Ben Affleck reflects on ‘painful’ claims he blamed marriage to Jennifer Garner for his drinking: ‘The opposite of what I meant’

Ben Affleck has openly reflected on the backlash he faced after apparently blaming his marriage to Jennifer Garner in part for his struggles with alcoholism, with the actor clarifying that his “behaviour is [his] sole responsibility”.

The Air The 50-year-old star sparked criticism in December 2021 when he told Howard Stern that he felt “trapped” during his marriage to Garner and that it was “part of the reason” he started drinking .

“We had a marriage that didn’t work out,” Affleck told Stern. “That happens. It was someone I love and respect, but should no longer be married to… what I did was [I] drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.”

At the time, the actor – who was married to Garner from 2005 to 2018 – noted they made the right decision to end their marriage as they “would probably be at each other’s throats” and he “probably still.” drink”.

“One reason I started drinking alcohol was because I felt trapped,” he told Stern.

Affleck reflected on the backlash he faced over the comments, which he described as a “really painful experience,” in a new interview The Hollywood Reporterwhere he suggested the revelations were taken out of context and were “actually the opposite of what [he] meant”.

The actor opened up about the experience after being asked why he’s not on social media, with Affleck explaining that he’s become “very reticent” and now sees the platforms and interviews as “landmines” where, if you do something Wrong says your career could be over”.

After the interviewer asked if Affleck was referring to the interview with Stern, the said Deep water Star confirmed that he brought up the “idea that I’m blaming myself [ex] wife for my drinking”.

“To be clear, my behavior is entirely my responsibility. The point I wanted to make was sad,” Affleck explained. “Everyone who’s been through a divorce makes this calculation, how much do we try we loved each other We care about each other. We respect each other.

“I was trying to say, ‘Hey look, I’ve been drinking too much, and the less happy you get, be it your job, your marriage, it’s just that your life gets harder when you do things when you fill a hole that isn’t healthy, you’ll start doing more of those things.’”

According to Affleck, he thought he was “quite articulate” about his importance during his interview with Stern. However, he claimed that his comments were then “deliberately mischaracterized to make them clickbait.”

“And then everyone else picked it up, and it didn’t matter how many times I said, ‘I don’t feel that way. I’m telling you, I don’t blame my ex-wife for my alcoholism,” the actor continued. “So yes. It is difficult.”

Though Affleck said he’s still wary of interviews, he said his wife, Jennifer Lopez’s, support and encouragement was helpful.

According to the actor, prior to his interview with the outlet, Lopez told him to “relax,” “be himself,” and “have fun,” and even remind him that he’s a “fun guy who’s real and genuine.” . if he often comes across as “serious”.

As he pondered his wife’s advice, Affleck jokingly asked, “Do I seem serious?” before noting that Lopez is “really right” and that he would be wise to listen to her.

“But like so many things, she’s really right. And she loves me. She takes care of me. She’s trying to help me. So it’s like, maybe I should fucking listen to her,” he said.

This isn’t the first time Affleck has hit back at claims he blamed his marriage to Garner for his drinking, as the actor revealed during a December 2021 interview with Jimmy Kimmel that he believes his words were twisted and that it hurts [his] feelings”.

“We talked a lot about my family, you know, alcoholism, struggling with real things, how to be responsible and loving, how I work with my ex-wife, how proud I am of the way we work together our children, the best we can for them,” he said Jimmy Kimmel Live.

“I was blown away,” he said of the interview with the star. “I thought, ‘Wow, I should be doing more honest, investigative, self-evaluative things.’ Then I start seeing all these things on Twitter. And I was like, ‘What is this?’”

At the time, Affleck claimed that the way his comments were interpreted by one website made him the “worst, most insensitive, stupid, horrible guy,” despite telling Stern how much he and Garner “respected, cared for one another.” each other, taking care of our children, putting them first.”

Affleck and Garner, who share children Violet, 17, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10, split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage. The celebrity couple officially divorced in 2018, the same year Affleck entered rehab for alcoholism.

The Ex girlfriend star later rekindled his romance with Lopez, to whom he was engaged in the early 2000s, and the couple tied the knot in July 2022.