Pretty much no family makes for cuter pictures than the Affleck/Garner clan. The threesome went shopping yesterday and were nauseatingly cute as usual. Really, I’d be jealous if they didn’t seem so genuinely happy and appreciative of each other. A couple websites make fun of how often Ben and Jen bring Violet with them and imply that parents are showing off their cute kid to lure the paparazzi. I think their intentions are pretty good and they’re just going about living their lives the way they want to.
Violet Affleck is easily the happiest celebrity kid around. She normally has a grin on her face just like any other regular kid. She doesn’t seem (rightfully) afraid of the paparazzi like Suri Cruise sometimes does, and she never looks miserable like Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen’s poor daughters. Clearly Ben and Jennifer do a good job of making Violet feel safe, secure, and happy. And that happens to make for super cute pictures too.
Here’s Jennifer Garner picks up Violet from school and going shopping with Ben in Brentwood on Thursday. Images thanks to WENN.
No one knows whether Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are having a boy or a girl, but one thing’s for sure: the couple is not a fan of the trendy Hollywood baby names like “Zuma” or “Apple.” It’s obvious with the name they chose for their first child, Violet, that they prefer more traditional names. Sources are reporting that if baby # 2 is a boy, they may name him after daddy.
BEN AFFLECK and JENNIFER GARNER have rejected weird Hollywood names in favour of the traditional, for baby number two.
The celebrity couple, parents to two year old VIOLET, dislike the trendy names chosen by other celebs such as GWYNETH PALTROW, who named her daughter APPLE, and NICHOLAS CAGE, who saddled his son with KAL-EL.
“Ben put his foot down and said no way to trendy Hollywood names,” said a source.
“If it’s a boy, he likes the name Benjamin, not just because it’s his name but it’s that of his hero, Benjamin Franklin.”
Finding a name you can both agree on is one of the hardest parts of the pregnancy. Every time I come across a name I like, my husband poo-poo’s it. His biggest concern is finding a name that other kids won’t make fun of. It’s practically impossible to find a name that meets that criteria! After months of back and forth, and only three and a half months to go, we have finally whittled down a short list of boy names that we both like – but we still can’t decide. I wish Ben and Jennifer luck!
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are shown dropping Violet off at school Wednesday. Credit: Revolutionpix/bauergriffinonline.com
Just in case you were wondering if Jennifer Garner was pregnant or just putting on some baby-shaped weight, the actress has finally admitted she’s expecting. Jen’s pregnancy has been sort of unofficially/accidentally acknowledged by husband Ben Affleck and their actor friend Victor Garber. And everyone knows once Victor Garber tells the press you’re expecting, there’s really no need to say anything more.
Jennifer confirmed to Access Hollywood that she isn’t just unfortunately bloated – though she did make a joke about it.
After months of speculation, Jennifer Garner has officially confirmed she is expecting a second child with her husband, Ben Affleck, in a new interview with Access Hollywood’s Tony Potts.
”Thank you,” Jennifer told Tony at the Baby Einstein’s 10th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. “We’re so excited, obviously.” Jennifer was coy with the news at first, joking with Tony as he wished her well.
“Congratulations. Can I say that?” Tony asked. “For what?” Jennifer smiled. “For baby number two,” Tony responded.
“Oh I’m not pregnant,” she giggled. “I just had a lot of carbs for breakfast. It’s just — what do they call it? A breakfast pouch? Bunch?”
Jennifer’s confirmation comes after weeks of speculation as her tummy size swelled to the visible baby bump she is currently sporting. The child, whose sex Jennifer did not reveal, will be her second with Affleck.
Jennifer and Ben have also been busy campaigning for Barack Obama while promoting green causes. Jen was seen driving around Brentwood yesterday in a beautiful hydrogen powered BMW. The car had a huge advertisement on the side that said “Clean Energy,” on it. She probably got comped for it, but it’s nice to see someone famous endorsing something that actually matters instead of just promoting a new brand of jeans.
Here’s Jennifer driving her hydrogen car yesterday. Header of Jen with daughter Violet buying balloons for Ben’s birthday on Thursday. Images thanks to Fame.
Political celebrities are officially out in full force. Two men whose names have often been bandied about as possible future politicians –Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, along with wife Jennifer Garner – gave speeches at a fundraiser for Barack Obama this weekend. The guys really do everything together. Both Matt and Ben are expecting their second children in the next few months. They support the same political causes. And I’m pretty damn sure that if you checked, they’re wearing the same underwear.
Their shared passions definitely benefited a good cause this weekend, as Ben, Jen, and Matt lent their star power to help raise money for Obama.
A pregnant Jennifer Garner gave a “witty, clever” speech supporting presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at a fundraiser on Saturday night, People reported. Joined by husband Ben Affleck, as well as friends Matt Damon and wife Luciana, who’s also expecting, Garner reportedly gave the first speech at a $1,000-per-person VIP reception at club SET.
“She was very witty, clever and funny,” a SET source told People. “She was followed by her husband Ben, then Matt Damon. The men gave serious political speeches on how the country needs change.” The stars were reportedly in good spirits, drinking bottled water and mingling with guests. “They were all in great moods and very friendly to everyone,” another source told People.
Damon spoke to reporters outside of SET about his support for the Democratic candidate, saying that he’s for Obama “for a lot of reasons. But mostly because I don’t like the path this country’s on and if McCain is elected we’ll be continuing down that same path.” At least one of the famous couples may make an appearance at the Democratic National Convention later this month. “I’d like to,” Affleck told People.
I love election season. Celebrities actually have something more interesting to talk about than Paris Hilton. Unless you’re John McCain, then Paris is about all you can come up with. Obama has a lot of celebrities in his corner, and that can be a positive or a negative, depending on how a politician plays it. I think he’s done a good job of being gracious towards them, but not overly courting them. So far he has yet to schmooze with Heidi Montag, as far as I can tell. And that’s pretty much the bottom of the barrel.
Here’s Ben and Jennifer arrive at LAX airport to catch a flight on Friday. Header image is an older file photo of Ben and Matt together in 2006. Images thanks to WENN.
Cara reported yesterday that Ben Affleck seemed to slip in an interview he gave in late May in which he said “we’re going to have another baby soon now that we’ve figured out how to do it.” It could be interpreted as either a confirmation that his wife Jennifer Garner is expecting or just Affleck letting us know that they’re trying for another baby. Either way, it looks like congratulations are in order. Garner’s close friend and the man who officiated her wedding with Affleck, Victor Garber, has confirmed that she’s expecting.
“Yes, she is,” Garber – who officiated the couple’s 2005 wedding – told Us when asked if recent speculation was true that the couple is expecting.
A source adds, “She is five months pregnant. They are very happy.”
Garner, 36, and Affleck, 35, are parents to two-year-old daughter Violet – one of Us’ Babies of the Year.
[From US Weekly]
She’s five months pregnant already? She looks three months if that. Ben and Jennifer have two and half year old Violet, and they come across as very hands-on parents and are often seen out with their daughter. There have been rumors that they’re having trouble, but those stories don’t seem to have much basis in fact. Both Ben and Jen have been outspoken about their wish to have another baby and this is great news for them. Maybe we’ll receive some confirmation from their camp, but I bet Garber spoke with their blessings and they’re just glad to stop the speculation.
Jennifer Garner is shown out in LA on 7/17/08. Credit: WENN
There have been rumors for months that Jennifer Garner is pregnant with her second child by husband Ben Affleck. Ben may have let the baby secret slip in late May during an interview with Marianne Gray. He was chatting with Gray about his movie Gone Baby Gone when the subject of working with Garner again came up. The couple first met when they worked together on the film Daredevil. While modestly putting her on a pedestal he may have admitted they were expecting another child.
He’d “love” to work with Garner “if she would work with me, but she might just want to work with a real director. And we’re going to have another baby soon now that we’ve figured out how to do it. We want lots of kids.”
Ben and Jennifer were seen yesterday heading into Garner’s L.A. obstetrician’s office. Reps for both camps refuse to deny or confirm any baby news. Her recent preference for baggy tops and efforts to shield a possible baby bump by holding her two year old have tabloids theorizing that she is three months along.
These poor celebs. If pregnancy rumors started every time I was a bit bloated, I would be considered to be knocked up year round.
Jennifer Garner and Violet are shown out on 7/9/08 and 7/15/08. Credit: WENN
Ben Affleck on Nightline, Part 1. The rest of his segment is below
Last week we mentioned that Ben Affleck would have a segment on Nightline covering one of his trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo. An estimated 45,000 people a month die of starvation and violence in the war-torn nation and by some accounts nearly 2 out of 3 women have been raped. More people have died there in the four and a half year Second Congo War, from 1998 to 2003, than any other conflict since World War II, with 5.4 million people killed to date and millions left injured, homeless and starving.
Some commenters expressed skepticism in our last post that Affleck chose to take up this cause. His trip to the Congo covered by Nightline was his third in eight months. He’s earnest about this and has said several times that he’s just a celebrity and that it’s only natural that people have doubts about his reasons for getting involved. He asks us to focus on the cause, not him.
I haven’t seen other articles specifically with his Nightline footage and I wanted to post it here. Watching his segment was educational for me and I was moved by the plight of the people there. I consider myself a relatively well-informed person and while I was aware there were problems in the Congo I had no idea how difficult it is for the people nor did I grasp the extent of the humanitarian crisis there.
He really brought it home for me with this very simple statement about how the Congolese people were affected by war:
“They’re literally in a living hell. These are people – teachers, farmers, regular people like you and I… with regular jobs. People came through shooting guns and kicking doors down, burning houses and raping women and they had to run for their lives. They’re just decent good people who have been in these places, many of them for years.” [Transcribed from Affleck's Nightline appearance above]
There’s a new guest essay by Affleck on ABCNews.com along with video of his travels. His Nightline segment is below.
Here’s part of Affleck’s essay, it’s very well written and moving:
Over the last year, I have been traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to learn more about the country.
I view this as a long and ongoing learning experience to educate myself before making any attempt to advocate or “speak out.” My plan has been to explore, watch, listen and find those doing the best work with and on behalf of the people of the DRC, in an effort to give exposure to voices which might not otherwise be heard.
In short, I want to listen before speaking and learn before taking action. The “Nightline” segment airing Thursday June, 26 is an attempt to take the viewer along with me in that process.
It makes sense to be skeptical about celebrity activism. There is always the suspicion that involvement with a cause may be doing more good for the spokesman than he or she is doing for the cause.
I welcome any questions about me and my involvement, but I hope you can separate whatever reservations you may have from what is unimpeachably important about this segment: the plight of eastern Congo.
Anyone familiar with the Congo has heard the mind-numbing statistics: more than four million dead since 1998 (and many more before then), the most killed in any conflict since the Second World War. 1,200 people a day are still dying from conflict and conflict-related causes such as starvation and preventable disease.
He noted that it’s a desperate situation for the people he met with in the refugee camps, because “In the past few months, these families that I met with who never got enough food to begin with have had their rations cut in half. The same forces that are causing our food and gas prices to soar higher at home are pushing these people to the brink of starvation.” Affleck asked a man what it’s like every day in the camp and he said “hunger.”
Affleck took a trip with the UN and armed guards into the headquarters of the most brutal militia group, the FDLR, who committed genocide in Rwanda and are staying in nearby Congo. He spoke with men who said they could not leave the militia out of fear of reprisal at home.
He then went to a hospital and met with a woman who was raped and burned by FDLR soldiers who attacked her village. Her child was killed in a fire that FDLR soldiers set to her hut, badly burning her entire body. When Affleck told this woman’s story he got teary-eyed and looked like he was about to cry. Try and watch her story, it’s part 3 below, and not cry your eyes out.
Affleck’s message is more important than his status as a celebrity or his personal journey. I know I learned a lot about the terrible crisis in the Congo. The segment really moved me.
Ben Affleck on Nightline Part 2:
Ben Affleck on Nightline Part 3, the militia group FDLR and a rape victim’s story:
Ben Affleck on Nightline Part 4, cause for hope and programs to help victims:
Matt Damon, his pregnant wife Luciana Barroso, his old friend Ben Affleck and Ben’s wife, actress Jennifer Garner, went out for dinner on Saturday night at Nobu restaurant in Malibu. Matt and Luciana were laughing up a storm, but Ben and Jennifer looked a little somber. I can easily speculate that at least one photographer was shouting obnoxious questions at them based on that barely decipherable story by Ted Casablanca that there’s trouble in their marriage. If you watch any paparazzi video they pepper the celebrities with near-constant questions that can seem incredibly creepy and stalkerish.
The last we saw of Matt he was looking super frumpy and a little plump on the Hawaiian set of The Insider. Put a hat and a normal shirt on the guy and he’s the fine action hero dad again. His wife looks gorgeous and I love her outfit and hair.
Affleck appeared on Nightline on Thursday in a piece talking about his work in the Congo. He’s more than aware that celebrities can be bashed for doing charity work, but he feels that he has currency as a famous person and he may as well spend it on doing good in the world.
As for the state of his marriage, Affleck told Access Hollywood that everything is fine and that he couldn’t be happier:
“Things are pretty great,” Affleck said, when asked if he had any vacation plans on the horizon. “We’re very happy. Things couldn’t be better. We’re kind of taking it easy and just kind of enjoying a little downtime at home.”
The tabloids are going to use these photos and run stories with made up insider quotes that Garner and Affleck are having trouble. I bet you these two are just annoyed at the intrusive paparazzi and the rude questions they shout.
Ben Affleck seems to have made wise decisions about his career and personal life in his post-J.Lo time period. He’s taken the appropriate amount of time to stay out of the spotlight, has not starred in another dumb action movie, and has married and fathered an adorable child with a woman who is so down to earth that it’s hard to find anything to pick on her about.
Now he’s taken a Nightline camera crew to The Congo with him to chronicle his personal journey meeting victims of the war and humanitarian crisis there. Affleck realizes that he looks like a tool as an actor traveling to the third world, but he’s willing to take the hits if it means a greater awareness of the vast need in the area for help. Affleck has been to The Congo three times this past year and this is the first I’ve heard of his charity work. His people asked Nightline to cover this story after seeing Don Cheadle visit nearby Rwanda, which borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the East. Cheadle went to Rwanda with Nightline in 2005 in an attempt to learn more about the people there after making the film Hotel Rwanda:
He’s been to the Congo three times in the past year. He said his motive was to learn about the war and hunger that have killed thousands of people per month in the past decade in hopes that the outside world would be moved to help, and his celebrity opened some doors.
“It’s fairly clear that in the modern age that there is a currency to celebrity, or celebrity is a currency, really,” Affleck told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I’ve discovered that you can spend it in a lot of ways, or you can squander it. You can be taxed, as well. I really started thinking long and hard about how to use that currency as long as I had it.”
His representatives approached “Nightline” with the idea of reporting on his journey. Affleck said he was impressed by “Nightline” stories in 2005 where “Hotel Rwanda” actor Don Cheadle visited that country.
“Nightline” executive producer James Goldston admitted to skepticism. ABC News took heat a decade ago for letting Leonardo DiCaprio interview President Clinton, and the idea of a concerned celebrity taking on a world problem has become a news staple.
“I was quite persuaded by how candid he was about the cliche of it, or the potential cliche,” Goldston said.
Affleck deals with that issue in the opening of his essay: “I want to try to bring people along to learn and if they might not tune into this unless there was some celebrity involved in it, either because they’re interested in the celebrity or because they want to see the celebrity kind of make a fool of himself, then so be it,” he says.
He doesn’t act as a reporter, Goldston said. The idea was to present the story as a personal journey, following Affleck as he met with survivors of the conflict, relief officials and even some warlords.
“Nightline” hasn’t done its own story on the Congo since 2002, although Cynthia McFadden recently took a trip to Africa to report on several issues there.
Affleck said one “Nightline” piece isn’t likely to change much, but the goal is to spread the word and hope that people in the United States can identify with some people who are suffering.
About 45,000 people a month die in the Congo. One in five children will not live past five. Affleck spoke of the way the people he met touched him and how he understands that there is suspicion of his motives:
“The people here in my experience are really extraordinary people, and they’re dealing with sometimes some extraordinarily difficult circumstances, sometimes even horrific circumstances,” he said. “But I don’t see them as victims; I see them as people who are doing extraordinary things and who deserve to have some attention paid to what they’re doing. I want to kind of bring people along, and if they might not tune into this unless it was some celebrity involved in it — either because they’re interested in the celebrity or want to see the celebrity make a fool of himself — then so be it.”
“People should see actors on television doing charitable work and be suspicious of that, and at the end of watching this I hope they find themselves less suspicious of that and more interested in this and perhaps involved in it,” he said.
Ben Affleck’s appearance on Nightline will be shown tonight on ABC at 11:35 pm. He’s right that it’s a cliché that once a celebrity learns about a specific problem it gets coverage, but they also have an incredible opportunity to bring attention to people who are in dire straits. I’d rather celebrities focus on getting help to the third world than making it seem glamorous to carry purses worth enough to support an entire family there for a year.
I’m still annoyed at Ted Casablanca for making me fall for his jargony claim that Brad and Angelina sold their New Orleans mansion. (Jaybird wrote that story, but I’m the one who sent it to her, I have to take the blame.) He said it with such conviction and used so many stupid adjectives that it just had to be true.
Well yesterday Casablanca reported in his roundabout twang that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were having trouble. Because I promised you guys that I wouldn’t rely on him for information anymore, I sat on my tingling hands and didn’t report it. It’s now at the top of the gossip aggregate site I visit multiple times a day, WeSmirch, and I was just about to reluctantly report it when I saw the denial from their reps.
Here’s what Casablanca said, and I’m rolling my eyes having to read this shit again. If you read between the lines, you can tell he’s just making assumptions because they’ve been seen out separately in photos.
Terribly unfortunate scuttlebutt has come my way. Sources insist to me that Jennifer Garner is considering splitting up from her hubby, Ben Affleck. Say it ain’t so, baby-cakes! Nevertheless, waiting on comment now from both parties. Could this be the reason Jen and Ben are always seen cooing over adorable daughter Violet separately, rarely as one happy family unit? Perhaps. And certainly, those who know the former Alias star well insist Ben’s mama has never particularly cared for the gal who broke Michael Vartan’s heart to hook up with Benny-Boy in the first place. Waiting on official PR responses to that little familial naughty nugget as, well, for what it’s worth. Much has to be divided, I’m told…planes, property. Wonder—if above baddie biz is true—if Benny-boy will be the gentleman Vartan was when he was cast aside? Let’s hope. I mean, don’t leave Vi-hon with the sitters too long if ya decide to hit the card tables, Mr. A!
Yes, terribly unfortunate scuttlebutt indeed. Well the reps for the Garner-Afflecks say it’s 100% fabricated:
A report by E!’s Ted Casablanca that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are considering breaking up is “100% completely fabricated,” Garner’s rep tells Usmagazine.com.
The E! report speculated a potential split was “the reason Jen and Ben are always seen cooing over adorable daughter Violet separately.”
But Garner’s rep tells Us: “There is not one ounce of truth to it.”
I’m glad I heard that before I reported this, even with the severe disclaimer I was about to slap on it. Now I have another reason to ignore this guy other than the fact that his writing makes my head spin.
Was the brief blip in traffic worth it for Casablanca? I ask myself that very question when I post celebrity upskirts.
Ben and Jen are shown at the White House Correspondents Dinner on 4/26/08, and with their daughter Violet, two and half, registering her for “the First Presbyterian Nursery School in Santa Monica” on 6/16/08, thanks to WENN.
