A tipster pointed me to this article I missed in Entertainment Tonight about how Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are doing. Remember when they used to blanket the press with insider statements about the state of their on-off coparenting relationship and how they were doing? They did that for so long. They’re much more reserved about that now, but they still can’t resist giving updates to the press. Like this one that lets us know that Ben is sober and working out (good for him) and that he’s hoping to date “someone who is supportive of his clean lifestyle.” Meanwhile Jennifer Garner is still dating John Miller, we just don’t see it even though photographers follow her on every errand. Here’s more:
The source notes that Garner continues to be supportive of Affleck as he stays on “the right path.”
“Ben has finally taken that step toward a healthier lifestyle and his family couldn’t be happier,” the source says. “He’s on the right path and doing incredibly well with the full support of Jen and his entire family. Jen, of course, helped to motivate Ben by being a constant reminder that he must be the best he can for his children.”
“He’s been taking this time to exercise daily, and eat well and spend time with his children,” the source continues. “He is making sure he’s doing what is best for not only himself but also his family. His motivation to change came from taking the time to look at what he has and what he could lose.”
“Jen and John are still very much dating and are together more and more,” the source says. “Ben sees how happy Jen is with John.”
“Ben wants to date but knows he needs to take it slowly,” the source notes. “He wants to ensure he is healthy enough to be a supportive partner. Ben is looking to date someone who is supportive of his clean lifestyle. It has been a long road.”
I hope Lindsay Shookus is off living her best life because she is well rid of him. We heard that she was acting as his sober coach and was working to keep him away from alcohol. It sounded dysfunctional, but so did Ben and Jen’s relationship. Remember that 22 year-old Playboy model Ben dated to dump Lindsay before he got sober and Lindsay took him back again? I’m wondering how old the next one will be. To his credit he does look better and sober.
Photos credit: Backgrid and WENN
Kristin Davis? She’s sober as well and would have the same Garner charm with the mini van group.
Pretty sure that’s not a win for Davis though.
I never knew that about Kristin Davis! I suppose not drinking plays a big part in how great her skin looks in her 50s.
She does have the best skin. I think she said acting saved her from alcoholism and she didn’t think she’d make it to 30, so i believe she’s been sober for most of her adult life now.
But Ben has a lot of issues. Alcoholism. Gaming addiction. Lots of self destructive patterns as soon as be hits a peak he needs to crash into the gutter. Therapy is required, not a partner.
Downgrade for her. Please no!
A long time sober person wants nothing to do w the train wreck of new sobriety. Plus I heard he’s too star power to work an actual program and get an actual sponsor. The terminally unique are toxic. K can do much better- I’m speaking as someone w 20yrs clean living.
He had a wife that supported his clean lifestyle… š§šš»āāļø Are you sure he doesn’t just want a sober coach? I’m honestly so sick of men who need their significant other to be their babysitter.
Could not agree more. I was just on a girls weekend and this same type of situation was being discussed. Basically everyone just said it was their job to take care of their husband no matter what they did or how much they drank, because thatās what marriage is. It was really shocking and uncomfortable and regressive. I always thought marriage was supposed to be an equal partnership, but what do I know! Iām single and juuuust fine with that š
Sarah that would make new feel awkward as well. In poorness, in sickness, yes. In abuse and infidelity, no. Marriage is equals deciding together. Not one person does as they like and the other just deals.
That IS sad. I could see if it was a case of “my husband started struggling with addiction, and we’re a team so I’m there for him every step of the way” or “my husband got really ill, I need to take care of him”. But not just take care of him in general.
And I know I’m not a perfect example of this – because I have to remind mine of A LOT in terms of making appointments and shit. But I certainly don’t do it FOR him. But in turn – he takes care of ME when I have bad migraines or bad chronic pain days. I know that’s not an easy life for him either – but at least in our case it’s both of us picking up where the other person struggles – not one sided.
These sound like the kind of douchebros who ‘babysit’ their kids.
Great comment Jess
No partner should play babysitter. I totally agree. But that isn’t necessarily what supportive means. It could just be that he’s talking about being supportive as simply meshing goals, not being a sober coach. I mean, an alcoholic needs a partner that isn’t going to encourage said alcoholic to drink. That’s not babysitting, or sober coaching, it’s just having equivalent priorities.
I know Lindsey Shookus gets a lot of sympathy here for putting up with Ben. And that Ben gets a lot of dissing here due to his behavior. But I never saw Shookus as babysitting him, like many others did. She runs with the SNL crowd, which parties pretty hard, and I suspect that she wasn’t the type to worry about Ben’s drinking. She may have been the type that even encouraged him to try to drinking in moderation, which for many alcoholics is impossible. Maybe Ben has realized that he needs a partner who has the same lifestyle.
I understand an alcoholic looking for a partner who will care about helping him avoid temptation. I don’t see that as asking for a nanny or anything, but asking for a partner who cares.
I agree with this. I always thought that Shookus didn’t have it EASY with Ben, but at the same time I don’t think she was a positive influence in a lot of ways. Not maliciously or anything, but I think she had the life she really loved, and wasn’t going to shift gears while dating an addict.
Which – nobody should have to rewire their life and put everything on hold for their partner. But it just makes more sense to try to live similar lifestyles in this kind of situation. There’s a difference between going away for a girls weekend and still having a boozy, fun filled trip. But not bringing that aspect of your life into your ‘everyday’ life when you’re with someone who struggles with substance abuse.
I also don’t hate Affleck at all. I know he’s got plenty of problems, but I still like him. I root for the guy. And I know he’s got some pretty strong self-destructive tendencies, but I don’t think he’s some awful person either. I think he’s just… kind of a mess.
At the same time though – I think Jen was what he is looking for now, but it still didn’t work out. Maybe he’ll find someone in between Jen and Lindsay and it will work. I do feel bad for Jen in a lot of ways, but I also am constantly impressed that she had the strength to really BE THERE for him and make sure their kids weren’t seeing the full picture of the mess. I think they genuinely love each other in a lot of ways, but just aren’t great together. I hope he truly realizes all that she’s done for him.
Yes, he had a wife but honestly I donāt think they were that compatibleāeven aside from his addictions.
Jess great comment. You said my thoughts exactly. Who wants this gig. Dating him means assuming the roll of sober coach and mommy. You are gifted with all of his responsibilities. Ugh no thanks.
Ha! Playboy model or babysitter from another wealthy family? Perhaps a Pilates instructor who likes to party? This dude is so gross and has been given so many chances in Hollywood. If he falls off the wagon yet again he will not be missed. Mediocre white men are a dime a dozen.
why doesn’t he just NOT DATE? at least until he’s been sober for a while ON HIS OWN, instead of depending on someone else to be his “sober coach”?
isn’t there a “rule”/guideline in AA that you’re not supposed to date for a full year after you get sober?
asking spoiled celebrities to make sacrifices??? that’s crazy talk! XD
@whatwhat, yes there is a guideline for AA having to do with dating in the first year. He didn’t say he’s dating. He basically stated what he wants.
I’ve been sober for 13 years, did date in the first year of sobriety and that relationship failed. And honestly, AA is kind of a farce. I hated it. It made me want to relapse, so really anything they say I take with a grain of salt. But yes, dating the first year is not a good idea in general.
And I might add, he has been sober almost a year. Maybe 10 months or so. I hope that he finds someone who is supportive and not a sober coach. Who he is also supportive of.
I feel like him and Garner were just incompatible and pretty toxic for one another. She seems to be in a better place and so does he. I think he also needs to stay away from actresses and go for someone like RDJ’s wife, producer, maybe a screenwriter :). I think that would work well for him.
So he wants Joan Watson as a partner/potential wife.
What, Joan is a fictional character? Does Batfleck know that.
Dude has tons of money, he can hire a sober coach and start seeing a Psychologist regularly. And just, get comfortable with being single, work in that and being a good and present Dad for the kids. I thought recovery programs dissuade people in recovery from dating at all for at least the first year, for good reason.
How about the wife he left? It bugs me when men seek the very traits going forward that were the very attributes of the partner/spouse that they recently left. Sooo…you just want a new version of what you already had? YUP.
He’s looking for a new Mommy/Doormat Wife, someone who will wipe his butt and keep him sober and do everything around the house… all while looking the other way as he cheats on her. Garner did it for how long? 13+ years before she grew a spine and got a clue.
He will cheat on every woman he dates. I pity the next woman he lures into a relationship next.
“Ben is looking for someone to support his clean lifesyle.” ” It has been a long road.”
Sounds like this is a roll-out for introducing his new girlfriend to me…. Hopefully the next one will be on the same coast…
I thought the same thing. He did the same thing with Lindsay Shookus when they reunited. One day they were talking, and within a few days they were back on. He is so predictable. A few days ago he was pictured at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Who knows, better yet – who cares?
‘Someone who is supportive’ … I think they all were (don’t know about the playboy model though), I think he wants a mom-girlfriend in her 20s let’s be real.