(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jennifer Lopez's mother reportedly asked the star's ex-fianc for advice as her daughter's marriage failed.

The singer-and-actress and her husband-of-seven-years Marc Anthony announced they'd called time on their union last Friday.

It was Jennifer's third marriage, and she's also dated a number of high profile hunks including P. Diddy and Ben Affleck. The star and Ben were together for 18 months before calling off their engagement in 2004. Jennifer's mother Guadalupe Lopez has remained good friends with Ben, and it's been claimed she turned to him when she realised her daughter's romance was in trouble.

"Guadalupe reached out to Ben over email. She wanted advice for Jennifer," a source told Us Weekly. "She always liked and trusted him. [Ben] replied back on email, wished her well and offered what he could."

It's claimed Jennifer and Marc decided to end their union shortly after Guadalupe spoke to Ben.

The pair have given no official reason for their split, although they both remain committed to their three-year-old twins Max and Emme.

Although neither has spoken out, there has been intense speculation about the romance. It's been suggested Marc was unhappy with Jennifer's sexy image, with other sources alleging the union was "bad".

It's thought the pair disagreed on a number of matters and eventually decided their marriage couldn't be mended.

"They started to see life differently," a source told People. "Though they love, admire and respect each other very much, they just needed to be apart." (C) Cover Media