Ben Affleck on J.Lo romance: "People were racist & sexist towards her."

Ben Affleck recalls how people were "so f*cking mean," "sexist" and "racist" towards his former fiancé Jennifer Lopez during the height of their relationship. 


He shared his comments in a new podcast with The Hollywood Reporter. This is apparently the first time he has addressed this in such detail about her treatment. 

Boozy Ben had no problems whatsoever throwing her under the bus when claiming his career had suffered after he dated her. 

Now he wants to prop her up and throw scorn on the media for how they treated her during their relationship? No less choosing almost 20 years later to speak up now that he's an aging, substance-abusing, washed up actor with nothing to lose. Not a J.Lo fan by any means but I call things how I see it. Chick literally dodged a bullet.

His words below.
"People were so f*cking mean about her — sexist, racist. Ugly, vicious sh*t was written about her in ways that if you wrote it now you would literally be fired for saying those things you said," Affleck said during the podcast. "Now it's like, she's lionized and respected for the work she did, where she came from, what she accomplished — as well she f*cking should be! I would say you have a better shot, coming from the Bronx, of ending up as like [Justice Sonia] Sotomayor on the Supreme Court than you do of having Jennifer Lopez's career and being who she is at 50 years old today."

8 Comments:

Remmy said...

A bit harsh (and slightly judgmental). He was 29 when he started dating J-Lo, not exactly a child, but also nowhere near as mentally and emotionally developed as a 49 year-old, 20 years later.

Ben has lived with severe anxiety, depression and alcoholism since his teens, they all run in his family through and through. Why would you use someone's personal struggles to beat them over the head with, for trying to do the decent thing?

Toya said...

Trying to do the "decent" thing? The decent thing would have been to speak up back then while it was happening. But due to fear of backlash from his white fanbase, he chose to stay silent. This is why I applaud Prince Harry for writing that letter with the racist way the media was coming for Meghan. And they weren't even married yet. I don't even think they announced their engagement at that point. He SPOKE up for his woman, and didn't think twice about the consequences.

My opinions have always been controversial but I stick by them. I don't have any sympathy for someone who self sabotages consistently and not seek the help he needs. The only person I feel sorry for is the ex-wife (and kids) because he put her through it and she tried to help him even after their divorce. It's one thing to do that when you're young with no responsibilities, but when you're in your 40s with young kids why isn't that enough to get professional help and stay sober?

Remmy said...

Not sure how you know what he did or didn't speak up about, or what his reasons were for doing or not doing so? Not all celebs make every aspect of their private lives public. Surely, what matters is the here and now and what he's doing to right any wrongs of his past. Would him saying nothing at all be more preferable in challenging issues of racism within society today?

He attempted to get the help he needed on multiple occasions (medication, 12 step programme etc). Jennifer Garner was supportive of his problems throughout their marriage and beyond. I've never heard her speak badly of him as a husband or a father.

I just think that we've all screwed up to one degree or another and we all acknowledge our screw ups in our own time - it's not for anyone else to sit in judgement of anyone else's process and point the finger whilst sitting on a pedestal of perfection. But you're right, your opinions are yours and your entitled to expressing them of course.

Remmy said...

PS Prince Harry has demonstrated his fair share racist antics over the years - so it's about time he stepped up in defense of as opposed to POC. That kind of proves mt point, though - we all get there in our own time.

Toya said...

Maybe my views are harsh. I just thought he could have PUBLICLY spoke up sooner but yes, as you say, we do get there in our own time.

Donpapillon said...

Your views are not harsh at all. And the criticism is just. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse do not excuse trash behavior or misjudgment. It provides context, sure, but it is not an excuse. There are too many individuals suffering all of the above that make better choices to ever think we should accept these afflictions as excuses. However, we must make some room for compassion when we criticize. He is making some very questionable choices with confessing too little too late, but I hope this is personally redemptive for him.

Remmy said...

@Donpapillion - Well said.

Remmy said...

@Toyaz - fair enough.