For probably the most half, being married to one of many world’s most revered music icons might be as cool because it sounds.
However there are some drawbacks too — like having to attend the Grammys at 50 years outdated and listen the complete time, as if this isn’t the primary time you’ve heard of most of those performers.
That was the place Ben Affleck discovered himself in final month.
Affleck’s conduct on the Grammys made him an on the spot meme and sparked countless dialogue, which is type of stranger as a result of Ben didn’t actually do a lot of something.
He sat subsequent to his spouse, Jennifer Lopez, with a type of clean expression on his face, seemingly unaware that he was on digicam.
Some prompt that Ben was bored or in any other case uncomfortable on the occasion, whereas others jumped to a extra scandalous conclusion.
On Twitter and elsewhere, commenters recklessly alleged that Affleck was drunk.
In lots of instances there’s no actual hurt in suggesting {that a} superstar appears a bit of tipsy at an award present.
However Affleck has struggled with alcoholism all through his grownup life, and he’s been admirably open in regards to the issue of getting sober and the impression that his habit has had on his profession and household.
So casually accusing Ben of falling off the wagon after all of the work he’s put into getting sober is decidedly not cool.
In a new, wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck addressed the allegations that he was intoxicated on the Grammys.
“No. I had fun on the Grammys. My spouse was going, and I assumed, ‘Nicely, there’ll be good music. It is likely to be enjoyable,’” the Oscar-winner recalled.
“At film award reveals, it’s speeches and, like, sound-mixing webinars. However I assumed this might be enjoyable. I noticed [Grammy host Trevor Noah approach] and I used to be like, ‘Oh, God,’” Affleck continued.
Affleck concedes that he didn’t know he and Lopez had been being broadcast dwell, however he says there’s no reality to the rumor that they had been combating.
“They had been framing us on this shot, however I didn’t know they had been rolling,” he stated.
“I leaned into her and I used to be like, ‘As quickly they begin rolling, I’m going to slip away from you and depart you sitting subsequent to Trevor.’ She goes, ‘You higher f—ing not depart,’” Ben continued.
“That’s a husband-and-wife factor. I imply, a few of it’s, I’m like, ‘All proper, who is that this act?’ Like, I don’t sustain. My spouse does, clearly.”
Affleck defined that he has gone to occasions “and been pissed off,” “bored” and “drunk,” however he added that these days are lengthy behind him, as he’s been sober for a number of years.
“I assumed, that’s fascinating,” Ben stated of the allegations that he was drunk.
“That raises an entire different factor about whether or not or not it’s sensible to acknowledge habit as a result of there’s numerous compassion, however there may be nonetheless an incredible stigma, which is commonly fairly inhibiting,” he added.
“I do assume it disincentivizes folks from making their lives higher.”
Ben went added that he’s assisted others who’re battling habit as a result of “it makes me really feel so good to do this.”
He added that he typically advises them to maintain their struggles underneath wraps so as to keep away from conditions just like the one he simply endured.
“Typically what I’ll say to folks is, I’d keep away from [your addiction] popping out if I had been you. You don’t must be anyone’s poster baby,” he stated.
“You don’t must f—ing inform anyone. That’s why there’s two phrases on the entrance of the ebook. They’re simply as vital, each of them: Alcoholics Nameless. It’s all the time nameless.”
We congratulate Ben on his sobriety and need him effectively in his continued restoration.
