During their marital journey, Affleck publicly admitted his battles with alcohol addiction, commending Garner’s unwavering support during his recovery. Yet, his comments about the roots of his addiction sparked controversy on social media, with some interpreting his words as attributing his alcoholism to his marriage.
In a 2021 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Affleck reflected on his relationship with Garner and the reasons leading to their divorce. He articulated that although they still harbored love and respect for each other, they concluded that staying married wasn’t the best decision. Affleck shared that he initially attempted to preserve the marriage for their children’s sake, but found solace in alcohol to cope, a pattern of behavior both he and Garner acknowledged as unhealthy for their children.
“WE HAD A MARRIAGE THAT DIDN’T WORK. THIS HAPPENS. IT WAS SOMEBODY I LOVE AND RESPECT BUT TO WHOM I SHOULDN’T BE MARRIED [TOO] ANY LONGER.
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…BOTH OF US FELT LIKE WE DON’T WANT THIS TO BE THE MODEL THAT OUR KIDS SEE OF MARRIAGE.
“I’D PROBABLY STILL BE DRINKING. PART OF WHY I STARTED DRINKING ALCOHOL WAS BECAUSE I FELT TRAPPED.”
One of Affleck’s remarks, mentioning he felt entrapped and sought relief in alcohol, drew widespread attention. Many interpreted this as blaming Garner and their marital relationship for his addiction, thereby inciting backlash and criticism.
Reacting to the ensuing controversy during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Affleck provided a clarification. He voiced surprise at the negative social media response, arguing that he intended his comments to be honest and self-reflective. He claimed a website had misquoted his two-hour-long conversation, skewing his words to portray him as disrespectful towards Garner and their marital bond, an allegation he strongly refuted.
Affleck underscored that he maintains a respectful and caring relationship with Garner, always prioritizing their children. He assured that he would never speak negatively of Garner, as he didn’t want his children to hold any misconceptions.
Currently, Affleck is happily married to Jennifer Lopez, while Jennifer Garner is in a content relationship with her boyfriend, John Miller. Despite their past differences, Affleck and Garner remain committed to co-parenting their children, upholding their children’s well-being, and preserving a positive environment in their family lives.