Ben Affleck has been at the center of a media storm lately, with headlines blaming ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his past struggles with alcohol. In an interview with The New York Times, Affleck admitted to feeling “painful” about the way his past behavior has been portrayed in the media, but took full responsibility for his actions.
“What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart,” Affleck explained. “That was something I regret and of course is a source of shame for me, but it’s not something that’s easy to hear being said about you.”
For years, Affleck struggled with alcoholism and went through various bouts of rehab before finally getting sober. Throughout this process, he said that blaming Garner – or anyone else – for his drinking was not helpful.
“I’m not going to sit here and say that Jennifer was the reason I drank,” he said. “My behavior is my responsibility. I had an issue with alcohol and I needed to deal with it.”
While the actor isn’t happy about the recent headlines, he said he understands why they were written.
“Anytime you’re in the public eye, you’re going to be criticized, and that’s just part of it,” he said. “But I think it’s important to always take responsibility for your own actions and not to try to shift the blame onto other people.”
Affleck also addressed the impact his drinking had on his children, saying that he knows it was “difficult” for them to see him struggling.
“I think it’s important for fathers to set a good example for their kids, and I wasn’t doing that when I was drinking,” he said. “But I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and I’m committed to staying sober.”
In the end, Affleck hopes that his story can encourage others who may be struggling with addiction to seek help.
“I want people to know that there is help out there, and there is no shame in asking for it,” he said. “If I can overcome my issues with alcohol, anyone can.”
