Ben Affleck tells Jimmy Kimmel that claims he blamed his ex for his alcoholism were out of context
![Ben Affleck tells Jimmy Kimmel that claims he blamed his ex for his alcoholism were out of context](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=%2Fuploads%2Fnews%2F29%2F2967%2F7%2F2967729-ben-affleck-tells-jimmy-kimmel-that-claims-he-blamed-his-ex-for-his-alcoholism-w.jpg&w=750&hash=b58739af0ba502f9ff84c2cb0a810ab1)
Defiant Ben Affleck defends comments he felt 'trapped' saying he did NOT blame ex Jennifer Garner for his alcoholism and now HIS feeling are hurt during Jimmy Kimmel talk
- Affleck, 49, said that he drank while married to Garner because he wasn't 'happy'
- The actor made the comments on Howard Stern's radio show on Tuesday
- On Wednesday, he told host Jimmy Kimmel that they were taken out of context
- He added was furious that the media had reportedly twisted his words and made him appear as though he was criticizing his ex
- 'They had literally taken the conversation that I had had for two hours and made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had said' he fumed
- Affleck and J.Lo were seen walking into Kimmel's set cozied up earlier that day
- Garner was spotted taking a walk with the two children she shares with Affleck
By Adam Manno and George Stark and Carly Johnson and Brian Marks For Dailymail.com
Published: 07:14 GMT, 16 December 2021 | Updated: 10:57 GMT, 16 December 2021
Ben Affleck has not apologised as he insisted he did not blame his ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his alcoholism, claiming the comments were taken out of context.
The 49-year-old actor told Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday that his comments to Howard Stern the day before had been twisted, making him appear as though he was criticizing his ex.
Affleck said his feelings were 'hurt' after he was made out to be 'the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy', when he said he 'respected' his ex Garner, 49, and always put his children first.
It come after he faced a backlash after saying his alcoholism was a side effect of feeling 'trapped' while appearing on Stern's Sirius XM show, comments that he has now claimed were taken out of context.
He received sharp criticism from social media users, with one source also telling Page Six that Affleck's girlfriend Jennifer Lopez was not happy by his comments.
But Affleck and Lopez presented a united front on their way to the set of on Wednesday, holding hands as they walked up to the late-night show's studio in Hollywood.
Speaking to Kimmel on Wednesday, he said it 'hurt his feelings' that his comments about Garner, 49, were taken out of context, but did not apologise as he insisted he did not blame his ex-wife for his alcoholism.
He said: 'I had gone on, said how much we respected each other, cared about each other, cared about our kids, put them first. It said that I had blamed my ex-wife for my alcoholism, that I was trapped in this marriage, just made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy.
'It hurts my feelings.'
Affleck told the chat show host that his interview with Howard Stern the day before was, 'really cool, like long-form, in-depth,' but he wasn't ready for the ensuing backlash.
![Affleck told Jimmy Kimmel that his interview with Howard Stern, in which he said he turned to drinking because he wasn't 'happy' during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, was 'really cool'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F06%2F51861177-10315867-image-a-5_1639637828022.jpg&w=728&hash=be086f804f977a9c644eed4f3830453e)
![Affleck told Jimmy Kimmel that his interview with Howard Stern, in which he said he turned to drinking because he wasn't 'happy' during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, was 'really cool'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F06%2F51861177-10315867-image-a-5_1639637828022.jpg&w=728&hash=be086f804f977a9c644eed4f3830453e)
Affleck told Jimmy Kimmel that his interview with Howard Stern, in which he said he turned to drinking because he wasn't 'happy' during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, was 'really cool'
![The 49-year-old actor blamed much of the ensuing backlash on media outlets that 'made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F06%2F51861181-10315867-image-a-6_1639637873307.jpg&w=728&hash=684d9cf1d36a52098a0bfbbd217107bd)
![The 49-year-old actor blamed much of the ensuing backlash on media outlets that 'made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F06%2F51861181-10315867-image-a-6_1639637873307.jpg&w=728&hash=684d9cf1d36a52098a0bfbbd217107bd)
The 49-year-old actor blamed much of the ensuing backlash on media outlets that 'made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had'
![A day after going on Stern, Kimmell, who is promoting a new movie, said coverage of his interview with Stern 'made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F07%2F51861175-10315867-image-a-7_1639638054758.jpg&w=728&hash=9f0c7b2daea8fca4df5337f902b8bd56)
![A day after going on Stern, Kimmell, who is promoting a new movie, said coverage of his interview with Stern 'made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F07%2F51861175-10315867-image-a-7_1639638054758.jpg&w=728&hash=9f0c7b2daea8fca4df5337f902b8bd56)
A day after going on Stern, Kimmell, who is promoting a new movie, said coverage of his interview with Stern 'made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy'
'We talked a lot about my family, you know, alcoholism, struggling with real things, how you have to be accountable and loving, how I work with my ex-wife, how I'm so proud of the way we work together for our kids, the best that we can for them.
'I was thrilled,' he told Kimmel about his appearance on Stern. 'I thought, 'Wow, I should do more honest, exploratory, self-evaluating things.' Then I start seeing all this stuff come up on Twitter. And I was like, what is this?'
He added was furious that the media had reportedly twisted his words and made him appear as though he was criticizing his ex.
'I saw one of these websites had done the click bait thing - 'You won't believe what he said, click on this, come to our site.' I looked on it, and they had literally taken the conversation that I had had for two hours and made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had said.'
When asked if he feels the 'media sometimes takes things out of context?'
He laughed, replying: 'Occasionally.'
Affleck was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! promoting his film The Tender Bar, which comes out Friday.
Affleck's original comments drew sharp criticism from social media users, who immediately sided with Garner.
![United front: Ben Affleck, 49, held hands with his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, 52, as they arrived for the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood on Wednesday](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51851981-10315867-United_front_Ben_Affleck_49_held_hands_with_his_girlfriend_Jenni-a-2_1639650597146.jpg&w=728&hash=a0fcc2d0be5c0af9d221045904df4dd4)
![United front: Ben Affleck, 49, held hands with his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, 52, as they arrived for the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood on Wednesday](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51851981-10315867-United_front_Ben_Affleck_49_held_hands_with_his_girlfriend_Jenni-a-2_1639650597146.jpg&w=728&hash=a0fcc2d0be5c0af9d221045904df4dd4)
United front: Ben Affleck, 49, held hands with his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, 52, as they arrived for the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood on Wednesday
![Brave face: Jennifer Garner has been pictured out after ex-husband Ben Affleck landed himself in hot water on Tuesday, for saying he felt 'trapped' in their marriage (Pictured with their daughter, Seraphina, 12, on Wednesday)](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835019-10315867-Brave_face_Jennifer_Garner_has_been_pictured_out_after_ex_husban-a-1_1639644505013.jpg&w=728&hash=2dcfddae014a45c7fbc1dd27a2c2b8b7)
![Brave face: Jennifer Garner has been pictured out after ex-husband Ben Affleck landed himself in hot water on Tuesday, for saying he felt 'trapped' in their marriage (Pictured with their daughter, Seraphina, 12, on Wednesday)](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835019-10315867-Brave_face_Jennifer_Garner_has_been_pictured_out_after_ex_husban-a-1_1639644505013.jpg&w=728&hash=2dcfddae014a45c7fbc1dd27a2c2b8b7)
Brave face: Jennifer Garner has been pictured out after ex-husband Ben Affleck landed himself in hot water on Tuesday, for saying he felt 'trapped' in their marriage (Pictured with their daughter, Seraphina, 12, on Wednesday)
On Tuesday, Affleck went on Stern's Sirius XM show. The shock jock happens to be pals with Kimmel, who's often a guest on the show.
'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,' Affleck said Tuesday.
'You blame your ex wife for drinking? You were a drunk before you married her!' one impassioned Twitter user wrote.
'Speaking poorly about the mother of your children pretty much makes to [sic] a terrible father and a total d***head!' the user continued, while several others demanded that Affleck take 'responsibility' for his own actions.
Ahead of the Kimmel interview on Wednesday, Affleck and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez presented a united front on their way to the set. They held hands as they walked up to the late-night show's studio in Hollywood.
Also on Wednesday, Garner - who has rarely spoken about her 13-year marriage to Affleck - took a stroll with their children Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9.
Garner, 49, was married to Affleck from 2005 to 2018, but they separated in 2015.
![Looking good: Ben looked dapper in a tan overcoat with a blue shirt, black trousers and black leather pants](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851985-10315867-Looking_good_Ben_looked_dapper_in_a_tan_overcoat_with_a_blue_shi-a-9_1639644505127.jpg&w=728&hash=4c573fbe97c7bd3cff687f563eeaee5f)
![Looking good: Ben looked dapper in a tan overcoat with a blue shirt, black trousers and black leather pants](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851985-10315867-Looking_good_Ben_looked_dapper_in_a_tan_overcoat_with_a_blue_shi-a-9_1639644505127.jpg&w=728&hash=4c573fbe97c7bd3cff687f563eeaee5f)
Looking good: Ben looked dapper in a tan overcoat with a blue shirt, black trousers and black leather pants
![Heat: the actor's candid comments have sparked a firestorm on social media, where users accused Affleck of trying to 'blame' his alcohol issue on Garner](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835021-10315867-Heat_the_actor_s_candid_comments_have_sparked_a_firestorm_on_soc-a-3_1639644505015.jpg&w=728&hash=f912c4a5f14bd78a1ec3f6a454febe00)
![Heat: the actor's candid comments have sparked a firestorm on social media, where users accused Affleck of trying to 'blame' his alcohol issue on Garner](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835021-10315867-Heat_the_actor_s_candid_comments_have_sparked_a_firestorm_on_soc-a-3_1639644505015.jpg&w=728&hash=f912c4a5f14bd78a1ec3f6a454febe00)
Heat: the actor's candid comments have sparked a firestorm on social media, where users accused Affleck of trying to 'blame' his alcohol issue on Garner
![Driving him to rehab: Garner, 49, split from Affleck in 2015, however she was famously pictured taking him to get fast food before dropping him off at a treatment center in 2018 (pictured) after he agreed to seek help for a third time](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51828959-10315867-Driving_him_to_rehab_Garner_49_split_from_Affleck_in_2015_howeve-a-11_1639644505160.jpg&w=728&hash=a9327697636c88c67d863ca1f2c2d004)
![Driving him to rehab: Garner, 49, split from Affleck in 2015, however she was famously pictured taking him to get fast food before dropping him off at a treatment center in 2018 (pictured) after he agreed to seek help for a third time](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51828959-10315867-Driving_him_to_rehab_Garner_49_split_from_Affleck_in_2015_howeve-a-11_1639644505160.jpg&w=728&hash=a9327697636c88c67d863ca1f2c2d004)
Driving him to rehab: Garner, 49, split from Affleck in 2015, however she was famously pictured taking him to get fast food before dropping him off at a treatment center in 2018 (pictured) after he agreed to seek help for a third time
Sources have claimed that the Alias star is 'not OK' with Affleck's comments and feels as though they were a 'slap in the face.'
Lopez is also reportedly not happy, with a source telling Page Six that the Marry Me star is 'pissed.'
'She is getting pulled into this because she is dating him. She doesn't want to be dragged into this,' the source said.
'She has met Jennifer Garner. She is trying to get to know her and Ben's kids. It's reckless and cavalier of him.'
But another source told the website, 'This is simply not true and the focus is on the children.'
![Disconnect: Ben didn't explicitly blame his ex-wife Jennifer and complimented her parenting, but many fans nonetheless interpreted his statements as blaming her for his drinking; pictured with Garner in 2013](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51789575-10315867-Disconnect_Ben_didn_t_explicitly_blame_his_ex_wife_Jennifer_and_-a-1_1639650597133.jpg&w=728&hash=5ab1b0d819a6172cc920bfe1deafff95)
![Disconnect: Ben didn't explicitly blame his ex-wife Jennifer and complimented her parenting, but many fans nonetheless interpreted his statements as blaming her for his drinking; pictured with Garner in 2013](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51789575-10315867-Disconnect_Ben_didn_t_explicitly_blame_his_ex_wife_Jennifer_and_-a-1_1639650597133.jpg&w=728&hash=5ab1b0d819a6172cc920bfe1deafff95)
Disconnect: Ben didn't explicitly blame his ex-wife Jennifer and complimented her parenting, but many fans nonetheless interpreted his statements as blaming her for his drinking; pictured with Garner in 2013
![Disapproval: 'You blame your ex wife for drinking? You were a drunk before you married her!' tweeted out one impassioned Twitter user, with several others demanding him to take 'responsibility' for his own actions](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51806647-10315867-Disapproval_You_blame_your_ex_wife_for_drinking_You_were_a_drunk-a-12_1639644505171.jpg&w=728&hash=49408697230fda0a697d4441c1462bf7)
![Disapproval: 'You blame your ex wife for drinking? You were a drunk before you married her!' tweeted out one impassioned Twitter user, with several others demanding him to take 'responsibility' for his own actions](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51806647-10315867-Disapproval_You_blame_your_ex_wife_for_drinking_You_were_a_drunk-a-12_1639644505171.jpg&w=728&hash=49408697230fda0a697d4441c1462bf7)
Disapproval: 'You blame your ex wife for drinking? You were a drunk before you married her!' tweeted out one impassioned Twitter user, with several others demanding him to take 'responsibility' for his own actions
![Blame game: Mirroring earlier tweets, another disgruntled fan wrote: '@BenAffleck sounds like your blaming your ex-wife for your drinking! Scumbag!'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51806665-10315867-Blame_game_Mirroring_earlier_tweets_another_disgruntled_fan_wrot-a-8_1639644505061.jpg&w=728&hash=b16ca9e6648dd5fda828d08a54148d2f)
![Blame game: Mirroring earlier tweets, another disgruntled fan wrote: '@BenAffleck sounds like your blaming your ex-wife for your drinking! Scumbag!'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51806665-10315867-Blame_game_Mirroring_earlier_tweets_another_disgruntled_fan_wrot-a-8_1639644505061.jpg&w=728&hash=b16ca9e6648dd5fda828d08a54148d2f)
Blame game: Mirroring earlier tweets, another disgruntled fan wrote: '@BenAffleck sounds like your blaming your ex-wife for your drinking! Scumbag!'
On Wednesday, Affleck and J.Lo were suited up with overcoats for extra warmth on the chilly afternoon.
He looked dapper in a tan overcoat with a baby blue shirt underneath, along with black trousers and black leather shoes.
Lopez opted for a casual look featuring a lovely powder blue overcoat with wide lapels, which she wore open.
She complemented it with relaxed-fit pale blue jeans pleated around her waist, which she cinched with a tan belt.
The Waiting For Tonight singer stayed toasty with a thick gray sweater and a fluffy striped beige scarf wrapped around her neck.
She carried a pale blue handbag that matched her coat and elevated her 5ft5in stature with gray suede boots.
![Marching on: Garner was pictured out in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday with her children Seraphina, 12, and son Samuel, nine, that she shares with Affleck](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835015-10315867-Marching_on_Garner_was_pictured_out_in_Santa_Monica_California_o-a-6_1639644505054.jpg&w=728&hash=6e1ad51f49abe42e6cbb5b8573c18a0f)
![Marching on: Garner was pictured out in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday with her children Seraphina, 12, and son Samuel, nine, that she shares with Affleck](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51835015-10315867-Marching_on_Garner_was_pictured_out_in_Santa_Monica_California_o-a-6_1639644505054.jpg&w=728&hash=6e1ad51f49abe42e6cbb5b8573c18a0f)
Marching on: Garner was pictured out in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday with her children Seraphina, 12, and son Samuel, nine, that she shares with Affleck
![Blue mood: Jennifer showed off a winning smile while wearing a powder blue overcoat with baggy jeans, a gray sweater, a beige striped scarf and gray suede boots](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51851979-10315867-Blue_mood_Jennifer_showed_off_a_winning_smile_while_wearing_a_po-a-3_1639650597228.jpg&w=728&hash=824400e8994b19d8708c8656787642d6)
![Blue mood: Jennifer showed off a winning smile while wearing a powder blue overcoat with baggy jeans, a gray sweater, a beige striped scarf and gray suede boots](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51851979-10315867-Blue_mood_Jennifer_showed_off_a_winning_smile_while_wearing_a_po-a-3_1639650597228.jpg&w=728&hash=824400e8994b19d8708c8656787642d6)
Blue mood: Jennifer showed off a winning smile while wearing a powder blue overcoat with baggy jeans, a gray sweater, a beige striped scarf and gray suede boots
![Controversy: Although Ben was likely going to be chatting about his upcoming film The Tender Bar, he made headlines for a Howard Stern interview in which he said feeling 'trapped' in his marriage to Jennifer Garner led him to drink](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851987-10315867-Controversy_Although_Ben_was_likely_going_to_be_chatting_about_h-a-14_1639644505208.jpg&w=728&hash=74d70684ac1d3d039b768f662071794f)
![Controversy: Although Ben was likely going to be chatting about his upcoming film The Tender Bar, he made headlines for a Howard Stern interview in which he said feeling 'trapped' in his marriage to Jennifer Garner led him to drink](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851987-10315867-Controversy_Although_Ben_was_likely_going_to_be_chatting_about_h-a-14_1639644505208.jpg&w=728&hash=74d70684ac1d3d039b768f662071794f)
Controversy: Although Ben was likely going to be chatting about his upcoming film The Tender Bar, he made headlines for a Howard Stern interview in which he said feeling 'trapped' in his marriage to Jennifer Garner led him to drink
Lopez completed her low-key look by tying her caramel-colored locks back in a ponytail to highlight her impeccably made-up face.
She was seen flashing a winning smile at Ben, who looked more stone-faced.
Although Ben was likely going to be chatting about his upcoming film The Tender Bar, which is directed by his friend George Clooney, he found himself making headlines for his appearance on The Howard Stern Show.
The actor, who has been to rehab for his addiction to alcohol multiple times, explained that feeling 'trapped' contributed to his drinking in the final days of his marriage to Jennifer Garner.
Ben and Jennifer Garner split in 2015, just a day after their 10-year anniversary, and they finalized their divorce in 2018.
![Bundled up: The Waiting For Tonight singer stayed toasty wearing a thick gray sweater and a fluffy striped beige scarf wrapped around her neck](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856433-10315867-Bundled_up_The_Waiting_For_Tonight_singer_stayed_toasty_wearing_-a-15_1639644505235.jpg&w=728&hash=647d339f4096216f537d87cd80865a00)
![Bundled up: The Waiting For Tonight singer stayed toasty wearing a thick gray sweater and a fluffy striped beige scarf wrapped around her neck](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856433-10315867-Bundled_up_The_Waiting_For_Tonight_singer_stayed_toasty_wearing_-a-15_1639644505235.jpg&w=728&hash=647d339f4096216f537d87cd80865a00)
Bundled up: The Waiting For Tonight singer stayed toasty wearing a thick gray sweater and a fluffy striped beige scarf wrapped around her neck
![Feeling 'trapped': 'I was like,](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851983-10315867-Feeling_trapped_I_was_like_I_can_t_leave_because_of_my_kids_but_-a-16_1639644505239.jpg&w=728&hash=106df571a67b04bdbe6d8dd63436d1a1)
![Feeling 'trapped': 'I was like,](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51851983-10315867-Feeling_trapped_I_was_like_I_can_t_leave_because_of_my_kids_but_-a-16_1639644505239.jpg&w=728&hash=106df571a67b04bdbe6d8dd63436d1a1)
Feeling 'trapped': '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,' he said
![Yikes: Following the interview, several fans and critics lambasted Affleck on social media for the comments, which many interpreted as him blaming Garner for his relapse with drinking](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856437-10315867-Yikes_Following_the_interview_several_fans_and_critics_lambasted-a-17_1639644505290.jpg&w=728&hash=e81ad9653aeabc95be6fd99472cbc067)
![Yikes: Following the interview, several fans and critics lambasted Affleck on social media for the comments, which many interpreted as him blaming Garner for his relapse with drinking](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856437-10315867-Yikes_Following_the_interview_several_fans_and_critics_lambasted-a-17_1639644505290.jpg&w=728&hash=e81ad9653aeabc95be6fd99472cbc067)
Yikes: Following the interview, several fans and critics lambasted Affleck on social media for the comments, which many interpreted as him blaming Garner for his relapse with drinking
![Interesting perspectives: However, he never explicitly pointed the finger at Jennifer — whom he complimented on her parenting — during the conversation with Stern, and he appeared to suggest the two were simply over the long term](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51856431-10315867-Interesting_perspectives_However_he_never_explicitly_pointed_the-a-4_1639650597271.jpg&w=728&hash=003441e9df15125525540bf1b2699f52)
![Interesting perspectives: However, he never explicitly pointed the finger at Jennifer — whom he complimented on her parenting — during the conversation with Stern, and he appeared to suggest the two were simply over the long term](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F10%2F51856431-10315867-Interesting_perspectives_However_he_never_explicitly_pointed_the-a-4_1639650597271.jpg&w=728&hash=003441e9df15125525540bf1b2699f52)
Interesting perspectives: However, he never explicitly pointed the finger at Jennifer — whom he complimented on her parenting — during the conversation with Stern, and he appeared to suggest the two were simply over the long term
!['I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped that she knew that I was a good dad; I knew I was,' he told Stern. 'I had to get sober, and I knew that too and I acknowledged that.'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856439-10315867-_I_knew_she_was_a_good_mom_I_always_hoped_that_she_knew_that_I_w-a-19_1639644505327.jpg&w=728&hash=f77674d26621f50526ff2847304b5ef2)
!['I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped that she knew that I was a good dad; I knew I was,' he told Stern. 'I had to get sober, and I knew that too and I acknowledged that.'](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2021%2F12%2F16%2F08%2F51856439-10315867-_I_knew_she_was_a_good_mom_I_always_hoped_that_she_knew_that_I_w-a-19_1639644505327.jpg&w=728&hash=f77674d26621f50526ff2847304b5ef2)
'I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped that she knew that I was a good dad; I knew I was,' he told Stern. 'I had to get sober, and I knew that too and I acknowledged that.'
Following the interview, several fans and critics lambasted Affleck on social media for the comments, which many interpreted as him blaming Garner for his relapse with drinking.
One disgruntled fan wrote: '@BenAffleck sounds like [you're] blaming your ex-wife for your drinking! Scumbag!'
However, he never explicitly pointed the finger at Jennifer — whom he complimented on her parenting — during the conversation with Stern, and he appeared to suggest the two were simply over the long term.
'I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped that she knew that I was a good dad; I knew I was,' he told Stern. 'I had to get sober, and I knew that too and I acknowledged that.'
It was the couple's children — Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, nine — who kept them together as long as they were.
'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.
On Wednesday, Affleck blamed the media for twisting his words.
'I sort of researched through and saw one of these websites had done the click bate thing, 'You won't believe what he said, click on this, come to our site.' I looked on it, and they had literally taken the conversation that I had had for two hours and made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I had said,' he told Kimmel.
'I had gone on, said how much we respected each other, cared about each other, cared about our kids, put them first. It said that I had blamed my ex-wife for my alcoholism, that I was trapped in this marriage, just made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy.
'Look. I know people do this. I get it. Me, I'm happy to be sad Batman, Dunkin' Donuts and the meme,' he said. 'Really, it's about my kids, I just got to draw a line.'
Prior to Affleck's interview with Stern, he and Jennifer looked love-up at the premiere of The Tender Bar on Sunday in Hollywood.
He stars in the film, which is based on J. R. Moehringer's memoir of the same name, with Tye Sheridan, Lily Rabe and Christopher Lloyd.