Ben Affleck has clarified to TV host Jimmy Kimmel that his statement about his alcoholism and marriage to Jennifer Garner was taken out of context and made him look like "the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy."
During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night, the 49-year-old actor, who was promoting his upcoming movie The Tender Bar, addressed the controversial remarks made on The Howard Stern Show.
He said that some listeners had "taken the conversation" and "made it seem as if I was doing the exact opposite of what I said" by focusing on only one piece of their chat.
He explained to Kimmel that in his interview with Stern, he had also said how much he and Jennifer respect each other and care about each other and their children.
Affleck said that he thought that his interview with Stern was "meaningful" but didn't realise how his comments were perceived by people and media until it aired.
"I was thrilled (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 said.
A father of three children – Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9 – Affleck told Kimmel, "I would never want my kids to think I would ever say a bad word about their mom."
The actor set the record straight, saying that when it comes to his family, "I have to draw a line, and be clear."
Jennifer Lopez, Affleck's girlfriend, is reportedly angry about the situation.
A source close to the singer told Page Six that she's "pissed. She is getting pulled into this because she is dating him. She doesn’t want to be dragged into this."
“She has met Jennifer Garner. She is trying to get to know her and Ben’s kids. It’s reckless and cavalier of him,” the source added.