After making headlines for rekindling his romance with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck opened up to Howard Stern about what led to the downfall of his marriage to Jennifer Garner.
In a recent appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor and Academy Award winning writer and producer told Stern his divorce from his former Pearl Harbor and Daredevil co-star was "a long time coming".
But in a somewhat shocking turn, he revealed staying together for the sake of their three children, Violet, Serafina and Samuel, eventually led him to spiral into alcoholism.
"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 [I] drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution."
"It’s part of why I started drinking… because I was trapped."
AFFLECK SLAMMED FOR COMMENTS ON EX: Actor and director Ben Affleck told Howard Stern that if he was still married to Jennifer Garner he would "probably still be drinking" \u2014 the co-hosts react. https://abcn.ws/2RiH3wd\u00a0pic.twitter.com/EeAeUnDlmp— The View (@The View) 1639603234
In spite of being "trapped" in the marriage, Affleck maintained he and Garner still managed to end things amicably.
"We had a marriage that didn't work. This happens."
"She's somebody I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn't be married any longer."
"We did it amicably. We did our best."
"Did we have moments of tension? Did we have disagreements over custody? Was stuff difficult for us? Did we get angry?"
"Yes, but fundamentally it was always underpinned with a respect."
The former Batman also confided to Stern that how his behavior seemed in the eyes of his children was what eventually led him to seek treatment for his alcohol addiction.
But in another shockingly candid moment, he disclosed that if he and Garner, who memorably helped him check into rehab in 2018, were still married, he would likely still be drinking heavily
If Affleck was hoping to move his fans by being open and honest about his struggles with substance abuse, the reaction his story has received on Twitter suggests that he was less than triumphant.
Indeed, Twitter users did not hold back on their shock and disgust that Affleck seemed to blame Garner for instigating his downward spiral.
Cowardly @benAffleck publicly blames Jennifer Garner for his alcohol addiction. Clearly someone hasn\u2019t made it through all the steps of recovery yet.I hope he seeks the help he clearly still needs.https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/15/entertainment/ben-affleck-jennifer-garner-marriage/?iid=ob_lockedrail_topeditorial\u00a0\u2026— Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (@Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player) 1639607392
Jennifer Garner after Ben Affleck blamed her for his drinking.pic.twitter.com/wjZIjSwk7o— Your Moms Fav Fat Dude (@Your Moms Fav Fat Dude) 1639633597
the masculine urge to blame all your grown man problems on your wifehttps://twitter.com/popcrave/status/1470903675241607168\u00a0\u2026— tired egg (@tired egg) 1639563219
Okay Ben Affleck blaming his own drinking problem on Jennifer Garner is absolutely Boston Camp— Meredith Haggerty (@Meredith Haggerty) 1639581575
Ben Affleck\u2019s article just shines a light on people who put their family through hell with an addiction and still take no responsibility even after sober. Moral of the story, Jennifer Garner is a QUEEN and I can only hope Ben heard a version of this from her today:pic.twitter.com/0sHaVeFypF— A HW with no storyline, how dreadful! (@A HW with no storyline, how dreadful!) 1639604501
@BenAffleck not nice what you said about @jennifergarner8. Never throw an x under the bus! Have some class dodo bird!— DLO Bronx (@DLO Bronx) 1639607374
Jennifer Garner is a gift to this world and Ben Affleck never deserved herpic.twitter.com/DttsmFmdLe— Britt (@Britt) 1639621059
Dear @BenAffleck \n\nNo one put the alcohol in you but you. You're a grown up who felt trapped so you drank. No one trapped you. You could have walked away from your marriage any time. It was a douche move to blame Jenn Garner because you aren't mature enough to act like an adult.— Just Me The Rabid Nun (@Just Me The Rabid Nun) 1639607352
Ben Affleck: I would've 'still' been drinking if I stayed married to Jennifer Garner \nJennifer Garner: *helps him to rehab 3 full years after they\u2019ve already separated *pic.twitter.com/9StRYJ7tWI— Cecily (@Cecily) 1639519613
@BenAffleck comments about your ex wife is disgusting! She\u2019s done nothing but support you and your children and you blame her?! Your marriage? Terrible! Shes a fantastic mother so be grateful!!!— Aurelia (@Aurelia) 1639605277
Jennifer Garner giving Ben Affleck his surprise Christmas gift! pic.twitter.com/lD9PT7Maj8— BouffantBecky (@BouffantBecky) 1639539704
Dear Ben Affleck, \nYou drank because you are an alcoholic and instead of trying to be a man and end a relationship you weren't happy in doesn't make you a pitiable. Your inability to be honest about your drinking and blaming your ex is gross. FU.— Pursuit of Snappiness (@Pursuit of Snappiness) 1639605225
A few Twitter users put out the reminder Affleck reportedly had an affair with his children's nanny.
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).\n\nHe felt so trapped in his marriage that 3yrs after they separated, Jennifer had to drive him to rehab.pic.twitter.com/4H3jad0YNI— girl (@girl) 1639557622
You also slept with the nanny. That\u2019s a huge part of why a marriage breaks down, babe. \n\n3 years after they split wasn\u2019t Jennifer seen driving Ben to rehab? He was still drinking AFTER they split. That\u2019s on you, beloved. That\u2019s your problem at this point.https://twitter.com/popcrave/status/1470903675241607168\u00a0\u2026— Hakuna\ud83e\udd8b (@Hakuna\ud83e\udd8b) 1639574437
Other's took an opportunity to sing the praises of Jennifer Garner, with some even suggesting getting out of her marriage to Affleck may have been the best thing that could possibly happen to her.
When you can\u2019t accept that your drinking problem is because of you, you still have a drinking problem. Jennifer Garner didn\u2019t drive Ben Affleck to drink, she did however drive him to rehab probably saving his life.— The_Charming_Avenger (Taylor\u2019s Version)\u269c\ufe0f (@The_Charming_Avenger (Taylor\u2019s Version)\u269c\ufe0f) 1639555259
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 (@Meredith Lee) 1639555232
Jennifer Garner has more class in her little finger, than Ben Affleck has in his entire being.https://twitter.com/bouffantbecky/status/1470962252740284417\u00a0\u2026— "I've been called worse" sewer rat \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa (@"I've been called worse" sewer rat \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa) 1639607427
A few other twitter users took an opportunity to use this interview as a warning to Jennifer Lopez to reconsider re-kindling their often tumultuous romance.
Jennifer Lopez, sweetie, you need to do what you did in 2004 and call it off with Ben Affleck— CHANEL (@CHANEL) 1639607451
Ben Affleck made it sound on Stern that marriage to Jennifer Garner was so insufferable that it drove him to drink. Even if he believes that, you don't say it for the sake of the kids or to be a person of integrity. Maybe Jennifer Lopez should re-think things.— Carrie \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc70\ud83d\ude0a (She/Her) (@Carrie \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc70\ud83d\ude0a (She/Her)) 1639515409
When speaking about their split to Vanity Fair in 2016, Garner was open their marriage was far from perfect behind the scenes.
"I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ "
"But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold."
"He can cast quite a shadow."
Indeed, though in this case, shade seems a more appropriate term.
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