Ben Affleck is setting the record straight!
The Hollywood sensation needs no introduction, given his envious achievements as an actor. Outside the big screen, the 50-year-old worked to make the world a better place as a humanitarian.
However, everyone comes with their baggage, and for the entertainer, it is his public battle with alcoholism and failed marriage to Jennifer Garner. During his struggles with sobriety, the Berkeley native was still married to his ex-wife Garner.
However, fans perceived that the TV personality seemed to blame the mother of his three children for his addiction in a viral interview with the radio host Howard Stern in 2021. Now, the “Argo” star is sharing the truth about the controversial affair and what role his current wife Jennifer Lopez played in quelling the scandal.
Ben Affleck Reveals The Media Painted Him As The Bad Guy In Tell-All Interview
During a recent heart-to-heart discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy Award winner opened up about his previous marriage and how discussing his problems led to the spread of false narratives by the media.
The experience made the entertainer less willing to share details about his life. However, the “Deep Water” star’s second wife, Lopez, is helping the actor regain his open spirit. Unlike her husband, the Latina goddess uses social media to express her feelings and connect with fans.
Regarding the “Marry Me” actress’s excellent use of platforms like Instagram, the 50-year-old could not help but laud the New Yorker with praises. The Golden Globe Award winner said:
“My wife’s a genius at that. I don’t know if there’s anybody who understands Instagram better than her. In fact, she gave me a talk this morning before this interview.”
Affleck explained that Lopez believed he had become “very guarded” because of his past experiences. “And she’s right,” the Hollywood heartthrob continued, “I view these things as land mines, where if you say one wrong thing, your career might be over.”
Referencing his interview with Stern, the father-of-three explained how that emotional moment was ruined. “I had a really painful experience where I did an interview where I was really vulnerable, and the entire pickup was something that was not only not right, it was actually the opposite of what I meant,” the filmmaker noted.
Ready to clear the misunderstanding, the “Justice League” star shared the truth behind his misperceived words. “The idea that I was blaming my wife for my drinking. To be clear, my behavior is my responsibility entirely. The point that I was trying to make was a sad one,” the Berkeley native began.
“Anyone who’s been through divorce makes that calculus of, How much do we try? We loved each other. We care about each other. We have respect for each other,” the BAFTA honoree continued. Affleck noted that his point was about how drinking could not fill the hole in his heart. In the actor’s words:
“I was trying to say, ‘Hey, look, I was drinking too much, and the less happy you become, whether it’s your job, your marriage, it’s just that as your life becomes more difficult, if you’re doing things to fill a hole that aren’t healthy, you’re going to start doing more of those things.'”
Firing shots at the outlet responsible for causing the misunderstanding, the “Pearl Harbour” star stated that he was “pretty articulate” about his message. However, the New York Post “deliberately mischaracterized” his story as clickbait.
Nevertheless, Lopez has helped him be in the right frame He disclosed, “Anyway, so [Jennifer Lopez] tells me today, ‘Relax, be yourself. Have fun. You’re actually a fun guy who is real and genuine and you just seem so serious.’ Do I seem serious? But as in many things, she’s really right. And she loves me. She’s looking out for me. She’s trying to help me. So it’s like, maybe I ought to fucking listen to her.”
How Fans Reacted To The Humanitas Prize Honoree’s Interview About Jennifer Garner
Following his 2021 interview with Stern, the “Good Will Hunting” star’s statements about his ex-wife caused a stir on social media. At the time, the entertainer noted that he loved Garner, but she was someone he could not be married to “any longer.”
During his turbulent marriage, the Berkeley native noted that he would drink a “bottle of scotch” and fall asleep on the couch, which was not the solution he needed. For this reason, the Satellite Award winner noted that divorce was the best option for the pair.
According to Affleck, he and Garner would be “at each other’s throats” if they had not separated. “I’d probably still be drinking. Part of why I started drinking alcohol was because I felt trapped,” the Hollywood veteran said.
After the interview dropped, fans bashed the actor on Twitter for seemingly blaming his ex-wife. Many criticized the 50-year-old for failing to take responsibility for his addiction, while others sympathized with Garner. However, a few fans empathized with the actor, claiming his feelings were valid.
