Ben Affleck is getting backlash for ‘blaming’ his ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his past alcoholism which he recently claimed was a side effect of feeling ‘trapped’ in their decade-long marriage.
On The Howard Stern Show, the 49-year old actor raised eyebrows when he said that he “probably would still be drinking” if Garner (49), hadn’t split in 2015.
‘You blame your ex wife for drinking? She was drunk before she married you! One Twitter user was passionately demanding that he take responsibility for his actions.
Continued they: “Speaking badly about the mother of your child pretty much makes it to.” [sic] a terrible father and a total d***head!’
Backlash: Ben Affleck is getting backlash for ‘blaming’ his ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his past alcoholism which he recently claimed was a side effect of feeling ‘trapped’ in their decade-long marriage
Echoing previous tweets, another fan disgruntled wrote: @BenAffleck Sounds like you are blaming ex-wife for drinking Scumbag!’
Jennifer and Ben officially separated Just one day after their 10 year anniversary, June 2015 was the hottest month of 2015.
The former couple had three children: Violet (15), Seraphina (12) and Samuel (9).
Affleck was admitted to rehabilitation for alcoholism in 2018.
Social media quickly branded him with a number of expletives in the wake of Howard Stern’s comments. They also criticized him for putting Garner on such high-heeled display.
Too honest? To honest?
‘You’re a d***head. Even if that’s the case about unhappiness in your marriage why would you drag your ex through the mud publicly and seemingly blame that situation for your own self destructive choices,’ read one tweet, with another simply stating: ‘Ben Affleck confirms… he is still the worst.’
Although Ben found it easy to talk openly about his alcoholism and Jennifer was supportive, some thought the comments made to Jennifer and their marital relationship were in bad taste.
“#BenAffleck’ is not a good choice. “#BenAffleck is not likeable.” This was one angry tweet. Another fan, however, criticized the statement as a “cheap shot”.
Disapproval: ‘You blame your ex wife for drinking? Before you got married to her, she was drunk! A Twitter user enraged by the idea tweeted it out, along with others urging him to accept’responsibility for’ his actions
Blame game: Mirroring earlier tweets, another disgruntled fan wrote: ‘@BenAffleck sounds like your blaming your ex-wife for your drinking! Scumbag!’
Ruthless: In wake of his Howard Stern comments, social media was quick to brand him a variety of explicit names, as well as to scold him for seemingly putting Garner on blast so publicly
Cheap shot: ‘Cheap shot saying you were trapped in a marriage and it caused you to drink. One tweet said, “Way to accept some responsibility for your part.”
Yikes: One Twitter user went as far as to call the Tender Bar actor an ‘A**HOLE with NO CLASS’ and hoped that his three children will ‘stop speaking to you for good because you truly aren’t good enough for them.
Over it: One fan of Affleck’s was seemingly annoyed with the fact he brought up his ex-wife in the interview
You were caught in a marital trap and that led to you drinking. You can take on some responsibility.
One Twitter user went as far as to call the Tender Bar actor an ‘A**HOLE with NO CLASS’ and hoped that his three children will ‘stop speaking to you for good because you truly aren’t good enough for them.’
Being that Affleck is ‘an alcoholic recovering or otherwise,’ one fan found it unsettling that he is seemingly ‘blaming others for his issues.’
He said that he would prefer to be treated with therapy than a bartender. He’s a wonderful person to have around. It is terrible to speak publicly about his mother, even though she may be difficult.
Unlikeable: #BenAffleck seems unlikely. One angry fan said, “Don’t blame your exwife for your problems,” while another mocked the tweet and called it a “cheap shot”.
No holding back: ‘You’re a d***head. Even if your marital problems are unhappiness, why drag your ex around the mud and blame the situation on your self-destructive choices?’ One tweet stated that Ben Affleck confirmed that he was still the worst.
Affleck has been described as an “alcoholic recovering from or not”, so one fan felt it was strange that Affleck seemed to be blaming others.
Harsh: Screengrabs from other outlets were used in many of Ben’s reactive tweets.
Confused: ‘how was it possible for him to still feel trapped after the divorce since he had Jennifer Garner drive him to rehab? @BenAffleck has a lower level of intelligence than the pond scum. A real, pathetic excuse of human being’ is another passionate tweet
Another wrote: ‘how was it possible for him to still feel trapped after the divorce since he had Jennifer Garner drive him to rehab? @BenAffleck’s IQ is less than that of pond scum. This is a truly pathetic excuse from a human.
On Tuesday’s Howard Stern episode, the Good Will Hunting actor opened up to Garner about their marriage. He also confessed that he has had hesitation. over rekindling his relationship with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez.
“We would have probably ended up at each others throats,” he said. He stated that he probably would still have been drinking after his encounter with Alias star.
He continued, “Part of the reason I began drinking was that I was trapped.” “I felt like I couldn’t leave my children, but I don’t feel happy. What do I do? That’s what I did. [I]I drank one bottle of Scotch before falling asleep on the couch. This was not the right solution.
Time and place: The Good Will Hunting star opened up about his marriage with Garner on Tuesday’s Howard Stern show episode, where he also admitted to having hesitation over rekindling his relationship with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez; Jennifer and Ben in 2013
‘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,’ he added.
Ben is now back in love with Jennifer Lopez (52), whom he had been previously engaged to but ended it in January 2004.
Bennifer, the famously-dubbed Bennifer, and Jen are a lot of fun together. But the actor admitted that he was concerned about how it would affect his kids.
When asked by Howard if he was unsure about returning to J-Lo again, Ben replied: “It crossed my mind for certain. It is my highest responsibility to care for my children. When I can, I will not do anything harmful or painful for my children.
Rekindled: Ben Affleck has admitted that he hesitated over getting back with ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez, due to all the intense interest there is in the celebrity couple
Ben also explained to us how living as a celebrity couple, with Garner’s ex, can impact their three children Violet, 16 and Seraphina 12, respectively, and Samuel, 9, who both live in the spotlight.
“My life impacts them. They are their celebrities. This is very difficult. It is hard.
Adding about the breakdown of his marriage, he said: ‘The truth was we took our time, we made the decision, we grew apart.’
“We tried to get married but it didn’t work.” We tried, because we had children. The kids did not see it as a model marriage. We did our best. She was a great mom and I knew that I would be a good father. “I had to admit that I was sober.
Back on: Ben started dating J-Lo again in April after she split from her fiance Alex Rodriguez (pictured this month)
Paycheck’s star acknowledged that his “rock bottom” moment was when he looked at his children.
He stated, “The only cure for addiction is suffering.”
“You must suffer enough to make something within you go, that’s enough!”
The actor was open before about his alcohol addiction.
It was the children. Christ has made it a point to me that I’ve never wanted to drink since then. I’m not healed. While I don’t claim to be a spiritual healer, there is hope if you are able to find it.
J-Lo began to date Ben again after Alex Rodriguez split with her.
His most recent association was with Ana de Armas, No Time to Die’s star.