During his Stern Show debut on Tuesday morning, Hollywood superstar Ben Affleck was an open book,
speaking candidly with Howard about everything from his new
and old headline-grabbing relationships to what it was like to accept an Oscar
from First Lady Michelle Obama and screen legend Jack Nicholson.
The 49-year-old writer, director, and movie star spoke from the editing bay of his Southern
California home about his years-long quest for sobriety as well as the highs (and lows)
of his unlikely career. Ben, who rekindled his romance with Jennifer Lopez earlier this year
and will soon be seen in a new George Clooney drama, is unquestionably at
the top of his game in 2021, but he'll be the first to admit that his time in the spotlight
hasn't been without its ups and downs. Ben Affleck Was Wary of Jennifer Lopez's
Relationship Due to his 'Responsibility' to his children Ben Affleck told Howard Stern
that he considered getting back together with Jennifer Lopez because he was concerned about his
children's safety. In an eye-opening interview with longtime radio show host Howard Stern,
Ben Affleck got candid about his personal life. We have it all for you but before we get to it,
make sure that you like this video and subscribe to our channel for the latest celebrity gossip,
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Let’s get right into the good stuff now. The Gone Girl star, 49, appeared on The
Howard Stern Show to discuss a variety of topics, including his career, reputation,
marriage to Jennifer Garner, alcoholism, and his relationship with Jennifer Lopez, including why he
was hesitant to rekindle their romance 17 years after they called off their engagement in 2004.
"Was there a hesitation on your part, because now you're a dad?" Stern asked Affleck,
noting that Lopez "brings even more attention" to everything he does.
Ben told Howard that doing right by his three children with Jennifer Garner has been the
driving force in his life, influencing everything from the couple's decision to divorce in 2018
to his and Jennifer Lopez's decision to rekindle their romance in 2021.
"It crossed my mind for sure," Affleck told Stern of getting back together with
the "Let's Get Loud" singer. "My responsibility to my children is the highest responsibility.
I don't want to do anything that is painful or destructive to them if I can help it."
“My responsibility to my children is the highest responsibility I have.
I would never do anything that is painful or destructive to them if I can help it.
That being said, I know that my life affects them. I dropped my [nine-year-old] son off
at school two days ago and ... heard [other people] go, ‘Oh, Ben Affleck,
Ben Affleck!’” he told Howard. “The kid looks at me and goes ‘Hashtag, welcome to my life.’”
As if growing up as the child of a celebrity couple wasn't hard enough, he believes the
publicity surrounding his and Garner's divorce made their children's lives even more difficult.
“During the divorce, [the media] printed fucking horrible lies ... Anything you read about that was
bullshit,” he told Howard. “The truth was we took our time, we made the decision ... we grew apart,
we had a marriage that didn’t work. This happens. It’s somebody I love and respect
but to whom I shouldn’t be married any longer.” “Ultimately, we tried, we tried, we tried—because
we had kids—but both of us thought, ‘We don’t want this to be the model our kids see of marriage.’
I felt like we did it amicably, we did our best,” Ben continued. “Did we have moments of tension?
Did we have disagreements over the custody? Was stuff difficult for us? Did we get angry? Yes,
but fundamentally it was always underpinned with the respect that I knew she was a good mom.”
In addition to briefly discussing his romance with the 52-year-old "On My Way" singer, the
Tender Bar star opened up about his marriage to Garner and how the two tried to work things Out.
“Everything you read [about the divorce] was bulls--t. The truth was we took our time, we
made our decision. We grew apart,” he said, likely referring to tabloid rumors he had an affair with
their nanny, which his camp has since denied. “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.” Good marriage
turns bad, a tale as old as time. “Ultimately, we tried, we tried, we tried because we had kids,
but both of us felt like we didn’t want this to be the model that our kids see of Marriage,”
“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,” he said,
adding, “I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped she knew I was a good dad. I knew I was.”
Ben, who has previously spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol,
also discussed his journey to sobriety, claiming that the way his children looked at him at his
lowest point was what prompted him to seek help. “The cure for addiction is suffering,” he said.
“You suffer enough before something inside you goes, ‘That’s enough,” he said. “I’m lucky because
I hit that point before I lost the things that were most important. Not my career or money—it
was my relationship with my kids, and when I felt as if it impacted them, I recognized it.”
Since their rekindled romance, Ben and J.Lo have been seen out and about with his kids
and her 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, whom she shares with her ex Marc Anthony,
demonstrating that they're willing to share their lives as parents together.
"They plan on spending the holidays together with the kids and also taking some solo trips,"
the source added. "They want to be together all of the time, so their next big things are
Thanksgiving and Christmas with all the kids. There is a lot to coordinate,
so they are figuring it Out." According to a November source who
spoke with PEOPLE, "They're doing a fantastic job. Jennifer looks forward to spending time with Ben.
It was meant to be, she believes." According to a separate source,
despite their busy schedules, Affleck and Lopez are looking forward to spending the holidays
together this year. "Christmas for Jennifer is all about the kids," the source revealed.
"She goes above and beyond to make it unique for them. She is a huge fan of the holiday season."
The source claims that "It will take a little more planning this year because Ben
also wants to spend time with his children. They haven't made any holiday plans yet and are still
trying to figure out what they want to do." And when it comes to career and movie premiers,
The 49-year-old actor stunned on the red carpet with his lady love
at the Chinese Theater's Los Angeles premiere of his film, The Tender Bar, on Sunday. Affleck
wore a Ralph Lauren Purple Label three-piece suit, while Lopez wore a sheer sky blue gown.
While the couple displayed some PDA on the red carpet, Affleck remained tight-lipped
about his relationship with the 52-year-old actress when speaking with ET's Kevin Frazier.
Even though it was his movie premiere, but a reporter couldn’t help but ask Affleck
about his recent status as a meme while sitting courtside with Lopez at a Los Angeles Lakers game
"I am a big sports guy, I'm not a big meme guy, I don't follow the memes. My kids like the memes.
My kids think the highest form of success in life is to become a meme, so in that sense, they have
to be proud of me despite outward appearances." Affleck says he has no plans to respond to any
online memes. "If I got in the business of commenting on all the memes on the Internet,
it would force me to be witty, and I just can’t. I just don’t have that to bring,
so I'm just gonna let it speak for itself." Seems like a busy season for Ben and Jen
with the holidays and movie premieres as well. Tell us in the comment section your thoughts
about his kids and their relationship with their dad’s girlfriend. Also, make sure to like this
video and subscribe to our channel. We will see you in the next video; till then, Hasta La Vista!