Ben Affleck has drawn ire after he suggested he’d still be drinking if he had remained married to Jennifer Garner, from whom he separated in 2015.
Speaking on the Howard Stern Show, per E! Online, Affleck—whose reignited relationship with Jennifer Lopez has been making headlines for months—opened up about his marriage and reflected upon his alcoholism at the time. “Part of why I started drinking was because I was trapped,” Affleck told Stern, adding that he’d “probably still be drinking” had they not split. “I was like, ‘I can't leave because of my kids, but I'm not happy, what do I do?' And what I did was drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.”
Garner and Affleck married in 2005 and announced their separation 10 years later. In 2017, they jointly filed for divorce and were officially single by late 2018. They have three children together and agreed upon joint custody. The 49-year-old stressed during his interview with Stern that their breakup wasn’t quite as bad as the media depicted it.
“We had a marriage that didn’t work. This happens,” the actor/director said. “She’s somebody I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn’t be married any longer.” He described their separation as amicable, even if there were some “moments of tension” and “disagreements over custody” throughout the process. He also described Garner as “a good mom.”
The response to Ben Affleck’s interview has been mostly negative, with some Twitter users suggesting he’s blaming his addiction on Garner. Others expressed sympathy for Garner, and said she deserves someone who will treat her better. Affleck has spoken highly of Garner in his interviews post-divorce, but the comments about being “trapped” and drinking clearly bothered some. It’s also being highlighted that Garner supported Affleck’s battle with alcohol addiction, even after they split.
Check out reactions to Affleck’s comments below.
If I were a Dunkin' Donuts employee I would simply refuse to serve Ben Affleck on principle https://t.co/n9ayeVmN0g
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) December 14, 2021
hate seeing that ignorant ben affleck quote on my timeline, a man that freely abandoned his wife and kids after constantly betraying them..claims *he* felt trapped. he probably just couldnt handle the guilt he felt living with someone who was actually showing up for their family
— Ayesha A. Siddiqi (@AyeshaASiddiqi) December 15, 2021
I was rooting for Ben Affleck but to blame his drinking on his marriage to Jennifer Garner is so silly. She dried his ass out multiple times! After they broke up even. Mmmmm. He best take himself to a meeting or something.
— roxane gay (@rgay) December 15, 2021
Ben Affleck and Chris Pratt prove more and more each day that Jennifer Garner and Anna Faris were the true winners in their respective relationships.
— Meredith Lee (@meralee727) December 15, 2021
Idc what anyone says, Ben Affleck never deserved Jennifer Garner. https://t.co/onFTFnf9BX
— beeboop3399 (@beeboop3399) December 15, 2021
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split up in 2015 and she was seen driving him to rehab in 2018
Don't blame it on her 😒 https://t.co/bEhPInJsKM pic.twitter.com/GAimf9BBqT
— Suka (@Pizda_oo) December 15, 2021
When you can’t accept that your drinking problem is because of you, you still have a drinking problem. Jennifer Garner didn’t drive Ben Affleck to drink, she did however drive him to rehab probably saving his life.
— The_Charming_Avenger (Taylor’s Version)⚜️ (@Boeing74) December 15, 2021
So because Ben Affleck felt trapped in his marriage to Jennifer Garner he started drinking and then sleeping with the nanny (he left the nanny bit out).
He felt so trapped in his marriage that 3yrs after they separated, Jennifer had to drive him to rehab. pic.twitter.com/4H3jad0YNI
— girl (@twa96) December 15, 2021
This is such a shitty thing to say I’m sorry.
Jennifer Garner always seemed like a sweetheart. Clearly she deserved better. https://t.co/yjaL40JKfD
— 🎄✨☃️ (@ritaeatspitas) December 14, 2021
Ben Affleck blaming his wife (Jennifer Garner) for his drinking problem tells me everything I need to know about him. JLo, you've got yourself a real catch there. Once a dickhead, always a dickhead.
— Julie (turning AZ Blue) Cohn 🌊 (@JulieKCohn) December 15, 2021
