Ben Affleck Guarded With the Media After He ‘Blamed’ Jennifer Garner for His Drinking

Ben Affleck's comments about his marriage and his drinking caused serious backlash in 2021. He's more guarded about how he speaks to the media now. It might impact how he speaks about the end of his union with Jennifer Lopez.

Ben Affleck never looks particularly happy. The Massachusetts native has become something of an internet meme, and his ongoing divorce from Jennifer Lopez has even more eyes trained on him. If fans hope for Affleck to speak about the short-lived marriage and divorce, they are likely to be disappointed. Affleck insists he’s more guarded in interviews now than ever before, and that’s all because of a 2021 mishap that the internet has yet to forget.

Ben Affleck insists he didn’t blame his ex-wife for his drinking, but the reports made him more guarded

In 2021, Affleck was dragged on the internet after he appeared on The Howard Stern Show. In his interview, he got candid about his drinking and how his marriage affected his issues with alcohol. The Argo star theorized that he would have still been drinking if he had remained in his marriage to Jennifer Garner. He doubled down on the statement, insisting he started drinking because he felt “trapped.”

Affleck might have thought he was being honest about the state of his marriage and his drinking to cope with his feelings. Still, fans were quick to criticize the A-lister for “blaming” his ex-wife for his struggles. Garner is largely considered one of America’s sweethearts.

Over a year later, Affleck attempted to set the record straight. In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck admitted he’d become more “guarded” about what he said and how he said it after the media misconstrued his words about Jennifer Garner. He insists he didn’t intend to blame Garner or their marriage for his drinking. He insisted he was simply trying to point out that stress and unhappiness, whether that was from his career or his marriage, led to unhealthy behaviors. Garner’s name, he claims, just got mixed up in the entire mess.

How long were Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner married?

Ben Affleck’s thoughts on his marriage to Jennifer Garner angered many fans, largely because they believed he was disrespecting his ex-wife and the life they shared. While Lopez and Affleck’s marriage didn’t last two years, he spent many years of his life with Garner, and they seemed, at least publicly, largely happy for a long time. So, exactly how long had they been together?

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck first met back in 2000, when they worked together on Pearl Harbor, but they didn’t hook up until about four years later, less than a year after his first split from Jennifer Lopez. The couple walked down the aisle in 2005. After three children and 10 years of marriage, they announced their split in 2015. Rumors that a reconciliation might have been in the works swirled the following year. If they did take a shot at rekindling their romance, it failed. Ultimately, they called it quits but remained close friends. Their divorce was finalized in 2018 after Affleck finished a program at an inpatient rehab facility.

After his split from Garner, Affleck dated a few women before eventually seeking out Lopez again. The couple’s relationship might have started on rocky ground. Lopez was not entirely done with her relationship with Alex Rodriguez when she reconnected with Affleck, according to reports. They went on to marry, but that is now ending.