Do you think Ben Affleck picked Lindsay Shookus out of all the other side pieces over the years for her ability to keep expectations low, stick to his schedule and bide her time? Obviously that’s my theory, especially after seeing these latest photos of the two of them out in New York. Judging from the paparazzi photos and reported sightings, it seems like they’re on a schedule where they spend a weekend together about every two to three weeks, however it’s likely they’ve seen each other in the interim.
US Magazine has photos and details of Ben and Lindsay’s date on Saturday night, when they went together to see IT together in New York City. You can see in the header photo that Ben and Lindsay have the same face, right? So many people have been telling me this but I’m only seeing it now. I think it’s the way their eyes are shaped, they look sympatico. I think they got the same nose job too.
On Sunday Ben and Lindsay went to the US Open, where Ben seems to be nursing his hangover, although that could just be Diet Coke in his glass. (Or Coke Zero sugar FTW, they didn’t mess that up surprisingly.) At times he looks especially troubled, but that’s probably due to whatever is going on with the match. There were photos of them kissing each other’s heads, which you can see at The Daily Mail. They were in one of those nice suites where you get catering and drinks while you watch the match. That night they went to Momoya Upper West in Manhattan for dinner, where Ben was working on his next hangover. He looks so beat here. I’ve gotten used to him looking like this but after seeing the Justice League trailer ahead of IT this weekend I was struck by how out of shape he is compared to his costars. He’s attractive an is not out of shape for an average dude but for a movie star and especially an action hero he’s let himself go.
Someone sent us a tip that Ben spent Labor Day weekend in Buffalo, NY, where Lindsay grew up. Shookus’s family lives in Williamsville, NY, a somewhat affluent suburb. I’m sure she weaved a version of her childhood for Ben that was similar to his, an outsider among rich kids, but maybe they do have that in common. The source wrote “They are drinking heavily with her family.” I mean look at the two of them after dinner, that’s not a stretch. Tens of millions of dollars at stake and several rehab stints and Ben can’t stay sober. It’s kind of sad.
In contrast Ben’s estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, took their kids to church on Sunday like clockwork. She also recently headed to Texas with Save The Children, an organization she’s worked with for years, to visit Harvey victims. Her post (below) gave me goosebumps. She may be playing up her down-to-earth empathetic mom persona but you also get the sense that’s it’s not a facade at all and is who she really is.
photos credit: Backgrid, WENN and Instagram
Wow-they do not look good.
Yeah, he looks like a bloated mess and she looks like she is about to puke and has a raging headache. This is not a good pairing. I don’t think this going to end well for Ben.
Agreed. This is headed for a tragic place. And now children from two families will be involved.
The nighttime photos of the two of them always look like a couple on a bender. Doesn’t matter when or from where. I think it’s tragic.
hmmm an enabler to keep him close? Possibly.
They look WRECKED. My goodness.
Yep. They’re a good match. I’m relieved to see him just be who he is. He was hurting people pretending to be someone he’s not. This couple though is not my speed.
I’m happy for Garner now. She deserves some normal adult life. She looks fantastic in all these photos. I’m no fan of her per se but it’s a relief to see her living her life and ignoring the mess.
@Carrie1 I love the realism of your comment. Thank you!
No kidding- in the first photo ( before I read the article), I thought, ” Wow, she looks toasted, and he looks…bloated.” Yikes.
They always look so greasy 🤢
Ben looks like hell.
They better have a driver/Uber at all times. He looks like a walking DUI.
The photos of Ben and Lindsay make me sad. I worry for his health, I really do.
It is rather sad. He is talented and intelligent and he is wasting it on substance abuse.
They look terrible. I’d be mortified if I was JG, imagine being left for THAT woman.
He is a heart attack waiting to happen. She is just his current side piece.
Just came on here to say that, God, he looks horrible! Bloated, red-faced and glassy-eyed. Must have gone on a really big bender!
He looks like Tori’s husband! How? How Sway?
I disagree with @Celebitchy that he is a good looking guy normally. I saw him in person in the Boston area a few months ago now? And he looked bloated and ragged. No bueno.
A few months ago he was exactly the same as now, so he wouldn’t have looked any different. Now a few years ago, when he was healthier and still trying to play the good family man, I was surprised by how good looking he was in person.
Anyway, just adding to the chorus that these two look a bloated Leaving Las Vegas mess. And why do they always walk down the street with his hand in his pocket and her clutching his arm? Why can’t he just hold her hand like normal? It’s weird.
Ugh, what a bloated schlub.
Total schlub. Looks like he would be out of breath just getting up off his seat. He needs a nap
And an intervention.
He’s starting to look like a marshmallow.
Yeah or a fat Panda! Where are his eyes? Is it just drinking or is he on steroids from some injury? Cortisol can puff your face up like heck too. Man neither one of them look good.
Coke bloat?
I’m very sleepy atm, but right now I think that may be the cutest insult ever.
Ben looks like a dozen kinds of hell. Saves a lot of hassle when your girlfriend and your drinking buddy are the same person.
Oh we need a like button!👍👍👍
They always look like they’re coming off a bender.
+1
They either have the sweaty pie-eyed thing happening or pained expressions from possible hangovers.
First time commenter! I’m from Buffalo and the suburb is Williamsville. Hope Ben revisits sobriety. He doesn’t look well.
Thanks fixed!
I lived there (Williamsville) wow – 20 years ago right out of college.
It’s always weird to me when people go from a serious relationship to another relationship without a break. If I was ever unfortunate enough to see my marriage end I think it would take years if ever before I could look at another man. And as much as I love my husband I think I’d enjoy the me time.
Men can’t or don’t do that.
You are correct. Men are more insecure and can’t deal with being alone. Whereas a woman can because she will find other things to keep her busy, But Ben is never alone. he has booze to keep him company even if he is has a companion
She is his former mistress, there was no gap period.
He and Garner have been separated for 2.5 YEARS.
@M
Their affair started even before Sam was born.
Most men quickly get into another relationship. They don’t want to be alone. If that’s your thing, there’s really nothing wrong that that.
Statistically speaking, men leave their marriage for another woman; women leave for themselves. In Ben’s case, I think he was working up to leaving Jen for years by testing out multiple other women.
welp that rehab money was money well spent……….
Hot mess
I think those who can remember or at least google images of young Ben feel they look even more alike than these photos show. When his face was thin, he looked like her brunette twin. It’s weird.
My brother-in-law is an alcoholic (who refuses to go to rehab) and his face has that same bloated, perpetually flushed look. It’s really sad. Ben looks like he’s fallen off the wagon and face-planted. I feel sorry for his kids.
Yep. Each tabloid spread of him flaunting this ‘lifestyle’ breaks my heart for those kids. No thought of them ANYWHERE, is there?
Squinty eyes, small lips and cleft chin. Twins.
Both also have boobs.
Bwahahaha!!!
At this point, he’s probably drinking daily right? Alcoholics and addicts can’t just turn it off when it’s convenient. Which makes me wonder if he’s drinking before he goes to see his kids and stuff. Obviously he’s not driving them around and stuff but jeez, imagine how damaging it is to know your dad is wasted when he comes to spend time with you 🙁 in really glad they have a stable mom in Jen and it seems like Affleck’s mom is a strong and positive influence in their lives as well.
That mixer stick in his drink is a dead giveaway on that being more than just Coke. There’s another cup of Diet Coke next to the can and there is no mixer stick in it. And in the 3rd photo of them at the match you can see another drink with a mixer in it that looks like a G&T or something similar. He is responsible for his own choices but Lindsay, wtf is wrong with you that you just sit by and smile as someone who spent 2 months in rehab this year to drink like that, and publicly?? Do you let him come around your child while he’s hammered?
Right? That is a rum and coke if every I saw one. She’s around because she supports his drinking. Guess what? He supports her drinking too. Two alcoholics who will insist they’re fine because they can show up for work while they slowly circle the drain. One of the oldest, saddest stories out there. I imagine both spouses do a sobriety check; her ex lives on the same building–why would anyone do that if not to ensure disaster doesn’t strike when mommy’s ‘not well.’
Yep. Knew as soon as I saw the straw that was rum & coke. And she’s drinking wine.
The camera is not her friend and that’s being kind.
Heh. She’s a handsome woman. 😏
God they’re both ugly drunks. Why would u want to drink around an alcoholic? Don’t u feel guilty?
She’s probably an alcoholic, too.
He’s really a hot mess. Ugh. How is he going to do anything when it looks like walking is a chore?
I don’t know why Ben is pushing this narrative that his relationship with this chick is well and healthy. On all the boards that I have seen, majority are negative comments. For sure 99.9%, no one likes HER! The image she is projecting is very unlikable. Same goes for Ben.
All these press releases from their weekend are over the top and they are trying to kill JG’s good deeds in Houston. Unfortunately, that didn’t work.
Stop Ben! We all know now you have chosen your former mistress over your kids. Wellness and family, what a BS!
She reminds me of someone but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe she’s just on the blonde scale somewhere between Elizabeth Banks and Ann Coulter.
I think Garner kept him on the semi straight and narrow sort of against his will and while he’ll be fine, this is his life now.
As for Garner’s post, I think that’s who she is. It’s a beautiful post and a timely reminder that it’s true. Kids are inspirational. I must be nicer to mine.
When he was without restraint before in the drinking and drugs (cocaine? I’ve read), Charlie Sheen intervened and took him to rehab. He’s apparently been to rehab several times since.
Without restraint, again, he actually seems on a Charlie Sheen life trajectory. I do think he will actually self destruct. He’s using his PR to push this relationship while seemingly thinking, like most addicts, that he is hiding the drinking well – which he is not.
I do think his reputation in the industry is suffering, too. WB has pulled away from him it seems and they’ve seen him up close so you know it has to be so much worse than we even see.
He doesn’t have any projects. He is in talks to direct Red Platoon but that went out the door. We will see. Who would hire somebody like him? Very volatile. Insurance would be so high.
Nah, he’s still getting plenty of work. He and Matt are doing a show about Boston for Netflix I believe and he just got a directing job for Sony. No one but old ladies on the internet care about his personal life. His professional life is fine.
@M, his professional life is not fine. It isn’t about his personal life – it’s about the addictions that are running him into the ground. An EP is not a working on the film type of producer, from my understanding. I think those projects are being developed and worked by others and Ben and Matt wear the titles because it’s their production company and they likely oversee the work by others for budgets, etc. The Sony project was the Red Platoon reference. It isn’t even on his pending IMDB – it’s “in development.” The only other movie he is listed as producer/director/lead actor is one that is being done by his own production company-not a studio.
I get that some of you have taken his dumping of Jen Garner personally and you want to believe that Ben’s life is crashing down all around him but that simply isn’t the case. He’s worked nonstop for the last several years: BvS, Justice League, Live By Night. Plus all the reshoots and global promotion. He’s been very busy and it’s not even a debate. He isn’t just making a commercial here and a commercial there, doing gym strolls for the paps and calling it all “work.” Plus the divorce and moving and whatnot. He has projects lined up and I believe that Red Platoon will happen with Casey, if only because it seems to be right in his wheelhouse. I highly doubt he will care if he’s not part of Batman going forward because we all know that those movies are trash and the studio has no idea what its doing. He should get out now anyway.
“No one but old ladies on the internet care about his personal life.”
LOL
I’m excited for “City on a Hill” 😀
If you do a random spot check across the various articles, you will find both genders have little good to say about Ben, and that’s not just because of the GF. He’s apparently offended many different groups of people in other ways as well.
I’ve never paid attention to him before the divorce became so public, simply because I don’t care for the genre of movies he typically makes. I also didn’t follow Jennifer, other than seeing her in the movies my kids watched, I had no idea who she was.
Ben has a history of love/hate with fans. It just seems to me that the hate is coming out strong right now and the addictions are having an impact on his career. The addictions are very sad, because they have kids.
I do have a thing against cheaters, and that is what caught my attention in their divorce initially. Dude has messed her around and that’s just not cool.
@LearningtheSystem
There is no moral code in the Industry, the only crime to get someone booted is the failure to make a profit. The people who were too pricey to insure were much bigger messes behind the scenes than the public knew, and he is nowhere near that. He isn’t Shia LaBeouf, and he even still works.
Internet gossip is not an indicator of how a star is perceived overall, and it doesn’t kill a career. There is a natural cycle of up and down in every career, but he just isn’t out of the game. His potential alone will keep him having believers.
There are addicts all over the place, Phillip Seymour Hoffman for example, and they keep working because they always deliver what is expected of them.
@magnoliarose, I have seen very clearly there is no moral code in Hollyworld. I do think that Ben’s addictions are more destructive to his ability to do his job and are a bigger problem that most seem to perceive, however, and that word is out on that in the industry. Just my opinion and that’s only worth anything to me, ultimately. Time will tell.
“Charlie Sheen intervened and took him to rehab…” Just how far gone do you have to be for Charlie Sheen of all people to intervene and take you to rehab? Yikes.
And Jen STILL married him and had kids with him! That was before the marriage. LMAO.
In that top picture Lindsay is a dead ringer for Camilla Parker Bowles
she reminds me of kellyanne Conway
They really are a rough-looking couple.
Yes, that’s the word that best describes them. Hours in the make up chair for both of them!
And you do get the sense that Jen is committed to that charity/children. Good that their kids have that stability.
Well, she and Jen have one thing in common–neither has a shoe game. Yikes.
Those battered white kicks that Shookus often wears–blechhh
She fooled me once, but one pair of cute shoes do not make a shoe game. Ben isn’t some indie rebel, so this whole schlubby love angle is pathetic. They look like a sweaty couple that lives in a seedy motel who find creative and illegal ways to feed their habit.
Their relationship seems to be very Days of Wine and Roses. It won’t end well.
Yes! That’s the perfect reference for the vibe of this whole situation.
I’m sure none will agree since it’s regarding Saint Jen but I’m going to post it anyway. Jen Garner’s day trip to Houston reeked of a photo op. Her photographer sure got her pics up on her instagram quickly. Her people have been PUSHING that instagram post everywhere, too. I think ET online posted about it twice on different days. I mean, …gross. I hate it when celebs use disasters to promote themselves and their social media accounts.
No comment on Ben’s weekend with Lindsay but I did note that Daily Fail used the worst pics of them possible, the ones where he’s not smiling. ET and other places had pics of him/them smiling and looking happy and affectionate. WTH… I hate when websites try to concoct a storyline that doesn’t exist.
I think many celebs show up and donate to these things for PR. But, she (and several others) actually got out and met and spoke with the people and especially the kids that were involved. Those kids probably know her from the kid movies she has done and so it would be cool for them to meet her. I think she can be genuine about the work and still have the photos. Also, she is the celeb ambassador for Save-the-Children. It’s her job to be out there and be seen on their behalf to bring attention to the really good work they do. She does a lot for them.
No, this is the real deal with Jennifer and Save The Children. She is not that great of an actress. Those photos look genuine.
@ Tiffany
This is not being a good actress. It is being on the ground, helping out and raising awareness. if you are not from Houston, then, obviously, you will not appreciate her.
@Ana. Slow your role. I don’t know where you got that interpretation and question appreciation, but I will not not take it and I am tell you to slow the hell down.
My bad Tiffany! I misunderstood your comment. Praising her and at same time describing her acting ability. Good one!
@Ana lmao you STILL don’t get the comment… wow
Not every one thinks she’s a saint but perhaps a bunch of us here think she stuck by Ben for so long because she did want it to work and stayed longer then she should have because she honestly thought it was better for the kids and had a image she wanted to maintain. She is a celebrity, of course her people are going to promote the pics of helping others and hurricane relief, that’s their job! And so what if she’s gonna promote that….SHE’S HELPING! Its getting the message out and hopefully getting others including celebrities to donate, if only to get publicity. At least she’s there doing something! If you’re able to judge others who are helping and their ulterior motives, please be sure and let us know how you’re doing your part. I don’t think Jen is a saint but I know she plays the game when she needs to and she plays it well. Compared to craptastic Ben, I give her kudos for being a good mom and doing what she needs to. Photo ops, bad shoe game and wholesome movies and all.
I donated to the Red Cross but I didn’t take a photo of the “successful donation” page on my computer and upload it to instagram for Likes. I win.
MO, lol you just told us you donated to the Red Cross. How is that winning? Jennifer has a platform to reach people and inspire good deeds. She’s using it. Who cares?
You donated to the Red Cross? You wasted your money. There are far better places to send your money. Places that use it to actually aid and assist people.
JA, I completely agree with your assessment of JG.
I agree, JA.
Garner has been working with Save The Children for years now (at least going back to 2010), this isn’t just a one time publicity thing. She’s a trustee. She’s testified before congress for this group about the impacts of poverty on children.
Additionally, part of the good that celebs do for charitable groups is to PUBLICIZE them, so more people know about them and also contribute and volunteer.
It is *hilarious* that even Jen’s stans are having to admit that it was a photo op. She flew in for half a day, took some pics with the downtrodden, and was back in Brentwood doing the church stroll with an ugly, zillion dollar handbag like nothing happened. I wonder if she got paid by Save the Children to do this and if so, did she buy another ugly handbag with her earnings?
And Ashley – What was Ben doing to help the needy? Anything at all?
Pfft maybe he did donate. He could have donated a million dollars but I guess since he didn’t create a tearful InstaStory about it you and the other Garner weirdos will assume the absolute worst.
I used to be a Ben fan until all the cheating, gambling and addiction came to light and he blew his life up right after he won the oscar. And Jen did not chase me away from being his fan. He did!
Can’t we put snark away for a moment when it comes to helping the MILLIONS impacted by recent disasters?
She’s a trustee for Save the Children. She has been working with them since at least 2010, and has testified before Congress on their behalf (regarding childhood poverty). Additionally….photo ops help charitable organizations. They need publicity and attention in order to get more funding, to get legislative action on their core priorities, etc. You don’t have to be a “stan” to applaud good that is being done by charities for the many people in need in the US. I don’t like the Kardashians, but when they donated to Houston I applauded them all the same.
Oh, I agree and so do several others in here. FFS, she took a professional photographer with her. It was a photo op. The way that her PR team basically sent out a press release to the trashbloids pointing to her instagram post was just twisted. I really wonder if she gets any satisfaction over “winning” the day in the tabloids. I mean I know her stans do but that’s not real. She still lost her husband, is still middle-aged and divorced twice and going to bed alone. He’s still finding ways to humiliate her. Shrug. You reap what you sow, b.
Hi Lindsay!
I’m not a Jen Garner fan-I think the way they used their kids to get publicity and then complained is ridiculous. That said-Ben and his gf look like all kinds of hell.
You didn’t even try with juxtaposing your criticism of Jennifer Garner posting photos of her to bring awareness to a charity with a claim that the media is out to “get” Ben by posting unflattering photos. Sad.
She was doing a photo op to bring awareness to her instagram account.
But if their kids see the pictures they see their Mother doing something positive and their dad and his mistress looking like drunks. That would not be a good image to portray to his kids. But more of an embarrassement
DM has photos of Ben and Lindsay walking in NYC and he is carrying an apple and a bottle of water!! I think someone’s PR team is working overtime!!
It appears he spends every weekend with her in different locations. This week NYC, last week buffalo, week before LA, week before NYC. Sometimes their papped into the week – meaning at lest half the week together. It takes a lot of work to have s long distance relationship. And if you have no other responsibilities (i.e. Children) its complicated enough. It appears neither one of them spends a lot of time with their child(ten).
I’m not even going to talk about the alcohol thing.
He’s rapidly approaching non-functioning territory. She still seems to be functioning but they are toxic together. May be a long time arriving, but this won’t end well for either of them.
What a contrast! Him and Shookus looking like hell and boozing it up while Jen is visiting Harvey victims and taking their children to church!
and looking fresh and adorable while doing so
This is one good looking couple.
Good Lord, Ben looks rough. This man is depressed and Jennifer’s PR hustle is strong!
Lindsay if u truly love Ben for Ben, you will encourage him to go back to rehab. Anyone who has eyes can see he is struggling with his addiction(s)! Your head can’t be that far up the clouds! Or maybe it is?
Ben, one day you will look back on all the special times you have missed with your chuldren! It may not be today, or tommorrow, or even next year, but that day will come and it will hurt! Some may argue that he could be spending time with them privately, and he may) but keep in mind, he has been papped with Lindsay in the last 3 weeks, except when he briefly took them to church and then left with Lindsay on a romantic drive!
These are the facts…the pap pics back this up.
This is fact with these pics! If this was presented in a court of law, pics & videos don’t lie.
In all of This, I feel terrible for their 3 children! Sam, I think is too young to comprehend, but Seraphina, I think, this is the hardest on her! (JMO) Violet, I think understands more than Ben & Jen realize!
I am not saying that millions of people don’t go through this, but it is not made public for the whole world to know!
They are party buddies! What fun would it be if her party buddy got sober?
Plus if Ben got his shit together, he would probably dump her and try to be more of a present father and co-parent and focus on his career.
He has that alcoholic, fatty liver bloat. She looks pretty rough, too.
I wonder if a medical emergency like cirhosis, stomach cancer or a stroke would get through to him, or give it another 5 years? I guess it would depend on how far gone he is.
Probably once he begins to lose jobs. That should do it.
He does look like he has a sick liver. It won’t improve unless he stops but there is a point of no return, and he may already be there.
I think it’s safe to say after seeing so many pics of Ben and a variety of possible drinking stories that he’s not in a good place & the sad/dead expressions are not accidental.
Wonder if anyone around him is on him about this? It doesn’t always have to be the wife/gf! I mean he has a mother, brother, friend, etc. All of whom are supposedly tight with him.
Guess it proves that jen was the meany keeping him on the sober wagon. No wonder she doesn’t let him take the kids to church alone. Doesn’t seem like he can manage a sober day at all
It’s been said, but she is clearly his party partner, and she enabled him while Jen was dumping the booze down the toilet. She obviously “won” and it’s a strong metaphor for Ben’s life. Booze before all else.
Booze before all else is the alcoholic’s mantra.
Yup, hope she enjoys her prize.
For all the more I saw Jen’s PR promoting her and her instagram post about Houston this weekend, she only got like 28k likes on it. That isn’t even 15% of her total followers. What, did her people buy fake accounts to beef up her follower count or something? lol
Ashley, we get it you are trying to save Ben’s reputation and mire Jen…..your going to have to work alittle harder……your subject is making it pretty tough job for you though.
Good God Ashley, did Jen Garner piss in your Cheerios or something? Did she kick your puppy? Such vitriol.
@paranormalgirl Uhhhhhh, look at the vitriol being spewed all over the board. Did Lindsay Shookus or Ben Affleck piss in THEIR bowls of Cheerios? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
uhhhhhh (God, that’s so childish and condescending at the same time)…. Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus actually deserve some vitriol. He had many affairs while married, and she got involved with a married man, a man she damned well knew was married. Jennifer Garner… um, went to Texas with Save the Children and did some charity work. Yeah, that’s a good equivalency there.
Oh you’re going to play the part of the morality police now, huh, with people that you don’t even know? How totally bizzare. Newsflash: Jennifer Garner is not perfect. She has some messiness of her own and is not above reproach. She cheated on Husband #1, for example. Cheated on Michael Vartan. And who knows, since a cheater is always a cheater, maybe she cheated on Ben as well.
For someone who just announced officially her Instagram, that is a decent result.
Not really.
Why are women so against other women trying to succeed? It’s like Jen can’t win. She’s only the wife, set aside personal career goals and that makes her awful. Then, she’s no longer the wife, is trying to resurrect her career and that makes her awful.
At some point, will women actually stand up and support other women who are working to overcome life disappointments? There are enough men around making it hard – why do other women have to do the same?
Ben is a mess.
Wow. They look like shit.
She dresses horribly. No sense of fashion whatsoever (nor makeup or hair). Those things are obviously not her priorities but still. Her face is always shiny and sweaty looking like his and she is NOT attractive in the least. They do make a great pair. She had (has?) a good job why can’t she dress at least normal/nice? Looks like she buys her clothes at the Dollar Store. And gets her hair cut/colored in front of her bathroom mirror
ha ha spot on. I don’t get why you can’t get nice dark jeans and some nice clothes????? like I REALLY dont get it. Go get a blow out.
I disagree with the statement that SHE looks bad. I’m no fashion expert, but I think Lindsay is a very good looking woman. She looks cute an casual and without too much fuss. Nice smile. I do have to agree with the other posters regarding Ben however. He is looking a bit rough!
When you read “Charlie Sheen intervened and took him to rehab.” Thanks for the eyeopener @LearningtheSystem. That woke me up.
Yeah, how rock bottom do you have to be for CHARLIE SHEEN to think you need rehab?
And yet, Jennifer Garner still stupidly thought that he’d make a GREAT husband and father and clung to him for years.
If you have never lived or been around an alcoholic, you really have no point of reference for what that reality is. I didn’t, and believed when I was told I was the reason he was turning himself around. You know what you know and if you are trusting, you believe whom you love.
Wasn’t Ben sober when they got together? To be fair, some alcoholics are able to quit and never drink again.
I’m going to say that Ben WASN’T sober when he and Garner got together. If I remember correctly, he had a booze-filled night at a strip club where he cheated on JLo with a few of the dancers. Even after that plus Charlie Sheen driving him to rehab, ol’ Jen Garner still let him hit it without a condom and marry him. SMH. She’s so dumb, lol.
Yes, Ben was sober when he and Jen got together.
Seven hells.
What “wash” is that on her jeans? “washed to hell and back” as we say in the UK? ha ha. Why doesn’t she give herself a bit of an overhaul? she could look nice – a nice blow out, dark jeans. Dump that nasty short black dress that keeps popping up.
She clung on. Told him what he wanted to hear. I dont like Garner and I think she clung on, too as has been written so many times. I just don’t see this strong figure. She clung on, he didn’t want to know. We’ve all been there. Its going to get ramped up now – divorced mom, putting kids first blah blah. I am sorry that I am not buying Saint Garner. Soz.
I wonder if Jen still thinks that Ben is “the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous.” lmaoooo How low does your bar have to be to believe that Ben Affleck is the most brilliant person? I literally can’t. Anyhoo, she gave those quotes after his affair with Shookus. Bwahahah. I won’t believe that Garner has moved on until I see her dating another guy/girl. I think Doormat would take him back to this day.
Agree with all of this. She would take him back in a heartbeat and no mention of another woman in her Vanity Fair interview.
Yep, yep, and yep. Jen was all happy co-parenting “we’re a modern family!” until he went public with Lindsay. She was still clinging to the hope that he’d come back to her, and now finally, she is acting like the jealous, petty ex-wife. I’ve seen people posting that she might be restricting his visits due to his addictions BUT he’s looked a mess for a couple of years now and it never stopped her from including him before. The only thing that’s changed is that he moved to another house and is (publicly) dating Lindsay. I don’t believe that she’s over him either and would take him back, no questions asked.
Maybe she didn’t need to restrict his visits when he lived on the compound? I absolutely believe she is over him and hasn’t been interested in getting back together for a long, long time. Her demeanor changed a great deal last fall in family photo ops – she wouldn’t walk near him or look at him.
I’ve had a drunk for a husband/father and you do have to be careful how and when you let the kids be around them – you want the kids to see and know them, but you want them to be safe.
There you are again Lindsay!
Sorry wrong place.That was for the poster who sounds like a jealous girlfriend whose BF spends vacations and dinners with the ex.
This couple is just gross and toxic. Neither one of them look healthy. In all the pics we’ve been presented of them, they both look like they’re either drunk or high. I keep looking for something nice and positive to say, but they make it so difficult.
Good for JG to get out of that marriage. LS is holding on to Ben for dear life. She is definitely not getting him in his prime, that has passed, though just by looking at the pics you’d think she thought he was God.
Seems to me that he’s the one flying here, there, and everywhere to be with her. Planes go both ways but he’s been the one going to HER most of the time. I think he’s the one clinging. Hell in the last several months he’s made more effort with Lindsay than he ever did for Garner in 10 years combined. P.S. The key phrase is “pics we’ve been presented of them” — because ET online has pics of them at the US Open and both look totally fine. But ya know some sites like to pick the worst photos and create a story line.
Either way, the coke with the little straw is more than likely a cocktail, so he’s off the wagon, which doesn’t bode well for Ben.
@ Hannah
I think Ben is flying back & forth because he “can’t be alone.” I think Jen was right on the money about that! Jen knows Ben after being married to him for 10 yrs. I think if Jen had not found out about this serious affair, he would still be playing both hands. They did not have a prenup and I doubt he wanted to divide his assets. I think he would have continued to see Lindsay and stay with Jen as long as he Could, but Jen found out!
I have never seen him look so bad! Ben is a very handsome guy, but when he is with Lindsay, he looks terrible! He doesn’t seem to care about his appearance at all! He doesn’t even attempt to look nice when he takes Lindsay out on their dates.
I thought I read Lindsay is up for her 2nd Emmy. I wonder if Ben will go with her? If he does, I hope they both clean themselves up!
@Carol He’s flying thousands of miles because he can’t be alone? He’s aware that there are millions of women in LA who would be with him and be quiet about it — he slept with many of them during his marriage. He’s going the distance to be with this particular woman bc it’s serious. Simple.
I don’t think that after 10 years of marriage Jen really knows him at all. She said in her VF interview that she only knows some of his truths. Ben has looked bad for years. There is really no point in blaming anyone else for that, or you’d have to include Jen, too.
They don’t look as bad in other photos, but I agree this is serious and he does fly to her. In other pictures, he is affectionate with her, so I don’t believe this is just for fun.
He can’t be alone. She is familiar and feeds his first love.
He looks very unwell…reminds of someone in my life with similar life choices (who has since passed away)
Same eye shape, same nose job, same coke dealer- so sympatico!
They both have that red booze blush/bloat going on..what a mess.
I’m just laughing at these comments that Ben must be drinking booze at the US Open bc his little plastic cup has a straw. Seriously do you people ever get out? I mean, like… do you leave your homes? SMH. I remember last year when that fan pic of Ben gulping from a glass at a Golden Globe afterparty hit social media, I commented that it looked like an alcoholic drink because it was in an old-fashioned tumbler. Garner stans still clinging to a reconciliation chastised me immediately and claimed that it was an innocent Coca-Cola because that’s what he drinks in public!11! Now that they’ve filed for divorce and he’s moved on, the Garner crazies are claiming that he’s drinking 24/7. Y’all are so transparent. I’m sure if Jen took him back you’d return to thinking that he’s being a good little boy all the time.
I wonder if he’ll be at the Emmys next weekend. Lindsay should be — she’s up for Emmy #2 with SNL.
I don’t believe he is sober, but straws don’t mean anything. Many places put them in non-alcoholic drinks.
Every photo of these two looks like they’re wasted.
Blech…those two look like they smell as good as they look.
Good for Jennifer for going and helping in TX. 🙂
Years ago, Barbara Walters had a sit down interview with Ben. He was promoting Hollywood. They were taking about his movies that”flopped.” Barbara questioned him about a quote he had said. It was” I can sell tabloid covers, but I can’t sell movies.” This interview talked about his relationship with Jennifer Lopez and basically how far he has come since then. She also talked about Jennifer Garner and basically how she changed his life & career. (It is on YouTube)
If JL does not do well at the box office. This will be the 2nd flop (Live By Night)(3 If you count BVS,which still made money. Could be history repeating itself?!
For the record, I hope JL does well!
Is anyone else getting a distinct Denis Leary vibe from Shookus?
HA! YES! lol
Totally. Plus a little like Camilla lunging at us after her tensies.
Jen Garner is bland and has terrible shoe game but I definitely think these pics show who she really is. A good natured empathetic mom type.
And these other pics show who Ben really is too: A very lucky marginally talented but selfish guy that probably felt suffocated by the responsibilities of being a day to day father and husband. Remember when Gwyneth Paltrow said Affleck’s dream woman was a Scores stripper? She nailed it didn’t she? Affleck and Shookus are like a less destructive version of Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller (boozier but hopefully with less drugs and hookers)
I’m glad Affleck and Garner have moved on since they seem fundamentally incompatible. It’s amazing they lasted as long as they did.
I suspect Garner, in addition to all those good qualities, can also be perfectionistic and controlling. Still, I agree on all counts, especially that they were fundamentally mismatched. I had forgotten the GP anecdote, but it’s even better–she said his perfect girl would be a stripper with a beer in each hand. LOL!
LOL I had forgotten that part about a “beer in each hand” @tracking. That’s perfect
Passive-aggressive, nagging, insecure, codependent — I get those vibes from her. Interesting that someone so allegedly perfect is divorced twice and barely 45. Makes you wonder..
It seems like Jen did everything in her power to avoid divorce #2.
She can’t be blamed for Ben’s alcoholism.
Interesting comment @A. I don’t think Garner is perfect by any stretch of the imagination but she seems like a Type A responsible individual while Ben is by all accounts- well – an alcoholic. I have seen a dynamic play out before where the alcoholic becomes resentful of the stable responsible partner. Resentfully sneering things like “Oh she thinks she’s so perfect” because by simply being a capable responsible individual she makes him feel bad about himself. I don’t know if Garner/Affleck have this dynamic but I would not be surprised. It’s also not shocking that he would choose as his next partner someone (Shookus) who appears to be as big a partier as himself. (Not to mention a fellow “disinterested” parent).
I also don’t see why Garner should feel bad about being divorced twice before she turned 45. If she feels bad about anything it should be believing Affleck, the guy who loves Scores strippers, gambling and booze, etc could become a faithful husband and present father. It’s not like she’s a cheating alcoholic.
Shookus shouldn’t be blamed for his addictions either. Ben is a grown man who is making his own decisions. If people are going to call Shookus an enabler, they should admit that Jen enabled his addictions for a decade. Just sayin. BC he’s had gambling and drug and alcohol addictions for all of the years that he was married.
I agree , Shookus is not responsible for Ben’s issues.
@Keaton Ben has been a mess since always. His shenangians with strippers and his fiancee JLo should have placed him on the Do Not Touch List for any smart, reasonable woman out there. Charlie Sheen thought he needed rehab FFS. So who would marry and have three kids with someone like him? That was BEFORE they got married. After they got married, it was more gambling addiction, boozing, drugs (according to Lainey), and extra-marital affairs. Again, what kind of person puts up with that? Someone who is codependent and addicted to fame. Jen Garner has just as many issues as Ben Affleck, she is just better at hiding them. If he were my husband, his butt would have been gone years ago. But these days, people trash Ben Affleck but conveniently forget — this is the person their Frump Queen Garner *chose* to be with for more than a decade, and who would take him back if he would have her.
I’ll never understand why Garner thought Affleck was such a prize either @Emma. Danger signs everywhere about that guy. But not only did she ignore those signs she seemed to put him on a pedestal! When I read her comment about how he’s the smartest, most charismatic person in any room I thought “Girl you need to get out more!” lol Is she dickmatized? What is it? Paltrow seemed downright contemptuous of him at points but JLo and I guess Shookus seemed smitten with him as well. His appeal escapes me but Garner isn’t the only one that was super into him. Go figure.
That IS Ben in a nutshell… so 😢 for his kids though…
I think all of the weirdly outraged people in here (over a stranger/celebrity, really?) would be Big Fans of Ben again immediately if he went back to Jen. Right now you rant and rage all over the internet about what a drunk loser he is but if they reconciled all would be forgiven instantly. It’s just insane how personally some are taking this divorce, like they are the ones who were cheated on and left for the mistress. Ben isn’t the first guy to do any of that and he won’t be the last either. Why was this particular marriage so special to some of you? I don’t get it.
Leaving an opinion on this site is hardly ranting and raving all over the internet.
I disagree. He is STILL a sh*t person, regardless of whom he’s with. I think the ONLY way he can redeem his “image” is if he cleans up, and he *means* it! And then, ONLY for his kids, not any women (in his life now, or the future).
@Lady D Uh yeah, there are some total nutbags on here ranting. It’s not just “an opinion” it’s people sounding like they’re barely hanging on.
Ben looks like a bloated, overweight alcoholic mess. He will blend in WNY just fine. I’m from there and Buffalo has gone down hill fast in the last 10 years. Everyone I know that wants a job that they can actually support themselves has moved away. There’s a reason why Buffalo has been voted over and over as the worst city to live in regarding increased obesity, horrible health and no happiness.
@ Julie
Speaking for myself. I thought they were a cute family. Ben & Jen always talked about the children so fondly and they seemed so”down to earth” and obviously that was just an image and Jen was the glue that held the family together. And who could forget that adorable ice Bucket video where Ben threw Jen in the pool with him and you can hear their children laughing. The children made that video! Not to mention Jen is from WV, which is like 2 hrs. away from me. And some of my relatives live in CT & MA. , which was kind of cool!
I think we all routed for their family, (i know I did) IMO, I think if Ben & Jen didn’t have children, it would have just been another Hollywood marriage that ended!
Yeah, it was all fake for PR. He was (allegedly) seeing Lindsay at the time that the video was made. They have always used the media to portray themselves a certain way, while behind the scenes it was very different. Jen was complicit in it all. Well, at least now you/everyone else has figured out it was just a show.
Jennifer Garner basically made a career out of being Mrs. Ben Affleck and doing fake “cute family” pap strolls for the press. It’s so strange how people rage at Ben for literally everything when Jen benefited as much as he did from the masquerading. It was all fake sh-t… no need to give any of these three people any more oxygen.
Cheating (vs being open) is where you are lying to keep the relationships seperate and secret so you lie to your spouse, your other partners and probably to yourself to keep it all going. Ben and Jen probably really enjoy each other when it’s times like that with the kids. I can relate. it doesn’t seem like an act as much as a complicated relationship.
How long into their relationship was he all over Blake Lively? At a certain point, you can’t blame him for her decisions. She stayed and had more children even when she knew what he was. Bashing Ben for everything is unfair.
Not everyone wants to go out looking like a Barbie Doll with a ton of makeup on. She looks fine to me and pretty comfortable with herself. They look like they are enjoying themselves.
I agree, I don’t see anything wrong with the Lindsey looks here. Jen Garner leaves the house looking like hell 90% of the time. But then, I never understand the insane outrage over this group of people. For all the more “miserable” they look here?, there are 11,000 pics of them looking happy elsewhere (yahoo news, enews, etonline, us weekly).
It’s true that there are better pics around. But people are reacting to the “sad” pics because it’s not a one-off thing, too many of them in the past year or so. I personally think Ben’s mood issues are not love life related anyway. That side of things may help or exacerbate things, but it’s not the major issue with him, imho.
There is a pic of him smoking on a balcony and looking like he wants to off himself from when Sam was born. I agree that he is moody. The only time in the last decade when he seemed exuberant and loving life was when he was winning awards for Argo. I think some of his misery is not being where he wants to be work-wise.
This is a really good point @samantha. IMO Affleck’s problems are Affleck’s problems. Noone else’s. I’ve been going to gossip sites for years and there has never been a shortage of posts attacking Garner for being a pap strolling phony or “trapping” Ben into marriage. Yes people have been hard on Ben (especially post-Nannygate). But in the midst of the Ben vitriol there were always posts about how he looked more in love with Jlo than Garner and how he cheated but somehow it was Garner’s fault because she was so dumpy looking (?) Basically alot of “‘Poor Ben’ is stuck with that emotionally manipulative doormat Jen Garner (who also cheated too ya know! Never forget Michael Vartan and Scott Foley!) *fist shake*”
But I think in the end he’s a complicated moody person with substance abuse issues. He’s not going to be happy long term with any one until he deals with them.
She looks good. He does look bloated. They look happy together. He looks like he’s in love with her.
Sorry, IMO she looks like crap, as does he. I personally think she’s going along to *stay* being *THE ONE* … at least, for now. I just feel so sorry for the kids…hers AND his. They WILL read all about this/them someday. How damned selfish of them. And while I don’t advocate giving up your life for your kids, you DO need to consider them/their feelings. Especially Violet…she’s definitely old enough to have friends that do their own Googling. Seraphina and Ben will have friends whose parents will definitely be talking and they will overhear. Sigh…just sad all around, as far as that’s concerned.
Don’t really see much misery or ill health here…
@ Ann
Yes. That is my point. He can find anyone in LA, NY, to be with him and had but he can’t just focus on his children or even his own health!
I do agree that this is a serious relationship. He is going out of his way to fly to N.Y. (at least he is chasing after her) But I still think he can’t be alone. You never see Ben hanging out with anyone except Matt and now Lindsay. Matt surrounds himself with different people (Hemsworth, Clooney, just to name a few.
I don’t get what you’re even trying to say. By your definition, Matt Damon can’t be alone either.
@ Gina
I think Carol may have meant that Ben had to get into a relationship and could not even just hang out with the guys.
She still looks like a MAN. Very masculine looking and not attractive at all. If this is his “type”, why did he go through so many beautiful girls before?
How did he go from bland, anorexic Gwyneth to gorgeous, sexy JLo then to homely frump Garner? I don’t think he has a type. His women have all looked different from each other.
Wow Ben looks so relaxed here with Lindsay and they go out alot together from what I see. I don’t think I ever saw him take Jennifer anywhere except baseball games at the beginning of their relationship though. He really goes all out for Lindsay. They are both flying back and forth to see each other.
Yeah he hasn’t taken Lindsay to a baseball game yet. Maybe that is next.
OR maybe even a Patriot game? OR even better maybe he will take her on a vacation with Tom & Gisele!
This post reminds me of the film with Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon called Days of Wine and Roses: not a great life and it ends badly. See also Leaving Los Vegas with Nicolas Cage. No place for children…
Jon Hamm is said to have dated Lindsey. In fact, it said last year Lindsay took Jon to the same comedy club last year as she took Ben & Casey this year (Jon has denied it) Weren’t he & Ben friends? Ben cast him in “The Town” as the FBI agent. If they had been having this affair since 2013, Ben must have not liked the fact that Lindsay was going out with Hamm one bit!
Eh, not like Ben wasn’t seeing other people as well.
Everyone’s opinion is based on their own life experience, because that colors the way we perceive pretty much everything. Those who have dealt with alcoholics, cheaters, jerks see from the perspective of the victim and those who have not cannot really empathize. Because our perspectives are skewed, it can be difficult to have tolerance for those who see things from a completely different sphere of reference. This has been true since the beginning of mankind I am sure – hence war and hate.
Jen has moved on seemingly healthily, and I wish the best for her in whatever career she pursues, and a healthy romantic relationship if she so chooses to test those waters again in the future.
I wish sobriety for Ben and the desire and ability to father his children differently from how he was fathered – because he will one day have to face that truth if he doesn’t and he once said it was a great fear for him that he would be like his own father. I would not wish that on him or his kids.
I think they will get married as soon as their divorces are final. Is Ben staying at her apartment now instead of a hotel? Does that mean he spends time with her daughter? Maybe they took the child to Buffalo over Labor Day weekend since they were with her family.
Two alcoholics taking care of your child instead of one. What could go wrong?
@ Lady D
Best comment of the night!
Applauding your comment, Lady D.
@Lady D – True, so true! One thing I have learned growing up in an alcoholic family – the alcoholic will always come first. It is an extremely selfish disease.
@magnoliarose @ “A” (who is probably Lindsay): I see a lot of oh poor Ben its really Jen’s fault she fell in love with him and believed he changed on here. But everyone hates cheaters, at least most women do! Remember the scorn others such as Kristin Stewart and the director (name escapes me fortunately) got (now Minka and Jesse) and the wives cheated on get a LOT of sympathy. This is like the only comment section I’ve gotten on where lots of comments bash the wife. There’s a bit of its all the woman’s fault here. The hatred of Ben wouldn’t go away if he got back with Jennifer, unlike what some of you said. It’s always been there, under the surface for a lot of people. I used to be a big fan too and it drove me crazy because I believed, and still do, he is very intelligent and has talent. I also believed he changed because he seemed to be a real family man there for at least the first five years and focused on his work. But really you get the feeling that he lies so much he wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him in the ass. Lies to the public, lies to his wife. And that has turned me, his PR blather saying one thing and his actions doing another. But who knows, may be we are all wrong and Ben is the one telling the truth that this is a new relationship and its only been romantic for a few months! And he had absolutely no romantic relationship with the Nanny ever! Then I will say poor Ben.
You seem unhinged. You come into every Ben thread and accuse posters of being Lindsay. “A” has been a regular poster on this board for years. I think it’s time for you to talk to a professional.
I guess I hit some people’s nerves. Don’t worry about me Stephanie I’m perfectly at peace.
Are you okay? Who rants like this over a celebrity? Sad. I hope you can find some peace.
Actually I think @Lisa’s comment is pretty measured compared to many others I’ve seen on Celebitchy. Have you been in a Brangelina, Taylor Swift, or Kardashian post? lol Let’s be real, it’s a gossip site. People come here to speculate and share their opinions about celebrities. There was nothing particularly unhinged or crazy about her comment at all.
I also agree with her that people tend to dislike cheaters no matter which gender does the cheating. (Hell some of the anger I see toward Garner appears to stem from residual anger over her apparently cheating on Scott Foley and Michael Vartan decades ago! lol) Ben and Shookus have this “cheater” stigma working against them regardless of what people personally feel about Garner. Throw in their bloated booziness, and the fact they both have young kids? People aren’t going to be shipping Bookus (Affleckus? Blyndsay? lol) en mass anytime soon. Maybe Ben should arrange a wholesome family friendly photo-op with Lyndsay and their kids. That might soften some people into thinking Shookus is “The One” instead of just his boozy cheating side piece. But even then they will never be the new Brangelina. lol
He seems to have returned to the pre-Garner days of tabloid favorite. He doesn’t really make good choices for himself, does he…
Reports today say they may be looking for apartments together in NYC. That’s like ramming the caboose into the train wreck. I do think they will marry ASAP, but I wonder if Ben ever gets another job were he’ll have some responsibility (on location for a shoot, etc. for several months) if he’ll be able to cut the umbilical cord with this woman. I really doubt WHEN he cheats on her or vice versa, they will give a f…, as it seems to be a non issue for them. So unless one/both become incapacitated due to their vices, I see a long marriage ahead.
@JCCW – I remember when X17 broke the story about them being together for several years. They indicated that they had a plan to be together and eventually marry. I think it is for the best that he relocate to NYC. Jennifer seems to be doing fine without him around. She has the support of his mother and her family. He can visit his kids a couple of times a month. I don’t think things will change much for them. He was gone for long periods of time their entire childhoods. They probably saw more of him while they were separated than they ever did.
@ Tina
Sadly, I think you are right!
Ben’s quote ” I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be.”
Ben got the 1st part of that quote….not so sure about the second part!
Tina, I had read that when Ben did Gone Girl he was gone(no pun intended) 6 months from Jen and his children!
His buddy Matt has been quoted as having a 2 week rule from his family!
That is why Matt is still married!
Too bad Matt did not rub off on Ben!
There was a report from years ago that said he was looking for a NY pad. Hmmm….
Just saw that Ben & Jen once owned the Reese Witherspoon Home Again character house before they sold it in 2009 for 6.25 million. It sali said prior to them living there, Cindy Crawford & Rande Garner owned it. The pics of the house our online. It looked like a pretty home!
Hopefully, they had some happier years there!
Darn spell- check! It drives me crazy!
Holly bloated Batman!
I like the photos of her. They are kind of refreshing. Maybe because she’s not an actress or a model or a buffed-to-a-high-polish consort. She reminds me of my friends and colleagues – women who work and spend more of their life doing things than beauty duty and having their picture taken.
If Ben moves to NYC, yes I think It will be wonderful for Jen Garner if he did, he’s no help anyway, but I feel for those kids. I’ve never been divorced, but work with kids and I think they will feel abandoned. Kids are sensitive about feeling wanted. After all, didn’t he live in the pool house for 2 years to “put the kids first” and co-parent, and then 4 months later he moves across the country? It’s different when parents are gone for work, although that’s not the best in terms of a parental relationship either. (Gone Girl was done half in LA, but BvS was 6 months away, although they visited back and forth). On a video during LBNight he said relationships with daughters was “fraught”. Yeah, guess so, just might get worse!
He looks high AF.
As for him moving to NYC- At first I’m like what about his kids but if he’s as high as he looks the kids are better off with him living far away.