / Avalon
BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – OCTOBER 16: Choreographer/dancer Benjamin Millepied and wife/actress Natalie Portman arrive at the L.A. Dance Project 2021 Gala – Unforgettable Evening Under The Stars held at The Pritzker Estate on October 16, 2021 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 638331907, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Benjamin Millepied, Natalie Portman, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon 
Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones celebrating the 94th annual Academy Awards at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California,Image: 673540212, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon 
Natalie Portman attend the “May December” photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2023 in Cannes, France.,Image: 777891105, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWppbH56e82aq5qkmZqssbvRraSapo%2BdrrWx0piroZmklK%2BmusmapKKmj6K2rbjEqaCenKOUrqeywKKpmKCRqKyurcOelqGdopSzprHLmKeor5Wnuaa%2F0mg%3D